The Great Canadian Transit Thread - Page 415

TorontoDrew · #**8281** Posted **Apr 14, 2016, 5:34 PM**

MagLev at the Toronto Zoo.
April 13, 2016 4:55 pm | by David Brake |urbantoronto.ca

The Toronto Zoo's management board has unanimously opened the door to a magnetic levitation (maglev) train proposal that would run around the park along the 5km route a monorail once took.

Examples of the kind of maglev shuttles Magnovate could build for the Toronto Zoo

According to Edmonton-based Magnovate, the maglev would cost $25m to build, but neither the zoo nor the city would pay a penny for construction. Around $10m would be sought from the government, and another $15m from private sources. The ultramodern ride would be an attraction for the zoo (at $12 a ticket) and would be an opportunity for the company to test and demonstrate its new take on this technology. The company now has until the zoo's next board meeting in June to add detail to its presentation to the board and see off any competing offers that may arise between now and then.

This is only a first stage, however; Magnovate has talked before about similar building projects in Alberta, one of which at the University of Alberta had been slated to start construction in 2014. The company's CEO, Dan Corns, explained that it did not go forward because Sustainable Development Technology Canada, a key potential government funder, told them "we should find a demo host site that would better represent a commercial deployment" and therefore the Toronto Zoo is now the company's favourite place to site its demonstration route.

More here: http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2016/04/could-toronto-zoo-really-get-levitating-train

Martin Mtl · #**8282** Posted **Apr 14, 2016, 9:37 PM**

The old salutes the new. Neat pic.

http://websta.me/p/1226473178988225666_210962248

Rico Rommheim · #**8283** Posted **Apr 14, 2016, 11:14 PM**

^Cool photo. One for the history books.

kwoldtimer · #**8284** Posted **Apr 14, 2016, 11:16 PM**

What is Montreal doing with the old trains? Having recently spent time in Mexico City, I could make a recommendation....

caltrane74 · #**8285** Posted **Apr 14, 2016, 11:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorontoDrew

MagLev at the Toronto Zoo.
April 13, 2016 4:55 pm | by David Brake |urbantoronto.ca

The Toronto Zoo's management board has unanimously opened the door to a magnetic levitation (maglev) train proposal that would run around the park along the 5km route a monorail once took.

Examples of the kind of maglev shuttles Magnovate could build for the Toronto Zoo

According to Edmonton-based Magnovate, the maglev would cost $25m to build, but neither the zoo nor the city would pay a penny for construction. Around $10m would be sought from the government, and another $15m from private sources. The ultramodern ride would be an attraction for the zoo (at $12 a ticket) and would be an opportunity for the company to test and demonstrate its new take on this technology. The company now has until the zoo's next board meeting in June to add detail to its presentation to the board and see off any competing offers that may arise between now and then.

This is only a first stage, however; Magnovate has talked before about similar building projects in Alberta, one of which at the University of Alberta had been slated to start construction in 2014. The company's CEO, Dan Corns, explained that it did not go forward because Sustainable Development Technology Canada, a key potential government funder, told them "we should find a demo host site that would better represent a commercial deployment" and therefore the Toronto Zoo is now the company's favourite place to site its demonstration route.

More here: http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2016/04/could-toronto-zoo-really-get-levitating-train

This is obviously a joke, why would a company invest so much money in something of such little value or use? Don't hold your breath for this.

kwoldtimer · #**8286** Posted **Apr 14, 2016, 11:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltrane74

This is obviously a joke, why would a company invest so much money in something of such little value or use? Don't hold your breath for this.

I assume Magnovate wants this project to try to demonstrate the viability of its technology for larger projects, no?

caltrane74 · #**8287** Posted **Apr 14, 2016, 11:27 PM**

It's already being tested in Japan, and China. so it doesn't make any sense at all to me.

Why duplicate?

kwoldtimer · #**8288** Posted **Apr 15, 2016, 12:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by caltrane74

It's already being tested in Japan, and China. so it doesn't make any sense at all to me.

Why duplicate?

Well, those are not Magnovate trains and not Canadian technology. I agree, "why duplicate". We should improve.

Seriously, I find the zoo proposal far-fetched, but more wrt the economics of a custom prototype system than anything else.

MalcolmTucker · #**8289** Posted **Apr 15, 2016, 12:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Well, those are not Magnovate trains and not Canadian technology. I agree, "why duplicate". We should improve.

Seriously, I find the zoo proposal far-fetched, but more wrt the economics of a custom prototype system than anything else.

Well, the articles I have read imply they have VC funding, including funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada.

I am not sure this is true.

dleung · #**8290** Posted **Apr 15, 2016, 2:06 AM**

I've been pretty disappointed that the Finch West LRT and the Sheppard LRT have gone forward as separate LRT lines. Would have converted the Sheppard subway, and just make it one LRT route from Humber to STC. Yes there some overlap with the Spadina subway around downsview, but I prefer it over continuing east along forever-low-density industrial/ravine areas on Finch to get to Yonge. And continuity means speed, means more new ridership, justifying higher levels of service.

matt602 · #**8291** Posted **Apr 15, 2016, 2:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

What is Montreal doing with the old trains? Having recently spent time in Mexico City, I could make a recommendation....

They're selling off and scrapping the MR-63 trains (the ones on the green line) for now.

Chadillaccc · #**8292** Posted **Apr 18, 2016, 6:15 PM**

The city of Calgary has selected Option D as the Centre City alignment for the upcoming Green Line. The option is the most expensive of the 5 options and will include 4 or 5 subway stations in the inner city as well as a possible at grade station on either 10, 11, or 12 Avenue at Centre Street South in the Beltline (depending if D-1 or D-2 is chosen). 9 Avenue Station may be the deepest rapid transit station in the country at 50 meters (13 storeys), though I'm not certain on that.

http://engage.calgary.ca/application/files/1414/6060/9906/CC_-_Option_D.pdf

SkahHigh · #**8293** Posted **Apr 18, 2016, 6:31 PM**

There is an existing LRT thread.

eemy · #**8294** Posted **Apr 18, 2016, 6:37 PM**

There's also this thread, which has a ton of discussion about LRT in it. Do you honestly think that Chad's post isn't appropriate for this thread?

Daveography · #**8295** Posted **Apr 18, 2016, 6:40 PM**

^^ The LRT thread title specifies U/C, which the Green Line is not. (You should know, you created it.) This thread is the most appropriate.

Chadillaccc · #**8296** Posted **Apr 18, 2016, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daveography

^^ The LRT thread title specifies U/C, which the Green Line is not. (You should know, you created it.) This thread is the most appropriate.

Exactly, but hey, any excuse to be a petty bitch to Chad!

So typical. (not aimed at you Dave)

SkahHigh · #**8297** Posted **Apr 18, 2016, 6:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daveography

^^ The LRT thread title specifies U/C, which the Green Line is not. (You should know, you created it.) This thread is the most appropriate.

It does specify U/C but plenty of people talk about other non U/C projects in the thread (Bloor-Danforth Extension, Confederation Line phase 2, ETS Valley Line). I was just mentioning there is also an LRT thread in a non agressive manner. Never said he was wrong to post it here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Exactly, but hey, any excuse to be a petty bitch to Chad!

So typical. (not aimed at you Dave)

Not everything is about you buddy, please get over yourself

hipster duck · #**8298** Posted **Apr 18, 2016, 8:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

The city of Calgary has selected Option D as the Centre City alignment for the upcoming Green Line. The option is the most expensive of the 5 options and will include 4 or 5 subway stations in the inner city as well as a possible at grade station on either 10, 11, or 12 Avenue at Centre Street South in the Beltline (depending if D-1 or D-2 is chosen). 9 Avenue Station may be the deepest rapid transit station in the country at 50 meters (13 storeys), though I'm not certain on that.

http://engage.calgary.ca/application/files/1414/6060/9906/CC_-_Option_D.pdf

It's the most expensive option, but they made the right decision. Having light rail trains crawl through downtown on the surface is a real drag. Not only does it slow down the travel times considerably, but it also limits the size of a train - essentially it can't be longer than the length of a north-south city block (200 ft?) - which really limits capacity. The short north-south stretch of the existing red line parallel to 9 St. SW can get away with this because there are no stations along that route and the train has the right-of-way, but you can't do this if you have to stop the train at a station and the butt end hangs into the previous intersection behind it.

The station spacing and locations are pretty good, too.

GreaterMontréal · #**8299** Posted **Apr 18, 2016, 8:52 PM**

Quote:

9 Avenue Station may be the deepest rapid transit station in the country at 50 meters (13 storeys),

The average depth of the Montreal metro stations is 15 meters. Charlevoix is at 30m.
50m is really deep.

Chadillaccc · #**8300** Posted **Apr 18, 2016, 9:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hipster duck

It's the most expensive option, but they made the right decision. Having light rail trains crawl through downtown on the surface is a real drag. Not only does it slow down the travel times considerably, but it also limits the size of a train - essentially it can't be longer than the length of a north-south city block (200 ft?) - which really limits capacity. The short north-south stretch of the existing red line parallel to 9 St. SW can get away with this because there are no stations along that route and the train has the right-of-way, but you can't do this if you have to stop the train at a station and the butt end hangs into the previous intersection behind it.

The station spacing and locations are pretty good, too.

I wasn't meaning it as a negative that it is the most expensive option, quite the opposite, I'm absolutely thrilled that transit is finally thinking about the future of the city, looking forward to 2 million inhabitants. It looks like it will stay underground until around 24 Avenue North, which by then quite a bit of Centre Street's commuter traffic has already died down, so it is a really sensible option. If they go with the D-2 option, the Centre City section will be grade separated for nearly 10 kilometers, from Highfield Industrial Park in the SE all the way to 24 Avenue N.