Millennium Line - Evergreen Extension | Completed

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

We know now that a station like Bridgeport can have a set of inbound/outbound tracks on one side and two sets of inbound/outbound tracks on the other side (in this case going to the YVR and Brighouse terminals). The added engineering costs & extra expense for the flying junction likely saved money by simplifying the platform & tracks in the Bridgeport station layout.

That junction just outbound of Bridgeport takes up an awful lot of room because of the need for enough track length to get the inbound YVR track leg up high enough to clear the Richmond tracks. I'm pretty skeptical that there would have been enough room at Lougheed to do this given the tight curve needed to align the new guideway onto North Road. They had a lot of vacant land to work with in that area when they built that RAV line, but the same isn't true of the area around Lougheed.

[DKaz]

I would love central signage like in the big cities. With the TVs they installed in some of the stations, you could assume it's feasible. Use half the screen space for train departure info, half for ads.

[AverageJoe]

Something like this? Colour-coded, train name, destination, number of cars, track number. Probably asking for far too much here.


(photo by me)

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by xd_1771

You and I probably know this best, being in Japan. At train stations here, having digital signage showing what trains are leaving at which platforms, AT MINIMUM at the station entrance is the norm here - at least on the JR railways (less so city subways, some private railways). At least, at bigger stations with two platforms. Single-platform stations or stations in the suburbs may or may not get digital display signage. The JR station closest to me (Michinoo) is a pretty small one-platform gig so there's no digital signage.

On the other hand, bigger Japanese train stations tend to be the confluence of many lines and thus are that complicated. I think the Expo/Millennium digital train signs that have been in service up to today have been quite adequate for our needs, especially given our train frequencies. An upgrade in-time for the new expansions, matching the increased complexity, would be great... but if it's a question of where taxpayer money should go, it might be portioned towards somewhere better. At least, that's what the TransLink scrutineers would say.

If cost is a problem then more advanced displays should first be installed at hubs (Broadway for sure, Waterfront, Lougheed, Columbia) and maybe also stations as they are being renovated.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by AverageJoe

(photo by me)

That's amazing - bullet trains departing every 5-10 minutes or so.

[SpongeG]

its too tough to stand on a platform for 3 minutes? during daytime i don't think one ever has to wait more than 3 minutes for a train to show up

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

its too tough to stand on a platform for 3 minutes? during daytime i don't think one ever has to wait more than 3 minutes for a train to show up

It's every 3 mins midday on the combined Expo / Millennium run - the Surrey section of Expo and the Millennium Line have 6 min service.

http://tripplanning.translink.ca/hiwire?.a=iScheduleLookupSearch&LineName=999&LineAbbr=999

[Large Cat]

Originally Posted by Sheba

It's every 3 mins midday on the combined Expo / Millennium run - the Surrey section of Expo and the Millennium Line have 6 min service.

http://tripplanning.translink.ca/hiwire?.a=iScheduleLookupSearch&LineName=999&LineAbbr=999

I've been wondering about this--when the Expo/Millenium interlining stops (on all stations pre-Lougheed), does this mean that for the time being we'll have a much slower frequency at all these stations? Or will there be a simultaneous addition of rolling stock to the Expo line to account for the loss of all the Millenium trains? I'm just thinking that it would suck for someone like me who lives in south Burnaby to have to wait twice as long for a train, since the only places I need to go are within the places that used to be interlined.

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by Large Cat

I've been wondering about this--when the Expo/Millenium interlining stops (on all stations pre-Lougheed), does this mean that for the time being we'll have a much slower frequency at all these stations? Or will there be a simultaneous addition of rolling stock to the Expo line to account for the loss of all the Millenium trains? I'm just thinking that it would suck for someone like me who lives in south Burnaby to have to wait twice as long for a train, since the only places I need to go are within the places that used to be interlined.

There is an order of MK III / Innovia Metro 300 trains in conjunction with the Evergreen Line. There shouldn't be any reduction in service elsewhere on the system.

[Olden Retreiver]

According to schedules announced when TBM Alice started digging last March, the Evergreen tunnel would take a little less than a year to dig. That original schedule would run to just about now, give or take a few weeks.

With the tunnel roughly one-third complete, and no progress since mid-late November, does anyone here still believe statements like "...the $1.4 billion project is on schedule and will be completed by the summer of 2016"?
Even at the original target rate, after tunneling resumes, it will take about 8 months just to get to the South Portal.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...has-confidence-in-construction-1.2940288

[SOSS]

I just can't see it remaining on time. Budget really depends on how the contract is worded as for who pays for overages. It's not like they can begin other tunnel work now either. This is the largest portion of the project that has to done sequentially.

[finalcoolman]

Deleted.

[lightrail]

Originally Posted by Large Cat

I've been wondering about this--when the Expo/Millenium interlining stops (on all stations pre-Lougheed), does this mean that for the time being we'll have a much slower frequency at all these stations? Or will there be a simultaneous addition of rolling stock to the Expo line to account for the loss of all the Millenium trains? I'm just thinking that it would suck for someone like me who lives in south Burnaby to have to wait twice as long for a train, since the only places I need to go are within the places that used to be interlined.

No change. The "Millennium" trains that currently start and end at VCC-Clark will now start and end at Production Way. So there will be no change to frequency existing Expo Line.

[officedweller]

WRT the bullet train sign board - the 2 trains to Shin-Osaka may be 4 min apart on different platforms, but they are different levels of service - Kodama vs Nozomi. i.e. there aren't 2 Nozomi trains to Shin-Osaka on 2 different platforms leaving 4 minutes apart - no passenger will be asking which of 2 platforms can I get to in time to catch the next Nozomi to Shin-Osaka?

Originally Posted by jsbertram

...

Because of this layout of trains using two platforms & three tracks, it is inevitable that some people will have to do the down/up platform switch when changing between Millennium and Expo trains.

Of the various scenarios that have been discussed, forcing more people to do an up down transfer (and just using 2 of 3 platforms) is one of the more likely to simplify operations.

I think someone once mentioned on the forum that wrong-railing, etc. is largely invisible to the public who will be waiting on the assigned platforms, so even if that is operationally complex, it may be a reasonable solution to simply the interface to the travelling public.

I think one of the worst would be to have 2 Vancouver-bound platforms which would be confusing for people and a publicity issue.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Large Cat

I've been wondering about this--when the Expo/Millenium interlining stops (on all stations pre-Lougheed), does this mean that for the time being we'll have a much slower frequency at all these stations? Or will there be a simultaneous addition of rolling stock to the Expo line to account for the loss of all the Millenium trains? I'm just thinking that it would suck for someone like me who lives in south Burnaby to have to wait twice as long for a train, since the only places I need to go are within the places that used to be interlined.

SkyTrains are run to a schedule (ie programmed in the computer) - so you'd expect to see a replacement schedule with similar frequencies.

The same Expo Line combined frequency can be maintained with fewer trains, because they'll turn back sooner (Production Way instead of VCC-Clark).
The reduced number of trains west of Production Way would probably be made up by additional M-Line trains heading to Lafarge Lake - Douglas.
That also suggests an increase in service to Production Way Station.

[Meraki]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I think someone once mentioned on the forum that wrong-railing, etc. is largely invisible to the public who will be waiting on the assigned platforms, so even if that is operationally complex, it may be a reasonable solution to simply the interface to the travelling public.

Yeah, as much as we talk about wrong railing I don't think it's a big deal especially considering it's all automated. Trains have their programmed route and will proceed through the station area and the nearby switches as required.

Nobody in the general public cares if they're travelling on the left side of the guideway between Lougheed and Burquitlam. All they care about is standing at the platform that gets them to their destination.

[Mac Write]

What is there status of the "Optional" 28 Mark III cars for delivery in 2018?

[SOSS]

Here is some info on some current tunneling plans.

3 weeks of additional maintenance before machine moves on. Next scheduled maintenance is for end of March at Clarke and Seaview. At Seaview that would put it roughly 1/2 dug.

Traffic around Port Moody sinkhole to resume

Port Moody residents living near the site of a sinkhole caused by Evergreen Line construction will soon be getting some traffic relief.

At an information meeting Monday night at Seaview Community School, Evergreen Line construction officials said one lane on Cecile Drive, the site of one of two sinkholes in the area, will be open to alternating traffic later this week.

Officials also told residents the maintenance on the tunnel boring machine that caused the sinkhole on Cecile in the first place would still take another three weeks to complete, before the machine moves on.

The road won’t be fully open until the machine has moved away and restoration work in the area is complete.

The next scheduled maintenance for the machine is set for late March at the area of Clarke Road and Seaview Drive.

The Evergreen project team indicated that there would be lane closures on Clarke during the maintenance, but at least one lane of traffic in each direction would be open at all times.

The meeting Monday, which brought out about 100 people, was the second such event between Evergreen line officials and residents in west Port Moody.

Two sinkholes have formed in the last couple of months related to the tunnel boring, one in late October in the parking lot of a townhouse complex on Chateau Place, and the most recent on Jan. 2 on Cecile.

And just like the last meeting on Jan. 14, construction officials and engineers for the project were on hand to explain the situation to residents and answer questions.

While the tone from residents in the first meeting was of concern and at times anger over the situation, much of that appears to have dissipated in the last few weeks.

Kerry Lecorre, a Chateau Place resident who has helped organize people in the community, said she feels better about the situation but was still critical of the project team’s early efforts at handling the situation.

“I hope in the future, because it’s [tunnel boring] moving out of Port Moody… I hope they’re as transparent with those people as they need to be,” she told the Tri-Cities NOW.

“I hope they continue to communicate with people, it’s really important. Just tell us what’s going on, that’s all we want to know.”

Though the machine may be moving on, Lecorre said she would continue to keep an eye on the conditions in the area.

Charles Haliburton lives on nearby Highview Place and was at the meeting to get more information about his own property.

He said his property has experienced settling over the years but wanted to know if Evergreen officials would be monitoring any extra changes due to the boring work.

Haliburton said he feels generally reassured by the answers he was given from Evergreen officials.

For Kathryn Alexander and Sandra Lomeli, who both live in the area, they felt officials did a good job with the technical explanation of the boring machine, but were critical of the communication with residents over the last few months.

“The one question we have, is this area suitable for this kind of work… I think we have some concerns about the long term impact,” Alexander said, adding Evergreen officials owe it to residents to provide better public education.

Lomeli still questions whether another sinkhole could appear and added she’ll also be watching closely the situation in her neighbourhood.

Mayor Mike Clay suggested Evergreen officials have improved their communication with residents, adding the opening of Çecile to traffic will help convince people they have the issue under control.

“I think they’ve learned a lot about how to deal with them [sinkholes], how to mitigate them and making sure they’re communicating with people so we all know what’s going on,” he said.

Amanda Farrell, Evergreen Line’s project director, said the project team has been working hard to get the message out, including adding information to its website and expanding the area for providing information to residents.

Engineers have also met with a few homeowners individually to discuss issues around cracks and shaking of foundations.

“There’s always more you can do and we’ll continue to try to get the information out there and keep people up to date with what’s happening,” she said.

Farrell also noted officials are willing to hold more meetings in the future with residents along the line’s tunnel, though none are currently scheduled.

While she acknowledged the tunnel has been a challenge, she suggested progress on the rest of the project has gone very well.

© 2015 Tri-Cities Now

[Sheba]

I happened to see this briefly on the news last night. The residents they spoke to seemed to think they could be swallowed by sinkholes while they were out walking around. Misinformation abounds. TransLink and all the companies they work with / through really need to get ahead of these things and get information out to people (and not just via Facebook).

[Olden Retreiver]

Originally Posted by Sheba

I happened to see this briefly on the news last night. The residents they spoke to seemed to think they could be swallowed by sinkholes while they were out walking around. Misinformation abounds. TransLink and all the companies they work with / through really need to get ahead of these things and get information out to people (and not just via Facebook).

I don't thing there has ever been much "misinformation," just a lack of information. Questions from residents were quite reasonable. All the news I've seen and read is that people were very much reassured by the public meetings.