Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[logan5]

There must some potential for a walk on ferry to work otherwise the service wouldn't keep resurfacing again, so what has changed since the last service ended in 2006? Well, there are a lot of walk ons now at BC Ferries because of the high price of driving on; trip time would be 68 minutes vs the previous 80 minute sail time; new technology makes such trips more palatable; because of the new Canada Line, YVR would be a 1 hour 45 minute trip from Nanaimo; there's a hotel development linked to the new service. I think it could work.

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by logan5

Looks like we're gonna get another foot ferry service between Vancouver and Nanaimo. It would be DT to DT and would take 68 minutes and would supposedly open Nanaimo up as a Vancouver suburb.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/brit...ould-set-sail-by-spring/article14762399/

This is good news. They should really partner with one of those co op car share things and a car rental company.

[Mac Write]

What would the cost be per ticket? Thanks to my C.N.I.B. card I only pay $7.80 for BC Ferries+a 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 comes on for the same price.

[nname]

Most likely you won't got much discount since its a private company...

I don't know how well it will work, but seems like its very very hard to run transportation company here... The ferry service to Nanaimo shut down twice.. Both the Coastal Link Ferries and water taxi to Bowen Island are gone, and the Aldergrove Trolley didn't even last 2 months before it went under...

[DKaz]

Mission to Vancouver is 73 minutes on the WCE.

The real challenge is that the boats will run nearly empty to start. I doubt there is much demand for this service outside of tourists, students, etc. Unlike a crown corporation, private businesses do not have the luxury of being able to bleed money for the first five years of service waiting for ridership to build up to its full potential.

[Porfiry]

Originally Posted by DKaz

Unlike a crown corporation, private businesses do not have the luxury of being able to bleed money for the first five years of service waiting for ridership to build up to its full potential.

That's clearly not a true statement. It all depends who the investors are, how deep their pockets are, and how disciplined and patient they are.

[DKaz]

Besides Aquabus and False Creek Ferry, name me a company that has succeeded with a private ferry service so far in Vancouver so far.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by DKaz

Besides Aquabus and False Creek Ferry, name me a company that has succeeded with a private ferry service so far in Vancouver so far.

I'm not familiar with any specifics, but there are a lot of water taxis that run around the Bowen and the Gulf Islands which seem to be doing OK...

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by DKaz

Besides Aquabus and False Creek Ferry, name me a company that has succeeded with a private ferry service so far in Vancouver so far.

I think the city is prime for a duck-boat style tourist bus. Does that count?

[Kapten]

Originally Posted by DKaz

Besides Aquabus and False Creek Ferry, name me a company that has succeeded with a private ferry service so far in Vancouver so far.

The passenger-only ferry service between the Langdale terminal on Sunshine Coast and Gambier/Keats islands is run by a private company. BC Ferries opted to outsource this route many years ago.

Although not serving Vancouver, the Victoria Clipper ferry service has been a successful link between Seattle and Victoria for many years.

[MIPS]

Went down yesterday for school related work and had a bit of spare time to see how the reconnection of the Bombardier building/OMC No. 2 was going along.

Images courtesy of MIPS

Out in the parking lot they have power rails, reaction rail and aluminum covers. They appear to be rebuilding the switch on the west end of the bridge as well.



They have also fenced off the side of the building now.

[xd_1771]

^ Hmm, confirming the possibility of ballast LIM track. This could be interesting maybe 40 years down the road, i.e. while debating a rail line extension on the Highway 1 or 99 median?

[Mac Write]

First how did you get access to take the photos. second would a ballest be as sturdy as having a concrete bed? Would the cost savings be that huge for construction? but then what would the long term costs be? example ballest replacement, rail replacement, shifting over time etc?

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

First how did you get access to take the photos. second

The parking lot isn't fenced so you can walk right up to everything. The last pic though had me poking the camera through the fence.
Looking at how they have bolted the reaction rail and rails to the concrete ties I think a little bit of shifting will be okay however I'm no engineer so the secret might be in the massive amount of gravel they put down.

[TransitFreak]

I think within a train yard scenario, concrete ballasts are fine, as the speeds won't be too fast in there...I believe they've used that in the OMC before anyways. Also, the Canada Line OMC uses it too...

High speed though, don't think it will hold up well...keep in mind how slow they go over switches now, and that's with a concrete slab...

[rxp]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Went down yesterday for school related work and had a bit of spare time to see how the reconnection of the Bombardier building/OMC No. 2 was going along.

Images courtesy of MIPS

Out in the parking lot they have They appear to be rebuilding the switch on the west end of the bridge as well.

They have also fenced off the side of the building now.

Didnt the government sell this? did they reacquire it? Anyone have more info on this or where to find it?

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by rxp

Didnt the government sell this? did they reacquire it? Anyone have more info on this or where to find it?

As far as I know, the province retained ownership or bought the building from Bombardier due to them not getting the contract for the Canada Line and then leased the building out. Details on this restoration of the facility to become a new OMC have been pretty much nonexistent. It's a bit of a messy story all in all.

Judging from executive reports and such, it'll primarily be used for refurbishment of the Mk 1s rather than heavy maintenance which would presumably continue to take place at the primary OMC.

[GeeCee]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chsscassidy/9512515943/

[DKaz]

Originally Posted by TransitFreak

I think within a train yard scenario, concrete ballasts are fine, as the speeds won't be too fast in there...I believe they've used that in the OMC before anyways. Also, the Canada Line OMC uses it too...

High speed though, don't think it will hold up well...keep in mind how slow they go over switches now, and that's with a concrete slab...

West Coast Express travels at up to 120 km/h on wooden ties on a gravel bed and take those switches at up to 80 km/h. Still might not be suitable for LIM but they could figure something out for the power rail, which could make a relatively inexpensive White Rock extension a possibility for the non-LIM Canada Line.

[Mac Write]

I don't think anyone wants to see the weed called Canada Line go any further into Vancouver. How would banked corners be handled with a non concrete base?