Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[xd_1771]

Well if there is a point to make that this particular type of incident can unpredictably disrupt services for this long and is completely impossible with grade separation, then I don't see why not.

Speaking of stats, I'm pretty certain that SkyTrain is better than most LRT systems in terms of on-time performance. I know Portland MAX is between 75-80% in terms of an on-time rating (measured to a 5-minute standard; SkyTrain is measured to a 2-minute standard) and has both Calgary-like separated ROW sections, and some lines with on-street sections.

[cornholio]

Ground LRT is useless. If you want to go cheap set up a BRT service and you will have better service and service reliability in the skytrain range as the frequency will be high and any accidents can be bipassed.

[cornholio]

Out of curiosity as the BRT thing is just my opinion what are the advantages of LRT beyond a visible route as a result of embedded rails?

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by cornholio

Out of curiosity as the BRT thing is just my opinion what are the advantages of LRT beyond a visible route as a result of embedded rails?

I think the biggest advantage over BRT is that LRT vehicles generally have larger capacities and can be coupled into trains which can result in a significantly lower operating cost (1 driver can move a lot more people).

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

I think the biggest advantage over BRT is that LRT vehicles generally have larger capacities and can be coupled into trains which can result in a significantly lower operating cost (1 driver can move a lot more people).

They have some pretty big buses with very high capacities, as high as LRT vehicles. Regardless there needs to be a balance between frequency and capacity. The capacity of a good BRT system sufficient with the imo minimum frequencies that should be used to make it a viable rapid transit system. The beauty of a BRT system is the flexibility of merging express buses and regular buses, and branching the BRT line out. Like I say though this is my opinion and I could be willing to change it, I used to think the opposite actually..

[Track]

My one issue with BRT (at least as proposed by Translink) is that it uses diesel, which apparently isn't too great for the environment/health in general. If we could use some other energy source that remained low cost, however, then it certainly provides many advantages over LRT, which the distinct disadvantage that it isnt rail and, therefore, will probably draw fewer riders.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

To be fair, Skytrain has had its share of schedule disruptions too. I wouldn't place too much credence on a single incident - arguments based on a comparison of overall service reliability stats would hold a lot more weight.

i used to work at metrotown in 91/92 and i was surprised by how many times the skytrain wasn't running due to an "incident" or medical emergency, had to catch a bus quite a few times

i used it a lot last year when i was going to school downtown and disruptions were not too bad but happenned a few times a month, luckily i was only late twice but to be waiting for more than 5 minutes at 6:30 am ish at broadway happenned a few times, considering most mornings the trains were only seconds apart, was also quite a few times where the tran stopped at or stopped just a short distance from stadium station and a couple times there was some problem where no trains were coming from downtown in the afternoon, once waited over 20 minutes to get out, trains were however able to get to waterfront with fairly normal frequency and people were going there and switching to the canada line and getting out of downtown that way

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i used it a lot last year when i was going to school downtown and disruptions were not too bad but happenned a few times a month, luckily i was only late twice but to be waiting for more than 5 minutes at 6:30 am ish at broadway happenned a few times...

Consider yourself lucky - compared to bus frequency and reliability Skytrain is terrific. And it's not like the old days when they'd have hour-long shutdowns when their computer system crashed and, as I understand it, they had to reinitialize it by confirming and re-entering all of the train locations manually (or some other such thing).

[MetroRailRoad]

I shot these two video a few weeks ago. This is my first attempt in publishing transit video on the internet. Check it out.

• Video Link

• Video Link

I am the copyright holder of both videos.

[DKaz]

King George Station this morning at 6:30am, Tweeted by @mrtumu

[Klazu]

Is it always that busy or was there just a delay in service?

[Spork]

Delay due to a switch problem between Joyce and Royal Oak (Metrotown switch?). It was still catching up (packed trains) at 7:15.

[Gordon]

I wonder shy Translink doesn't get the city of Vancouver To allow the #99 to have signal priority on Broadway?

[crazytown]

Likely because they want to make it as painful as possible to ensure that they get first priority for rapid transit expansion.

[cabotp]

I think it has more to due with the fact that Translink does not have the authority to implement signal priority themselves on a route. The City of Vancouver has that authority. Translink can ask for it but they may not get it.

Keep in mind also that while having signal priority on Broadway for the 99 might improve the service for that route. It will cause a disruption to all N/S routes to both transit and traffic. This is why an at grade line along Broadway would be a major disaster.

[Zassk]

Surely there are too many buses to make signal priority feasible. The buses come every minute or less on Broadway, and would need green lights 100% of the time.

[CBeats]

Originally Posted by Zassk

Surely there are too many buses to make signal priority feasible. The buses come every minute or less on Broadway, and would need green lights 100% of the time.

This^^^

[cabotp]

Originally Posted by Zassk

Surely there are too many buses to make signal priority feasible. The buses come every minute or less on Broadway, and would need green lights 100% of the time.

Which is why I mentioned that it would cause a disruption on all the N/S routes. And why and at grade train along that route would not work if we want to keep the same frequency or close to it.

[Vonny]

Originally Posted by crazytown

Likely because they want to make it as painful as possible to ensure that they get first priority for rapid transit expansion.

Yes, you are certainly on something, thought, City of Vancouver doesn't pay a dime on bus service in general.

Between full signal preemption (what is not practical on Broadway) and doing nothing there is a wealth of options, starting by 24/24 bus lane, as mentioned
here
http://voony.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/improving-bus-service-on-broadway-and-elsewhere/

The fact nothing is done suggest crazytown is very right.

[tybuilding]

I was pretty impressed with the flexibility of the light rail system in this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO3S2UBx2Fo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

It starts on a heavy rail system, then goes on a light rail system and ends up as a tram system.