Calgary Public Transit II - Page 196

magnetite · #**3901** Posted **Oct 8, 2011, 5:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigcanuck

Real time display signs are being tested - here's a preview:

Saw that on my way to work yesterday. Pretty slick.

floobie · #**3902** Posted **Oct 8, 2011, 5:12 PM**

I noticed that yesterday. It definitely still needs some calibration. It managed to confuse the hell out of me on the way home yesterday. The sign said a Crowfoot train was arriving at the station (0 min), but the sign on the train said City Centre.

Oh, and the Mario map is glorious.

Robert in Calgary · #**3903** Posted **Oct 8, 2011, 9:23 PM**

A very brief item that was in Saturday's Herald. Top of page B3

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Real+time+signs+delayed/5522918/story.html

"Digital display boards announcing train arrivals in real time should begin operating in November, Calgary Transit says. The display boards were initially set for an August launch.

Calgary Transit has acknowledged the technology's complexity has contributed to the delays.

The signs will explain scheduled or unscheduled delays for commuters."

Wooster · #**3904** Posted **Oct 8, 2011, 9:31 PM**

The real time arrival signs will be in testing mode for a little while.

freeweed · #**3905** Posted **Oct 8, 2011, 11:20 PM**

Why exactly is this such a difficult thing to achieve? Surely with GPS etc, CT knows where each train is at any given moment. We only have one train per line on the overwhelming majority of the system, and 2 max in a very small part of the city. I hear of other cities having regular problems, too.

Is it a case of trying to estimate too closely to the exact arrival minute (which I can understand can be highly variable depending on a thousand factors)? It really shouldn't be very hard to estimate a "close enough" time considering how mature our system is. Shit, I know the trains well enough that I'm able to call from a particular station and get picked up pretty much right on time at my destination. And I know where to call from depending on if it's rush hour or not, or the train seems more or less busy than normal for whatever reason.

Anyone have any insight here?

mersar · #**3906** Posted **Oct 9, 2011, 4:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

Anyone have any insight here?

People like to know. The biggest benefit to the system won't actually be the real time arrival information when everything is normal (especially during peak times when its only a minute or two anyways until the next train), but rather they will now have a much better way of communicating when there are issues. Its when the train is delayed that people want to know when its there, and why its not there yet.

Right now CT has a rough idea of where each train is based on the signal system, with the GPS/RFID system they'll know exactly where the train is though operationally it doesn't likely make too much difference.

Aegis · #**3907** Posted **Oct 9, 2011, 9:09 AM**

Any recent news on the NC LRT project? When is the official estimated start date for it?

freeweed · #**3908** Posted **Oct 9, 2011, 2:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mersar

People like to know. The biggest benefit to the system won't actually be the real time arrival information when everything is normal (especially during peak times when its only a minute or two anyways until the next train), but rather they will now have a much better way of communicating when there are issues. Its when the train is delayed that people want to know when its there, and why its not there yet.

Right now CT has a rough idea of where each train is based on the signal system, with the GPS/RFID system they'll know exactly where the train is though operationally it doesn't likely make too much difference.

I wasn't asking why it's important to have accurate times, I was asking why it's so difficult to provide them. When I as a layman can generally estimate to the minute what's happening with a train (even with service irregularities), I sure as hell hope that a computer/CT employee combination would be able to do it at least as well.

YYCguys · #**3909** Posted **Oct 9, 2011, 2:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aegis

Any recent news on the NC LRT project? When is the official estimated start date for it?

It's moved from an "if" to a "when" now? When did that happen? What did I miss?

Aegis · #**3910** Posted **Oct 9, 2011, 4:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YYCguys

It's moved from an "if" to a "when" now? When did that happen? What did I miss?

I was just wondering about the timeline that was made public, e.g. 2015-2017, or if it was in the far distant future such as 2020+.

frinkprof · #**3911** Posted **Oct 9, 2011, 4:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aegis

I was just wondering about the timeline that was made public, e.g. 2015-2017, or if it was in the far distant future such as 2020+.

No timeline has been made public or official. Could anytime between 2017 and the apocalypse.

Aegis · #**3912** Posted **Oct 9, 2011, 8:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by frinkprof

No timeline has been made public or official. Could anytime between 2017 and the apocalypse.

But the minimum start date is 2017?

You Need A Thneed · #**3913** Posted **Oct 9, 2011, 9:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aegis

But the minimum start date is 2017?

Without other levels of government giving Calgary huge amounts of cash, I can't see the NC line going ahead before 2025.

Bassic Lab · #**3914** Posted **Oct 9, 2011, 9:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by frinkprof

No timeline has been made public or official. Could anytime between 2017 and the apocalypse.

Is the SE LRT still scheduled for around 2017 or has that been pushed back?

frinkprof · #**3915** Posted **Oct 9, 2011, 11:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aegis

But the minimum start date is 2017?

Again, nothing official.

There is no official timeline for the any LRT extension beyond the WestLRT and the current extensions of the NW and NE lines.

I mentioned 2017 because that is when the MSI funding structure from the province is up for renewal. Who knows what other funding initiative for even alternative municipal funding may be in place between now and then?

mersar · #**3916** Posted **Oct 11, 2011, 7:19 PM**

The platform extension at Brentwood is partially opened now. The new shelter that was built on the existing platform is accessible and only the last 1/4 of the platform is barricaded off. Didn't notice if the second set of realtime signs have been installed, but my guess is they haven't yet.

kap384 · #**3917** Posted **Oct 11, 2011, 8:59 PM**

The Centre Street platform extension is showing progress as well. 2 precast panels were in place as of this morning and the new caternary poles went up over the weekend.

Cage · #**3918** Posted **Oct 11, 2011, 10:21 PM**

I keep seeing a few all white SD-160s (new seating config) going on the 201 line. These trains are all white except for th very top, which is the standard red.

So were these trains pushed into service before the paint dried, or will there be a new colour scheme?

mersar · #**3919** Posted **Oct 11, 2011, 10:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cage

I keep seeing a few all white SD-160s (new seating config) going on the 201 line. These trains are all white except for th very top, which is the standard red.

So were these trains pushed into service before the paint dried, or will there be a new colour scheme?

From what I've heard the paint shop is behind and it was decided it was better to put them into service without the full paint job then to leave them sit when they are needed (theres quite a few units that are waiting for mechanical repairs)

5seconds · #**3920** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 5:20 PM**

New bus change open houses due to West LRT changes:

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/west_lrt_oh_2011.html

Lakeview: Wednesday, October 26 from 4:30-9:00 p.m.
Lakeview Community Association, 6110 – 34 Street SW Main Hall

Beltline: Thursday, November 10, 2011 from 4:30-9:00 p.m.
First Baptist Church of Calgary, 1311 - 4 Street SW

Shaganappi: Thursday, November 24, 2011 from 4:00-9:00 p.m.
Shaganappi Community Hall, 2516 - 14 Avenue SW