Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[Waders]

I really hope the Capstan Way station funding model can be successful.
The budget shortfall for the Metrotown Station renovation can be partially resolved if the new developement like 'Silver', 'Metroplace' and 'Sovereign' can contribute to the cost as they all benefit from the proximity of the skytrain station.

[vanman]

^That is a good point, but most likely any increase in development costs will just be passed along to the consumer, driving up prices. Still if this is the only way to rehab the likes of Metrotown station, so be it. We will all be better off for it in the long run.

In other news, apparently Montreal is planning an elevated lrt line to its airport modeled on the Canada line. You know what they say, imitation is the best form of flattery...

[SpongeG]

ok this is probably dumb question, if i live in zone 2 (burnaby) and i want to go to zone 2 richmond, but i am going to travel through zone 1 Vancouver - can i do it on a 2 zone ticket or do i need a 3 zone ticket?

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by vanman

^That is a good point, but most likely any increase in development costs will just be passed along to the consumer, driving up prices. Still if this is the only way to rehab the likes of Metrotown station, so be it. We will all be better off for it in the long run.

In other news, apparently Montreal is planning an elevated lrt line to its airport modeled on the Canada line. You know what they say, imitation is the best form of flattery...

Talking about the Canada Line, small note.

I was at YVR last week and noticed they changed their way finding signs to say "Train to Downtown" from the old "Canada Line" messages.

A good move.

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

ok this is probably dumb question, if i live in zone 2 (burnaby) and i want to go to zone 2 richmond, but i am going to travel through zone 1 Vancouver - can i do it on a 2 zone ticket or do i need a 3 zone ticket?

Two zone, though I can't think of why you might think that it would require a three zone ticket.. could be one zone depending on where you board.

[SpongeG]

i thought so - i just thought i am crossing into one zone and back into another one

i want to buy a pass next month since i no longer qualify for a upass - damn having one of those was sweet

right now i am just using fare saver tickets to get around and am using two zone ones that i need

i used to drive to work in the past but its my first job downtown and its just not economical now

[deasine]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Talking about the Canada Line, small note.

I was at YVR last week and noticed they changed their way finding signs to say "Train to Downtown" from the old "Canada Line" messages.

A good move.

Yeah YVR revamped their signage. There's a lot more clearer signs now!

[rxp]

Originally Posted by deasine

Yeah YVR revamped their signage. There's a lot more clearer signs now!

pics?

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by vanman

^That is a good point, but most likely any increase in development costs will just be passed along to the consumer, driving up prices. Still if this is the only way to rehab the likes of Metrotown station, so be it. We will all be better off for it in the long run.

In other news, apparently Montreal is planning an elevated lrt line to its airport modeled on the Canada line. You know what they say, imitation is the best form of flattery...

Ain' it the truth !! Regarding this, I wonder what form of rail connection Toronto will use when it gets around to installing a rail link YYZ-downtown T.O.? It will simply have to be faster, sleeker, more frequent than the others because ... well, because, .... I mean we're talking about Toronto ... I mean it just HAS to be the snazziest, the best, ...
it just has to.... *1 (footnote)

(love the place anyway; Hi Kev, Hi Susan, Clare, wherever you are now ....)
*1: as declared by -unwritten but adhered to-Canadian Constitutional Law

[SpongeG]

they are planning a heavy rail i think which will be non stop to downtown

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

they are planning a heavy rail i think which will be non stop to downtown

Yeah, that fits.

[SpongeG]

although it sounds like it won't be happenning in our lifetime

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

although it sounds like it won't be happenning in our lifetime

Do you really think so? I would have thought they'd have started it in about 5 years, maybe 10 at the ouside! Wow, I guess I got something wrong. Why so long as you say, anyway? Are they going to build TGV's in a tunnel or what? Or is it just a case of awkward city infrastructure to get around of?

[cc85]

The Toronto AirRail Link's construction is underway.

[nname]

It would be more of a Go train-styled (commuter) service, using DMU mostly on existing commuter track. There will be 2 intermediate stops between the airport and Union (downtown) stations. End-to-end travel time would be 25min and estimated ridership at the projected 2015 opening is 5000/day, with a train every 15 min.

[trofirhen]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d8/Toronto_ARL.jpg

This is what the trains will look like, anyway.

[st7860]

However regardless of whichever type of trains they chose for Toronto I don't think they'll be able to have a train pulling into the station as few as 20 seconds after the previous train left like what often happens with the skytrain in Vancouver.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by st7860

However regardless of whichever type of trains they chose for Toronto I don't think they'll be able to have a train pulling into the station as few as 20 seconds after the previous train left like what often happens with the skytrain in Vancouver.

Does that ever happen on the Canada Line, too? In any case our trip is no longer than theirs, is, as you say, more frequent anyway, and uses nice clean electricity. No diesel fumes. Hah!

[st7860]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Does that ever happen on the Canada Line, too? In any case our trip is no longer than theirs, is, as you say, more frequent anyway, and uses nice clean electricity. No diesel fumes. Hah!

the canada line doesn't have enough trainsets to make that happen. with the expo line it can happen in as little as 12 seconds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq3f7_niQas&feature=related

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by st7860

However regardless of whichever type of trains they chose for Toronto I don't think they'll be able to have a train pulling into the station as few as 20 seconds after the previous train left like what often happens with the skytrain in Vancouver.

You should probably compare it with other similar services around the world. 15-minute service for a 25-minute express service is quite good and in line with airport express trains in Tokyo, London, Paris and Osaka. In addition, with electrification and further improvements, that time will be able to come down quite a bit. Pearson int'l is only ~27km away, but extending the metro to it is not as attractive as in Vancouver.

• Pearson is double the distance from downtown. (27km vs. 13.5km)
• Toronto metro service is about 50% slower than SkyTrain (~30km/h vs. ~45km/h due to station spacing and slower accelerating trains.
• The subway crosses town, but doesn't go right downtown

Vancouver's airport is close enough to be on the metro line. Heathrow is connected to the underground but can take up to an hour to get to where you're going in London. Heathrow also has an express rail link now.

We're fortunate to have a major airport close enough to downtown but far enough that it doesn't affect the quality of life of too many residents.