Calgary Public Transit II

[You Need A Thneed]

McCall way will have a tunnel under a taxiway to get up to that area, at least according to the latest runway design renderings.

[You Need A Thneed]

That headline is misleading as well, the road construction required is already underway.

[frinkprof]

Here's the winter service revisions, which come into effect on Dec. 20th.

The schedules of about 20 routes are affected in some way. No new routes, no routes deleted.

If you take the 420 Kincora route, or the 114 Panorama/Country Hills route, the good news is that frequencies have increased.

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/winter_service_revisions_2010.html

[YYCguys]

YNAT I think that the tunnel you speak of is for airport service vehicles accessing airside (at least that's the impression I got from reading an internal Westjet communication)....or am I completely off base?

[You Need A Thneed]

Originally Posted by YYCguys

YNAT I think that the tunnel you speak of is for airport service vehicles accessing airside (at least that's the impression I got from reading an internal Westjet communication)....or am I completely off base?

There will be another for internal airfield ops, but the newest rendings show a taxiway connecting the end of 27/10 to the new runway. The WestJet area is north of that.

See here. it would to be a public tunnel to make that work.

[YYCguys]

Oh I see it now! Thanks for clarifying!

[RicoLance21]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Here's the winter service revisions, which come into effect on Dec. 20th.

The schedules of about 20 routes are affected in some way. No new routes, no routes deleted.

If you take the 420 Kincora route, or the 114 Panorama/Country Hills route, the good news is that frequencies have increased.

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/winter_service_revisions_2010.html

Is this just part of the change that will be in effect for 2011? Seems kinda insignificant compare to what the plans are that is on the table just a few days ago.

[mersar]

The 2011 budget year doesn't actually begin until April IIRC, so these are just changes that transit had already decided on based on current ridership and other factors. The changes that were part of the approved city budget will take effect after then.

[Cage]

So what's up with all the U2 trains on route 201?

For the past few months i have been noticing that way more than 1/2 my commutes are from Crowfoot are on the older trains, however the new SD160 are about 60% of the total fleet.

This morning I again rode a U2 and counted each train going by. Including my train there were 9 U2 trains and 4 SD160 trains.

Is there are an unpublished rule to put the SD160s on route 202 and the U2 for route 201?

Also what would it take to have all SD160 off peak service (the Sky Train does this - the older trains are only used during rush hour).

[MalcolmTucker]

It would make sense that way they don't have to keep additional sets of tooling for U2s up at Westwinds. That being said, it doesn't sound like it is a conscious choice, just a likely result of U2s needing to go back to the south line for maintenance. Over time the effect would likely get more prominent unless someone decides otherwise.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Cage

So what's up with all the U2 trains on route 201?

For the past few months i have been noticing that way more than 1/2 my commutes are from Crowfoot are on the older trains, however the new SD160 are about 60% of the total fleet.

This morning I again rode a U2 and counted each train going by. Including my train there were 9 U2 trains and 4 SD160 trains.

Is there are an unpublished rule to put the SD160s on route 202 and the U2 for route 201?

Also what would it take to have all SD160 off peak service (the Sky Train does this - the older trains are only used during rush hour).

Not sure which way things will go, but things will likely change a bit rather soon with the new series 8 SD160s going into service on or around December 20th (coinciding with the winter service revisions). At least one consist will be assigned to a "key" (scheduled run), with likely more coming online as new LRVs arrive, are commissioned, and CT operators trained to run them.

[sim]

Perhaps not the most informative or objective, but this is an interesting debate by a panel on the future of urban transportation. Thought some might find it interesting.

http://live.financialpost.com/Event/Smart_Shift_The_future_of_urban_transportation?Page=0

[mooky]

I don't know if this is the right forum, perhaps watercooler is better, if it is, move it there please... But my friend and I were having a debate. He's been watching Top Gear lately and said sometime near the end of series (season) 4 there was a point where Jeremy Clarkson according to my friend said "trains, even if packed to their fullest, use more fuel then cars" to paraphrase my friends point.

Now I've not seen the episode, I've been trying to hunt it down, but haven't found the right one yet, or at least the right segment. has anyone else seen this clip from Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear? Is the claim rubbish? True? True with a caveat (ie regional passenger trains versus LRT like Calgary - different passenger loads)? I can't help but think its rubbish, I mean look at the packed trains across south asia, especially in India. If they weren't economical, why would they still exist?

Thanks

[Riise]

Originally Posted by mooky

Now I've not seen the episode, I've been trying to hunt it down, but haven't found the right one yet, or at least the right segment. has anyone else seen this clip from Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear? Is the claim rubbish? True? True with a caveat (ie regional passenger trains versus LRT like Calgary - different passenger loads)? I can't help but think its rubbish, I mean look at the packed trains across south asia, especially in India. If they weren't economical, why would they still exist?

Thanks

Knowing Jezza, he was probably taking the piss and talking about 1v1 situations. For example, a single train will use more fuel than a single car.

[Radley77]

Originally Posted by mooky

I don't know if this is the right forum, perhaps watercooler is better, if it is, move it there please... But my friend and I were having a debate. He's been watching Top Gear lately and said sometime near the end of series (season) 4 there was a point where Jeremy Clarkson according to my friend said "trains, even if packed to their fullest, use more fuel then cars" to paraphrase my friends point.

Now I've not seen the episode, I've been trying to hunt it down, but haven't found the right one yet, or at least the right segment. has anyone else seen this clip from Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear? Is the claim rubbish? True? True with a caveat (ie regional passenger trains versus LRT like Calgary - different passenger loads)? I can't help but think its rubbish, I mean look at the packed trains across south asia, especially in India. If they weren't economical, why would they still exist?

Thanks

The following is just a general rule from the Transportation Energy Data Book (Table 2.12) in terms of BTU per passenger mile:

Motorcycle (most energy efficient)
Rail
Air
Car
Truck
Bus (least energy efficient)

http://cta.ornl.gov/data/tedb29/Edition29_Full_Doc.pdf

I've read from a couple sources that buses actually are fairly energy inefficient. A lot of routes are designed for peak periods, so they run around the city empty for a part of the day. In addition, I have read in general that a lot of the bus fleet is older vintages and therefore not as fuel efficient as modern private vehichle fleet.

It's too bad that motorcycles and scooter were left out of the transportation hierarchy for City of Calgary planning... (*kidding*)

I am curious if anyone knows the braking system for the C-train... is it like a 'hybrid' car (returns braking power back to the electrical grid)?

[freeweed]

I don't see how this is remotely possible, unless trains have some incredible factor that I'm not aware of (maybe huge amounts of friction on the rails?).

Think about it (actually, we can probably do the math). How much does a train car weigh? Now how much does your average automobile weigh? If the train weighs more than #passengers X car weight, then it's possible. From my recollection it ain't anywhere close. If the weight of the automobiles is much greater than the weight of the train car (and I'd have to imagine it is), how the hell can a car be more fuel efficient? Unless, again, there's some massive effect I'm not understanding.

This sounds suspiciously like the old "a Hummer is more environmentally friendly than a small car" nonsense someone trotted out a few years ago.

[MalcolmTucker]

"a Hummer is more environmentally friendly than a small car"

It is true for a Prius, if you take into account manufacturing inputs, but it still doesn't make buying a Hummer a good idea (do they even exist anymore?)

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by Riise

Knowing Jezza, he was probably taking the piss and talking about 1v1 situations. For example, a single train will use more fuel than a single car.

Agreed. He says a lot of things on that show that are just ridiculous, and says it for the sake of being ridiculous. I've seen all the Top Gears, and have a vague memory of this quote (season 4 was 11 seasons ago though). I would take all "facts" on that show with a grain of salt. Enjoy it for what it is, a very entertaining show with fun stunts and beautiful cars, and 3 guys taking the piss out of each other. Don't take it as an educational program.

[UofC.engineer]

Originally Posted by Radley77

I am curious if anyone knows the braking system for the C-train... is it like a 'hybrid' car (returns braking power back to the electrical grid)?

I believe not, most braking systems in commuter trains powered by electricity work on the principle of eddy currents. Essentially electricity is generated in a circular motion which induces a magnetic field which then counteracts the movement of the wheel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current_brake

[CTrainDude]

I am curious if anyone knows the braking system for the C-train... is it like a 'hybrid' car (returns braking power back to the electrical grid)?

Actually yes, the SD-160s feature regenerative braking capabilities.