Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[deasine]

Originally Posted by Jebby

I would have added a third gate. Have two small gates, each dedicated in one direction and one bi-directional wide gat.

Not wide enough for that: they need to have enough space for an emergency door.

I think two gates should be adequate for this specific entrance since it's mostly traffic coming from the mall (there should be more traffic going onto the Canada Line than traffic exiting the station).

As for other stations, those with few gates, I actually hope there isn't a dedicated direction. It sounds chaotic, but having bi-directional gates works amazingly well in New York.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by deasine

Here's a picture I took of the upcoming Aberdeen Square Station Entrance: 2 fare gates on the overhead connecting bridge with 1 Compass TVM.

Thanks.

Why would they site the gates behind the post? I could easily see people not seeing the gates and head for the opening - i.e. oops glass barrier - SMACK!

[deasine]

I took it at an angle, but if you are looking at it head on, you'll definitely see the gates in a clearer view.

[go_leafs_go02]

Expo line out both directions between Columbia and Scott Road. Of course, that means all riders need to take a shuttle over the Pattullo Bridge.

Talk about a nightmare. The system certainly is having it's fair share of issues lately.

[MIPS]

Another switch problem....
I wonder what keeps causing them to jam? lack of a greasing schedule?

[DKaz]

It was a gong show. There was no Scott Road to Columbia shuttle train, just King George to Columbia segregated service. They got all Millenium bound people to go onto the outbound platform at Columbia Station but then they ended up running ALL trains off the inbound platform. What a nightmare. So train would come in from King George then head back, then from VCC-Clark then head back, then from Waterfront then head back. Meanwhile passengers on the outbound platform waiting to go towards VCC-Clark would go WTF, and to make matters worse, a cop was at the bottom of the stairs of the inbound platform preventing people from getting onto the overcrowded platform. There was no cop at the 4th St entrance.

FYI, the switch that was stuck was on the outbound side where the Millenium Line spurs off. So of course they wouldn't want to run trains on the outbound side so they can fix that switch. I blame this on a total lack of communication between Skytrain Control and the attendants at the station.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Another switch problem....
I wonder what keeps causing them to jam? lack of a greasing schedule?

Age - The switch controllers are all being replaced in an ongoing project til 2014.

Expo Line: Switch Control System Upgrades

What's Happening: We're replacing the six Expo Line switch controllers which allow trains to change tracks when needed. Phase 1 includes SkyTrain’s Operations and Maintenance Centre (OMC) yard, Phase 2 includes Stadium Station, and Phase 3 includes Metrotown, New Westminster, Surrey Central, and OMC Main Line.

When: Phase 1 is already complete; Phase 2 target completion date is June 2013; and, Phase 3 target completion date is September 2014

http://www.translink.ca/ontrack

[CoryHolmes]

Does anyone know if the B-Line in Surrey is still on track for a September start?

[nname]

Originally Posted by CoryHolmes

Does anyone know if the B-Line in Surrey is still on track for a September start?

Yes

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

Expo line out both directions between Columbia and Scott Road. Of course, that means all riders need to take a shuttle over the Pattullo Bridge.

Talk about a nightmare. The system certainly is having it's fair share of issues lately.

And yet people still ask for the unrealistic option of 24 hour service. Sorry, all systems need proper downtime for maintenance and repair, especially an automatic system.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

And yet people still ask for the unrealistic option of 24 hour service. Sorry, all systems need proper downtime for maintenance and repair, especially an automatic system.

24 hour service on Friday and Saturday nights is not unreasonable with low frequencies such as 20 minute headways, especially when it is a driverless system.

[Metro-One]

At the most I could see possibly happening is Friday and Saturday nights with 30 minute frequencies.

Even in Japan the entire rail system shuts down every night before 1AM. This includes the heavy rail and metro lines.

[Kapten]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

And yet people still ask for the unrealistic option of 24 hour service. Sorry, all systems need proper downtime for maintenance and repair, especially an automatic system.

When I lived in Chicago the red and blue line trains (elevated/subway) operated 24/7 service; they still do. NYC's entire subway system is 24/7. I think that Skytrain should be capable of 24/7 service on Friday & Saturday nights and 4 AM to 2 AM service on other nights. As the city grows there will be more people working later shifts and it is important to serve this population (and others) with rapid transit.

[Waders]

I think a factor why 24 hours skytrain service hasn't happen is the extra cost involved. Staff manning the control center, attendant, police all need to be on duty. Also connecting bus service need to be available.

[nname]

Originally Posted by Kapten

When I lived in Chicago the red and blue line trains (elevated/subway) operated 24/7 service; they still do. NYC's entire subway system is 24/7. I think that Skytrain should be capable of 24/7 service on Friday & Saturday nights and 4 AM to 2 AM service on other nights. As the city grows there will be more people working later shifts and it is important to serve this population (and others) with rapid transit.

Chicago's red line and some of NYC subways have 4 tracks, thus they can keep trains running on 2 tracks while performing works on 2 others.

Another thing is that the train there are manually driven, hence they do allow maintenance of the track during operational hours with tracks still energized. All they need to do is to have the driver to stop and/or slow the train down to snail pace when passing the workers. If you are from Chicago, I'm sure you would've known this as it could happen anytime during the day. It would be very dangerous for the workers here when the trains are all computer driven and running at full speed. The only time I've seen working on the tracks is on the Millennium Line, where there are hand rails and larger buffer between the tracks.

[Kapten]

Originally Posted by nname

Chicago's red line and some of NYC subways have 4 tracks, thus they can keep trains running on 2 tracks while performing works on 2 others.

Another thing is that the train there are manually driven, hence they do allow maintenance of the track during operational hours with tracks still energized. All they need to do is to have the driver to stop and/or slow the train down to snail pace when passing the workers. If you are from Chicago, I'm sure you would've known this as it could happen anytime during the day. It would be very dangerous for the workers here when the trains are all computer driven and running at full speed. The only time I've seen working on the tracks is on the Millennium Line, where there are hand rails and larger buffer between the tracks.

Skytrain track maintenance & capital project work is performed regularly during normal operating hours. For example, the Expo Line power rail replacement project kicks off at 8 PM Sunday through Thursday nights. Riders experience delays similar to the ones I experienced in Chicago (5 to 15 minutes) due to single tracking and other measures. This obviously presents no danger to the workers on the Expo Line (Canada Line track maintenance is also taking place this week during revenue service hours starting at 11:30 PM).

Again, I think it would be reasonable to offer 24 hour service on Friday and Saturday nights and extended service hours on other nights.

[xd_1771]

Originally Posted by CoryHolmes

Does anyone know if the B-Line in Surrey is still on track for a September start?

There's no longer any reason for the 96 to not begin in September. The funding is in place; the Newton Exchange improvements have been completed; and I have witnessed that the D60LF artic buses have been tested on Surrey roads.

[Mac Write]

How about if/when the full Highway 1 Rapid Bus and 96 B-Line will be running there full original routes? (also anyone have links to maps of there original routes)?

[Tfreder]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

How about if/when the full Highway 1 Rapid Bus and 96 B-Line will be running there full original routes? (also anyone have links to maps of there original routes)?

There's no date as to when the full 96 b-line and full rapid bus would be implemented because translink has not secured funding for it.

The full 96 B-line would've been from Guildford to Whiterock via Newton and Surrey Central, with 7-8min frequencies between Newton-Guilford, and with 15 min frequencies between Newton-Whiterock.

The only difference between the current rapid bus and the full rapid bus (At launch) would've been 10 min frequencies off-peak in the full version. There aren't really any other rapid bus routes that have been proposed; they're just speculation and concepts (ie: not happening any time soon).

[Mac Write]

My understanding, was the rapid bus would go at least laughed mall. And maybe even further into Vancouver. Wasn't this on the original map?