Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

that facility could hook up right into the system as there's still a track route that would connect with the main guide-way.

the facility was owned by BC Transit though not TransLink. BC transit originally bought it from Bombardier and then ended up selling it.

also, whats going to happen when the system keeps growing? is their a lot of capacity left for storage/maintenance at Edmonds?

[Gordon]

This facility could be used for Maintenance after the Mark refurbishment is complete in late 2016.

the refurbishment project is a huge cost savings for Translink.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

also, whats going to happen when the system keeps growing? is their a lot of capacity left for storage/maintenance at Edmonds?

There is no additional capacity at the Edmonds yard, they've already had to cram more storage rows in when the 48 new cars arrived for the Olympics.
As part of the Evergreen Line they are constructing a vehicle storage facility in Coquitlam, but we have almost no details about it or its capacity.

That building across from the OMC is called OMC2 (previously, CATS), and they just reinstalled the connector track to it before starting the Mark I refurbishments. That's where they're repainting the trains.

[nname]

There is already not enough capacity for existing OMC to hold all trains. The last few trains to Waterfront, King George, and all trains terminating at Lougheed never go back to the OMC. Many trains are stored on the mainline track near Lougheed, Holdom, King George, Edmonds, and Waterfront. Check those places at 3am and you'll find a whole bunch of trains on the track.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by nname

There is already not enough capacity for existing OMC to hold all trains. The last few trains to Waterfront, King George, and all trains terminating at Lougheed never go back to the OMC. Many trains are stored on the mainline track near Lougheed, Holdom, King George, Edmonds, and Waterfront. Check those places at 3am and you'll find a whole bunch of trains on the track.

That's probably one of the conveniences of an automated system - no drivers to walk back from trains parked at remote locations.

[Kisai]

Originally Posted by officedweller

That's probably one of the conveniences of an automated system - no drivers to walk back from trains parked at remote locations.

Increased vandalism risk however. Yeah the grade is separated, but not secured.




There's also a video out there of an entire 4-car set that was probably vandalized at some point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfjoRDhjzA0

Though I imagine the vandalism is much worse for at-grade systems since they can't secure any of the system. This probably means larger more expensive OMC's.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

So what will it be used for once all the Mark III's are running? Will they use it as a over-haul/major work facility, and use the main buildings for light/medium work and the remote OMC for light maintenance?

They also could pack a couple more trains on the side rails there (though that might be a safety issue with it being exposed).

Can't wait to here there long term plans for OMC 2.

Maybe for the assemble of the second order of 28 Mark III rolling stock, slated for service in 2018 (or is that just another 24-car wishlist purchase).

Perhaps we want to hear their side of the story?
It seems everything Translink does right now is ammunition for the NO side.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by officedweller

FYI - article that TransLink purchased the form Bombardier facility adjacent to the Edmonds yard from Dayhu Investments.

http://www.vancouversun.com/TransLink+spends+million+Burnaby+transit+facility/10878042/story.html

Fortunately, today's reporters don't bother to check the history of the site, otherwise they'll find that BC Gov't bought the site & constructed the building as a sweetener for Bombardier to do the final assembly of the MkII cars in Vancouver. They thought that Bombardier would be selling boat-loads of these MkII cars to Asia after the Vancouver order was complete, and this site would do the near-final assembly to prep the cars for shipping overseas. What they didn't expect was the Asian governments would make the same sweet deal with Bombardier to get final assembly done in their country.

With the MkII cars contract completed, Bombardier didn't need the building anymore, so BC Gov't (aka BC Transit) was stuck with an empty Skytrain assembly building. Wait until after an election and sell at a loss.

there were various private owners/investors with non-transit tenants over the years, until 2012 when Translink rediscovers the building is just what they need for the MkI cars refurb program. Rent site for few years, then buy it back from the private investors at a tidy profit for them.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by Kisai

There's also a video out there of an entire 4-car set that was probably vandalized at some point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfjoRDhjzA0

Though I imagine the vandalism is much worse for at-grade systems since they can't secure any of the system. This probably means larger more expensive OMC's.

This video (possibly not work safe as there are very brief flashes of —) shows the making-of. I can't tell where they're on the tracks, though. They do hop off at the end at an at-grade section, so I guess somewhere near Nanaimo or Edmonds?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

there were various private owners/investors with non-transit tenants over the years, until 2012 when Translink rediscovers the building is just what they need for the MkI cars refurb program. Rent site for few years, then buy it back from the private investors at a tidy profit for them.

BIV has a good history:

http://www.biv.com/must-read/#translink-spends-139m-buy-back-building

On December 18, 2014, TransLink paid $13.9 million for 6700 Southridge Dr. after spending $63,666.76 a month on rent since August 1, 2012, according to Steve Walsh, TransLink’s acquisitions and leasing manager said in a memo.
...

Bombardier was the original occupant, but when it stopped making SkyTrain Mark II vehicles there in 2004, BC Transit bought the facility for $17.2 million. BC Transit then sold the facility and the land for $8.2 million in November 2004 to Mac and Jac Clothing president Eric Karls, who flipped it for $13.025 million in April 2005 to Dayhu Investments.

http://www.biv.com/must-read/#translink-spends-139m-buy-back-building

So in Dec 2014 TransLink paid $875,000 more than Dayhu Investments paid in 2005.
Not a big mark-up at all, is it, over 9 years.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by officedweller

http://www.biv.com/must-read/#translink-spends-139m-buy-back-building

So in Dec 2014 TransLink paid $875,000 more than Dayhu Investments paid in 2005.
Not a big mark-up at all, is it, over 9 years.

probably because it has very limited uses as trains arent a big thing in today's world. it is also a pretty small property.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

This video (possibly not work safe as there are very brief flashes of —) shows the making-of. I can't tell where they're on the tracks, though. They do hop off at the end at an at-grade section, so I guess somewhere near Nanaimo or Edmonds?

The handrail in the middle means it's on the M-Line (Expo doesn't have handrail between stations). The elevation change and style of the street lamps in the background make me think it's around Lake City Way and the at-grade Snow Shed "tunnel".
The location of the train seems weird though, parked in between stations like that. It would prevent guideway staff from accessing part of the track

[red-paladin]

It would be parked in a pocket track segment?

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

It would be parked in a pocket track segment?

I would expect them to park trains in pocket tracks and tail spurs so that guideway techs can still get around without needing to touch switches. I know they do store trains in tunnels and under cover when it snows to try to prevent buildup on the train roofs, but I thought that was a special case.

[red-paladin]

Oh I agree, by the questionmark I didn't mean that I was unsure of my statement.. for...some reason.

[Mac Write]

Snow plan level 4 is to put trains in tunnels and under cover.

[MIPS]

It's probably somewhere in the Grandview cut. There's a lot of places you can get onto the tracks if you are crafty and you can just hop down when you are done. In some places it's just thick brambles that keep you out, plus that area is a magnet for graffitti.


Image courtesy of MIPS

Image courtesy of MIPS

[nname]

Originally Posted by dpogue

I would expect them to park trains in pocket tracks and tail spurs so that guideway techs can still get around without needing to touch switches. I know they do store trains in tunnels and under cover when it snows to try to prevent buildup on the train roofs, but I thought that was a special case.

There are not enough pocket tracks to park all the trains, and trains would be placed on the main line track where there is no planned work for that night.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by officedweller

BIV has a good history:

http://www.biv.com/must-read/#translink-spends-139m-buy-back-building


http://www.biv.com/must-read/#translink-spends-139m-buy-back-building

So in Dec 2014 TransLink paid $875,000 more than Dayhu Investments paid in 2005.
Not a big mark-up at all, is it, over 9 years.

Don't forget Dayhu was getting over $60,000 per month in rent for over two years = over $1.4 million.
THEN sold the building for $875,000 more than they paid in 2005.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

Snow plan level 4 is to put trains in tunnels and under cover.

Does Vancouver ever get enough snow to activate anything higher than Snow plan level 1?