Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion - Page 645

MIPS · #**12881** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 4:09 AM**

Could be the contacts gave out. Walk the bridge on a cold night and you can usually see a great lightshow as the trains travel across.

Again, I've never had confidence in that the Canada Line was properly built.

dpogue · #**12882** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 5:16 AM**

Yeah, it definitely looks like arcing from these two videos taken on-board:

• Video Link

• Video Link

You can hear the train stop moving during the second video.

queetz@home · #**12883** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 5:46 AM**

The two videos above ain't working....

MIPS · #**12884** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 6:20 AM**

-Thank you tGill-

gillty · #**12885** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 6:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpogue

Yeah, it definitely looks like arcing from these two videos taken on-board:

• Video Link

• Video Link

You can hear the train stop moving during the second video.

Fixed the embeds.

ninjakafi_81 · #**12886** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 7:01 AM**

When I heard that a train caught on fire this afternoon, I booked it to Richmond to see if I could snap some pics or shoot a video of it. But by the time I arrived the train was hauled away and everything was back to regular service. From those videos above, I couldn't really tell what caused the fire to happen. Was it some kind of electrical problem or something different ?

Oh and also I was able to ride a 12023 ( 2012 NFI XDE60 ) on the 430 to Metrotown Stn this evening. It's currently doing a 401 and will do a 410 as well.

dpogue · #**12887** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 8:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tGill

Fixed the embeds.

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninjakafi_81

When I heard that a train caught on fire this afternoon, I booked it to Richmond to see if I could snap some pics or shoot a video of it. But by the time I arrived the train was hauled away and everything was back to regular service. From those videos above, I couldn't really tell what caused the fire to happen. Was it some kind of electrical problem or something different ?

Yeah, here's a video showing the train moving along the guideway while sparking: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153494831914768&pnref=story

deasine · #**12888** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 1:36 PM**

Hopefully no one was hurt. I'm sure ProTransBC has some explaining to do, and possibly could be fined for not meeting performance targets depending on the terms of agreement settled.

red-paladin · #**12889** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 4:48 PM**

Pretty disturbing to see. I think the biggest explanation needed is why didn't the train stop as soon as the arcing started so the train could be evacuated?

Meraki · #**12890** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 8:56 PM**

Go Rotem! Die Bombardier!

Oh, wait.

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-paladin

Pretty disturbing to see. I think the biggest explanation needed is why didn't the train stop as soon as the arcing started so the train could be evacuated?

The first thing I thought when I saw the still image is "People didn't break out of the train the one time it was probably justified?"

jsbertram · #**12891** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 10:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Real question, but do heavy rail vehicles in general de-rail much more than ALRT? I don't think there is a single HRT line that has never had a de-railing.

Also, I am guessing this is an InTransit issue, not Translink? (Although either way people will blame Translink).

And do you have a fake question too??

Anything running on rails can derail. Usually because of poor maintenance or improper operation by the train crews.

NYC Subway had a derailment earlier this year. The post-mortem report showed that a section of rail that caused the derailment had already been replaced twice before, and there were broken ties, plates and joint-connectors on that 20 foot rail segment. The report indicates that because the track maintenance duties were handled by different crews and supervisors, there was a bit too much 'not my problem' attitude involved and the various track faults weren't reported to the right crews for repair.

Several years ago, there was a train derailment involving VIA rail. The train was being operated by a trainee engineer, and the supervisor knew they had been diverted to a parallel track on the ROW because of maintenance on the mainline tracks. After passing the maintenance crews, the trainee sped up to normal operating speed as instructed. Everyone in the cab forgot they were on the diversion tracks until they got to the switch that would put them back on the mainline, but were traveling too fast for the switch.

jsbertram · #**12892** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 11:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meraki

Go Rotem! Die Bombardier!

Oh, wait.

The first thing I thought when I saw the still image is "People didn't break out of the train the one time it was probably justified?"

I would think that if there was a electrical fireworks show outside the car, it would be safer inside away from the sparks and smoke. At least for a while.

From the various videos it looks like a classic case of a power shoe breaking off and arcing across the power rails.
Pretty impressive when it happens at 600 volts.
More impressive when its 25,000 volts and overhead power (search youtube)

I always remember how mad oPa would get when the "factory installed smoke" was let out of an electric motor.

Tourist9394 · #**12893** Posted **Dec 21, 2014, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xerx

I thought that Translink was never a Crown Corporation like BC Ferries was or like BC Hydro is. I'd also like to point out that while the MTR is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, it's still majority owned by the Hong Kong government.

Translink was never a Crown Corp, but BC Transit is. I didn't realize BC Transit is still operating the rural areas to this day.

There were instances where the CEO of MTR had to attend Legislative Council meetings. The Current CEO, Jay Walder, was scolded by multiple council members in Chinglish. Here is a clip:

• Video Link

The video demonstrates while MTR is a public corporation, it has an obligation to the shareholders, but their power is often kept in check the mandarins in Legislative Council of Hong Kong.

MIPS · #**12894** Posted **Dec 22, 2014, 2:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meraki

Go Rotem!The first thing I thought when I saw the still image is "People didn't break out of the train the one time it was probably justified?"

TransLink just spent HOW much time and money telling people to stay in the trains unless instructed? Pick one or the other because they won't let us do both.
I think the better solution would of been to use the intercom to have the power killed.

Meraki · #**12895** Posted **Dec 22, 2014, 7:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIPS

TransLink just spent HOW much time and money telling people to stay in the trains unless instructed? Pick one or the other because they won't let us do both.
I think the better solution would of been to use the intercom to have the power killed.

Fire? Evacuate. Brief delay? Don't be a jerk.

There is a middle ground, you know.

BCPhil · #**12896** Posted **Dec 22, 2014, 7:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIPS

TransLink just spent HOW much time and money telling people to stay in the trains unless instructed? Pick one or the other because they won't let us do both.
I think the better solution would of been to use the intercom to have the power killed.

People leaving the trains during the Skytrain breakdown is a bit of an embellishment. People were stranded for a long time, in packed cars, in the baking sun, without AC or word from anyone. We have had plenty of breakdowns in the past where people didn't leave trains because they were an appropriate length.

Average people can only take so much. Combine that with the fact that there are bound to be a few people with anxiety or claustrophobia problems out of thousands trapped and it is a recipe for people giving up and walking out of a train.

I'm getting tired of people blaming the VICTIMS of the Skytrain breakdown for the breakdown (while everyone delayed is a victim of sorts, people inside had it much worse. I would much rather be outside looking in than inside looking out). Yes leaving the trains made it worse, but it was already so fucked up for such a long time by that point that you can't blame them for giving up. Translink's own review into the situation said so much (between the lines) because they pointed out the problems and limitation of moving only 1 train at a time manually. It would drive anyone crazy.

The guideways have walking areas for a reason. So people can escape the trains in an emergency. A fire qualifies as an emergency. If there were flames or even just a tiny bit of smoke in the train, people should get out ASAP. And people aren't going to jump out the door near where the arching or flames are coming from, so don't worry about people getting electrocuted. They will instinctively get out the doors away from the danger.

People have instincts that are actually pretty good. It's like how long do you wait for an elevator? Only 1 second then give up, or forever until it comes? People aren't so binary.

Vancity · #**12897** Posted **Dec 22, 2014, 8:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tourist9394

Translink was never a Crown Corp, but BC Transit is. I didn't realize BC Transit is still operating the rural areas to this day.

There were instances where the CEO of MTR had to attend Legislative Council meetings. The Current CEO, Jay Walder, was scolded by multiple council members in Chinglish. Here is a clip:

• Video Link

The video demonstrates while MTR is a public corporation, it has an obligation to the shareholders, but their power is often kept in check the mandarins in Legislative Council of Hong Kong.

Don't even think that a conversation like that ever occurs with Translink, cause nobody there is held responsible.

DKaz · #**12898** Posted **Dec 22, 2014, 10:21 PM**

A Mark-II Skytrain I was on arced/sparked/flashed back in 2006 westbound towards 22nd St. Speculation is we ran over a crow.

Tourist9394 · #**12899** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 12:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vancity

Don't even think that a conversation like that ever occurs with Translink, cause nobody there is held responsible.

That is exactly my point, Translink operates similar to other Crown Corp: BC ferries, ICBC etc. They are an old boy's club, runn by politicians and their shady friends, no way to keep the balance of power in check. In Hong Kong, these Legco meetings are only for show, so Legco members can grab attention for more votes from the public, but at least there are discussions.

queetz@home · #**12900** Posted **Dec 23, 2014, 8:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tourist9394

That is exactly my point, Translink operates similar to other Crown Corp: BC ferries, ICBC etc. They are an old boy's club, runn by politicians and their shady friends, no way to keep the balance of power in check. In Hong Kong, these Legco meetings are only for show, so Legco members can grab attention for more votes from the public, but at least there are discussions.

And yet there are some people in this forum that would defend Translink as if they can do no wrong because they think by doing so, it would bring them the Broadway Skytrain extension....