Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[Express691]

Lets see if the improved N19 service helps first of all.

[trofirhen]

... are there any stations where it would be IMPOSSIBLE, for whatever reasons, to lengthen the platforms to take 3-car trains?

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

... are there any stations where it would be IMPOSSIBLE, for whatever reasons, to lengthen the platforms to take 3-car trains?

Waterfront comes to mind. You can't go forward as you would intersect the SkyTrain and you can't go back as there's a switch almost immediately before the station.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Waterfront comes to mind. You can't go forward as you would intersect the SkyTrain and you can't go back as there's a switch almost immediately before the station.

...which is why Waterfront was built as a longer station than most.

[LeftCoaster]

It's also a long ways north before you hit the skytain tracks. There is a parking lot between the end of the Canada Line tracks and the skytrain.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

It's also a long ways north before you hit the skytain tracks. There is a parking lot between the end of the Canada Line tracks and the skytrain.

The Waterfront Canada Line platform is already long enough for 3-car trains when they arrive.

And the distance from the current Canada Line bumpers to the Expo/Millennium ROW at Waterfront means the future Canada Line extension to Lonsdale Quay can run under the Expo/Millennium line on its way under the harbour to North Van.
(maybe in our lifetimes?)

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by nname

Then they need to reopen all the stations, move all equipment away, re-power the track, have one not-in-service train before and after to drop-off and pick-up attendants, re-clear all the platforms again, have someone in the terminus to clean up the train, then shut down the system again, move equipment back... Pretty much 2 hours of work and more than 50 people involved just to run that one train. Would they charge $20 per ticket?

Makes sense, thanks.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

the stations in Richmond and Sea Island, can those be lengthened to the 50m for 3-car trains? i know the underground ones i can see the cinder-block-temporary-wall. but looking at the other ones, i don't see anything rough in for another 10m and the current platforms arent long enough for the 3-car trains.

[TransitJack]

Brighouse and YVR are already at 50m. The rest can be expanded.

[finalcoolman]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

The Waterfront Canada Line platform is already long enough for 3-car trains when they arrive.

And the distance from the current Canada Line bumpers to the Expo/Millennium ROW at Waterfront means the future Canada Line extension to Lonsdale Quay can run under the Expo/Millennium line on its way under the harbour to North Van.
(maybe in our lifetimes?)

This has been addressed before and it is impossible. Not enough room to 'dive' under the Inlet.

[deasine]

Moreover, Sea Island and Templeton just need the platform foundation frame built since the area around it is already levelled for expansion. Bridgeport (I believe?) was also built to 50m.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

the stations in Richmond and Sea Island, can those be lengthened to the 50m for 3-car trains? i know the underground ones i can see the cinder-block-temporary-wall. but looking at the other ones, i don't see anything rough in for another 10m and the current platforms arent long enough for the 3-car trains.

The key requirement for building a station is that the guideway be straight and (almost completely) level. Anywhere those conditions exist a station can be built around the track. It's designing the track that way which creates the "possible future station at" and "platform can be lengthened" capabilities.

[TransitJack]

Originally Posted by deasine

Moreover, Sea Island and Templeton just need the platform foundation frame built since the area around it is already levelled for expansion. Bridgeport (I believe?) was also built to 50m.

Bridgeport is only 40m. Probably should have been built to 50m from the start. I think the plan is to expand 5m on each end of the platform as there are supports on either side that just need a beam added across (plus all the typical edge and endgate work)

[ssiguy]

The problem with greater frequency is at Waterfront.

The single line section into Richmond/Brighouse is OK as it can still run trains every 3 minutes if needed. The problem is at Waterfront where the 2 lines merge at Bridgeport and run every 3 minutes but will be very hard pressed to do so because that would mean trains every 2 minutes on one track and one only one side of the station.

This is because Translink wants to have a stand-by train at Waterfront which is why there is always one there that never moves. Although it is a good idea in theory the reality is that due to not having planned for emergency train space, it ends up taking up half the platform and track.

If they want to increase frequency then something must be done at Waterfront station to open up the platform and tracks. They are going to have to eventually build a short stubway off the main tracks to hold one train for emergencies whether it be at Waterfront or City Centre.

All the stations are designed to be relatively easily made to 50 meters but as long as Translink keeps a train at Waterfront, frequency cannot be any higher than it is unless they short-turn some of the trains at City Centre.

[bardak]

Originally Posted by ssiguy

The problem with greater frequency is at Waterfront.

The single line section into Richmond/Brighouse is OK as it can still run trains every 3 minutes if needed. The problem is at Waterfront where the 2 lines merge at Bridgeport and run every 3 minutes but will be very hard pressed to do so because that would mean trains every 2 minutes on one track and one only one side of the station.

This is because Translink wants to have a stand-by train at Waterfront which is why there is always one there that never moves. Although it is a good idea in theory the reality is that due to not having planned for emergency train space, it ends up taking up half the platform and track.

If they want to increase frequency then something must be done at Waterfront station to open up the platform and tracks. They are going to have to eventually build a short stubway off the main tracks to hold one train for emergencies whether it be at Waterfront or City Centre.

All the stations are designed to be relatively easily made to 50 meters but as long as Translink keeps a train at Waterfront, frequency cannot be any higher than it is unless they short-turn some of the trains at City Centre.

The train at waterfront is there because at the current headways they only need one side of the platform. If you only need one side of the platform you might as well store a spare on the other side just in case. It's not some set in stone rule that would hold back increasing the frequency. When they decide to increase the frequency they will remove the spare and use both side of the platform. It is a simple operational change.

[st7860]

i saw this on FB a few minutes ago.

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hph...d706046e2f4ca255328f211fea3e&oe=567FE504

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by st7860

i saw this on FB a few minutes ago.

You know, I was just thinking about going to the downtown library today, but with all the wind I worried that there might be some Skytrain issues. There are branches coming down everywhere, so I'm not at all surprised to see this.

[Large Cat]

Noooo not a mark ii!! Is that write-off level damage or repairable?

[Kisai]

Originally Posted by Large Cat

Noooo not a mark ii!! Is that write-off level damage or repairable?

That's easily repaired. If the film industry can acquire a Mark II front end to film a train barreling down on someone, they can certainly do it to fix one.

And judging by what that looks like, it looks like they would just need to replace the glass, the rest of the front is fiberglass.

[Waders]

Fiberglass? I was expecting metal material. I think the MK I train skin was constructed with metal?