Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Ehlun

He's probably referring to Capstan Way Station which is being paid for by developers entirely. All $25 million.

http://www.richmond.ca/newsevents/city2012/capstanstnfunding.htm

Or hopefully he's referring to Woodlands Station(?)

I thought Capstan is already planned to be built (in part) with DCC money from both Pinnacle and Concord Pacific?

[DKaz]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

It all depends how full the car is too. I wonder if there's something they could do to improve airflow, if installing A/C is impossible.

They could, but I'm thinking of just driving to work June to August since I will no longer be tied down by the employer pass program and the days are nice and long that I'd enjoy driving.

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

It all depends how full the car is too. I wonder if there's something they could do to improve airflow, if installing A/C is impossible.

The three blowers on the roof should technically be able to ventilate the car well enough. I have no idea why they are so inefficient.

[quobobo]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

It all depends how full the car is too.

Yeah, that must be it - I do a reverse commute (trains usually half full, if that) and the MKIs are just fine in the summer.

[red-paladin]

Originally Posted by MIPS

The three blowers on the roof should technically be able to ventilate the car well enough. I have no idea why they are so inefficient.

You have made me envision Jeepney - style skytrains ....

[mezzanine]

i've never felt uncomfortable in the summer on a *moving* MK1. IMO there's a lot of air circulation even on a full car on a moving vehicle with an open window going ~ 50-80 km/hr.

knock on wood, all of the skytrain snafus where trains crawl have caught me in the cooler months...

[deasine]

I was thinking they would replace the old blue vinyl with the newer bluish violet fabric used on the new MK IIs and buses. Not really too much of a refurbishment if you ask me.

[Meraki]

Originally Posted by deasine

I was thinking they would replace the old blue vinyl with the newer bluish violet fabric used on the new MK IIs and buses. Not really too much of a refurbishment if you ask me.

This pilot train was a paint job done by a contractor. The full refurbishments will be done by BCRTC once the new maintenance shop opens.

[MIPS]

Are you sure it's a paint job and not just a massive vinyl skin set which can be easier to wipe grafitti off?

[spm2013]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Are you sure it's a paint job and not just a massive vinyl skin set which can be easier to wipe grafitti off?

From the Translink "Prez"

Fred Cummings ‏@skytrainprez 14 Nov
@SpiderRider3 @TransLink Some decals but completely repainted - inside and out.

[Ehlun]

Originally Posted by Meraki

This pilot train was a paint job done by a contractor. The full refurbishments will be done by BCRTC once the new maintenance shop opens.

Which leads me to conclude that this might not be the final 'refurbished' product.

One of the things that was mentioned is there would be a space for bicycles on the refurbished trains. Don't see that in the 'refurbished' train.

I'm surprised they didn't do anything to the bench seats in the middle either. Really thought they would take one of them out and space out the other ones.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Ehlun

I'm surprised they didn't do anything to the bench seats in the middle either. Really thought they would take one of them out and space out the other ones.

Those seats aren't going anywhere because right beneath them are equipment bays for much of the car's electronics.

[Waders]

I rode in the refurbished train #011 today. After the repainting and cleanup work, it certainly looks a lot cleaner and "newer". I like the light grey color used for the train interior. The seat frame is the original one but the seat cover was replaced with new vinyl coating(same material as before).

As mentioned in previous posts, the most noticable change is the replacement of double seat with single seat on both ends. So a total of 4 seats were removed. That leaves more standing room for passengers and strollers.

Pictures taken by me.


No more leg fight!

[Ehlun]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Those seats aren't going anywhere because right beneath them are equipment bays for much of the car's electronics.

Yeah, but they should be able to remove one of the seats and space out the rest.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Ehlun

Yeah, but they should be able to remove one of the seats and space out the rest.

not a problem if you want the space ... just have one cheek on each seat.
(I've seen this done waaaay too many times despite the 'look of death' from others)

Just don't be 'riding the pole'.

[Alpine]

When I first moved out to North Burnaby 4 years ago, the #136 ran every 15 minutes at peak hour. Those were the days, man. At least it's motivation for me to finally get my license. I couldn't imagine how bad it is out in the Tri-Cities.

Fun fact: CMBC operators were predicting 134/136 switching to shuttles as early as 2005.

[twoNeurons]

I'd liked to have seen all fold-up side seating... but the outcry would have been crazy.

[xd_1771]

Car 021 looks like it's about to get the repaint, I rode on it a few days ago and noticed the greyish theme inside. That one's going to be next.

[officedweller]

From CKNW:

Surrey looks to feds to kickstart light rail transit lines

Vancouver, BC, Canada / (CKNW AM) AM980
Shane Woodford
November 27, 2013 12:45 pm

The city of Surrey has three ready to go light rail transit projects and they want them built even if Translink and the province are lukewarm to the idea.

Councilor Tom Gill says they have applied to the federal government for $1.8 billion through the federal New Building Canada Plan.

Gill says the hope if federal funds are approved will light a fire under Translink and the province to play ball on the projects.

“What we are trying to do is heat things up and get some interest on the federal level and when you are dealing with 50-cents on the dollar I think it becomes a much more financially a better argument in terms of finding funding. So we are hopeful that both Translink and the province will be able to support us in terms of our endeavors.

Gill says it makes more fiscal sense to build at grade light rail rather than the elevated skytrain track Translink wants.

“We feel that within the means and being in that same funding envelope that we in fact could potentially be able to create our entire infrastructure at the same cost of the conventional Skytrain approach connecting both Langley and Surrey together. So we feel that those same dollars could be utilized in three different areas.”

Gill says if the money comes through Surrey will build all three lines as the projects are “ready to go.”

“We have got one rail that we are proposing to go down 104th. One that would continue from Fraser highway connecting into Langley. With a third track that would go down King George and potentially connect into White Rock. One of our biggest issues if not biggest issue in Surrey is the ability to afford transportation and having a healthy transportation network in the city.”

He is not able to say when Surrey might hear back from the federal government one way or another on the funding application.

http://www.cknw.com/2013/11/27/surrey-looks-to-feds-to-kickstart-light-rail-transit-lines/

[xd_1771]

The thing is, they know that their Light Rail plan doesn't fit in any way with the regional transportation strategy, and fails to meet all of the objective goals. Which is why this is what they're going to do: sidestep TransLink and transit planning and funding authorities to get their way.

It's madness. They continue to be utterly blind to the data that shows that Light Rail isn't going to work.

In my view, if this passes, it'll be the Canadian transportation scandal of the decade.

It makes me only happier about having moved to Burnaby.