Heavy Rail, Commuter Rail, & Intercity Transportation

[spm2013]

Originally Posted by Jebby

There just isn't any economic reason to extend a high-speed (or even low-speed) line out to Hope, which has a population of 6,000.

Well you would assume they would build it for expanded use and not 6,000 people.

[jsbertram]

The issue of High Speed Rail between Calgary and Edmonton has hit the news again;

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/albert...peed+rail+link+report/9844254/story.html

This has been a recurring dream since the '60s (using the Turbo Trains), so its nice to see someone is still pursuing it.

They just need to get the good folks in Edmonton and Calgary to start having lots more babies, so by 2050 they'll have the population density to make this profitable.

As for the High Speed Rail dreams for Vancouver, it will run south to Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, L.A. and San Diego before a mile of HSR is built heading west towards Calgary en route to Toronto / Montreal.

[Henbo]

It would be interesting to see a study done on the profitability of "true HSR" between Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland.

An idea for increased ridership to Vancouver could be tunnelling the line south from downtown for a stop at YVR, followed by the line running down Hwy 99 to the border. Id also be curious at how much more traffic it would potentially generate for YVR

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Henbo

An idea for increased ridership to Vancouver could be tunnelling the line south from downtown for a stop at YVR...

Good God, I'm sure glad you're not in charge of how my tax dollars get spent.

We already have a rapid transit line running from downtown to the airport. In what world does it make any economic sense whatsoever to bore another tunnel for a service which will have only a tiny fraction of the runs and an even smaller percentage of ridership than the Canada Line has?

[Henbo]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

In what world does it make any economic sense whatsoever to bore another tunnel for a service which will have only a tiny fraction of the runs and an even smaller percentage of ridership than the Canada Line has?

In a world where you don't pay $4 to ride a bullet train.....

It would not shuttle people between downtown and YVR, but would be a stop for people coming up from the states to increase ridership on the line as a whole. (increasing demand).

Well a tunnel is expensive, Hwy 99 is relatively very flat, straight, and rural (which could make the route faster than alternative routes). Plus YVR is somewhat close to downtown, meaning this corridor might actually be the cheapest for the service you would get. High Revenue + Low Cost = Economic Sense

And the Massey Tunnel replacement is supposed to be designed for LRT

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Henbo

In a world where you don't pay $4 to ride a bullet train.....

It would not shuttle people between downtown and YVR, but would be a stop for people coming up from the states to increase ridership on the line as a whole. (increasing demand).

Well a tunnel is expensive, Hwy 99 is relatively very flat, straight, and rural (which could make the route faster than alternative routes). Plus YVR is somewhat close to downtown, meaning this corridor might actually be the cheapest for the service you would get. High Revenue + Low Cost = Economic Sense

And the Massey Tunnel replacement is supposed to be designed for LRT

If it's a HSR line to the USA with a stop at YVR, I think that's a very proactive idea.
However, even if the future Massey tunnel is designed for LRT, you'd need larger rolling stock (and faster) than just LRT, if youre going to Seattle and Portland.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Henbo

It would not shuttle people between downtown and YVR, but would be a stop for people coming up from the states to increase ridership on the line as a whole. (increasing demand).

That's exactly my point. Such a line would never carry anywhere near the volumes carried by the Canada Line, so the construction cost would have to be amortized over far fewer trips. That would make it prohibitively expensive - and the more expensive it is the lower the ridership will be.

You'll get 90% of the benefit at probably 50% or less of the overall cost if you skip the tunnel to downtown and just let people take the Canada Line to a YVR terminus. That will lower ticket prices and encourage ridership.

But in reality I think that HSR to Seattle is a pipe dream - there just isn't enough demand to come anywhere near making it economically feasible - not when 90% of the cross border traffic is just going into Blaine and Bellingham to buy cheap gas and groceries.

[bardak]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

You'll get 90% of the benefit at probably 50% or less of the overall cost if you skip the tunnel to downtown and just let people take the Canada Line to a YVR terminus. That will lower ticket prices and encourage ridership.

I would agree. I think that in Alberta an airport to airport line would be the best way to start things off. you would get the majority of the while avoiding the most expensive part of construction in both cities. And I believe Calgary has plans for LRT to the airport and that Edmonton's LRT could easily be extended to the airport.

[AverageJoe]

It looks like BNSF is starting a trial of routing coal empties from Roberts Bank through Langley, Abbotsford, Sumas, into Washington State. "'A test run is tentatively planned for July 3, with full operations beginning July 7,' BNSF spokesperson Gus Melonas said."

http://www.abbynews.com/news/264817611.html

[go_leafs_go02]

Full operations started today for BNSF trains on the old Interurban line through Langley & Abbotsford

• Video Link

2-3 trains per day, all in daylight, for the next two months or so.

[go_leafs_go02]

https://twitter.com/jadedkrystal/status/487022660744777729


https://twitter.com/ForSaleByMum/status/487022814029819904

The CP rail bridge running immediately west of the Oak Street Bridge is on fire.

Don't think they run trains over it too much anymore - since it doesn't connect to much in Richmond. Ties into the Arbutus rail corridor as well.

[jlousa]

*l* talk about coincidental timing.

[spm2013]

I guess they can still bring trains from that route next to the Fraser River into the yards at New Westminster.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jlousa

*l* talk about coincidental timing.

Hmm, CBC seems to be making that connection as well:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...-vancouver-s-oak-street-bridge-1.2701799

Another piece of railway history gone.

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by spm2013

I guess they can still bring trains from that route next to the Fraser River into the yards at New Westminster.

CP segment is completely severed from the CN segment (the connector was converted to a pedestrian/cycling trail) which parallels Shell Road. Univar is the only customer on this line.

Definitely an act of arson.

[spm2013]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

CP segment is completely severed from the CN segment (the connector was converted to a pedestrian/cycling trail) which parallels Shell Road. Univar is the only customer on this line.

Definitely an act of arson.

I meant if they wanted to get trains onto the Arbutus Corridor. That's correct right?

I wonder how they insure their bridges. And they saw people running from the scene so arson seems to be spot on.

[Axe]

Originally Posted by spm2013

I meant if they wanted to get trains onto the Arbutus Corridor. That's correct right?

I wonder how they insure their bridges. And they saw people running from the scene so arson seems to be spot on.

Take a look at google maps. On the Richmond side it is just a dead end.
The trains come though New Westminster

[WaxItYourself]

Originally Posted by Axe

Take a look at google maps. On the Richmond side it is just a dead end.
The trains come though New Westminster

After reading an article on it the line was taken off about 15 years ago. However, there are still trains that pass through at least once per week.

[red-paladin]

I really hope that someone didn't set it on fire because of the Arbutus issue

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

I really hope that someone didn't set it on fire because of the Arbutus issue

The timing does seem suspicious. Apparently some people were seen fleeing the scene, so there's at least a chance they'll be caught. Kinda dumb of them to do it in broad daylight - perhaps that suggests that it was done by some kids rather than by disgruntled garden box owners.

It's a shame to see these old wooden trestles go. If it's damaged badly enough and they decide to replace it then they'll probably put up one of those steel-and-concrete trestles like they have at the south end of the Fraser River Bridge beside the Patullo. IMHO they have no character at all. I guess it depends on how long the design and construction take, as well as the cost.