Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Courtesy of CKNW

Ugh. When will people learn to hold their phone properly to shoot video?

[Kisai]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Courtesy of CKNW

What is it with these switches that keep failing? Position sensors? The actual linkage that moves the track? I've seen so many delays that seem to fall under "switch problems" but no detailed explaination on what might be taking such a massive amount of heavy wear to cause such frequent failures.

Switch problems are a problem that exists in all forms of transit. AFAIK they fail because of metal fatigue (just like light switches and mechanical buttons), corrosion, and hence they get "stuck open" until it can be fixed. I imagine there are also cases of rocks or garbage getting stuck in the switch.

You only have "switchless" transit when the transit line is point-to-point like an APM, or only has one rail line in one direction (eg Detroit's version), or is a demonstration system (eg Seattle's monorail) where the car just goes back and forth on the same rails.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Courtesy of CKNW

What is it with these switches that keep failing? Position sensors? The actual linkage that moves the track? I've seen so many delays that seem to fall under "switch problems" but no detailed explaination on what might be taking such a massive amount of heavy wear to cause such frequent failures.

Might not be the switch but the communication as well. On Reddit two years ago:

When the computer system can't verify the alignment of a switch, it won't allow trains to run through that area in case they could derail.
This particular problem began as some sort of wiring or electrical problem with one switch near Stadium. The technicians verified that there was nothing physically wrong with the switch, and did a reset of the switch controller system for the downtown area. Unfortunately, that reset failed, and brought down all the switches between Waterfront and Nanaimo.
Switch problems are becoming more common as time goes by. I believe there is a plan to start replacing the switch machines sometime in the next couple of years, given a request for switch hardware vendors issued by TransLink last year.

https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/34tx6c/switch_problem_shuts_down_skytrain_for_hours/

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Might not be the switch but the communication as well. On Reddit two years ago:

https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/34tx6c/switch_problem_shuts_down_skytrain_for_hours/

This was similar (but without accidentally taking down the switch controller for all of downtown).

The switch was mechanically fine and could move with no problem, but the switch machine wasn't reporting its position back to the control computers. They ended up clamping the physical rail switch into one position and disconnecting the switch machine. Then they connect a "fake switch machine" (red plug) so that the computer thinks everything is good to run trains.

Some of the delay is that the guideway team is initially dispatched to look at the mechanical track switch, and once they don't find anything wrong then the electronics team has to take a look at the switch machine and see if that's the cause. Then they need to get tools from the OMC over to the site and actually go through with the red plug procedure.

SkyTrain is slowly working on replacing the older switch machines on the Expo Line, but priority is being given to switches that see a lot of use (Waterfront tail, switches leading into the OMC yard, etc.)

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by dpogue

Some of the delay is that the guideway team is initially dispatched to look at the mechanical track switch, and once they don't find anything wrong then the electronics team has to take a look at the switch machine and see if that's the cause. Then they need to get tools from the OMC over to the site and actually go through with the red plug procedure.

You'd think that they'd have a "go team" ready for this kind of issue with a van that includes all the stuff needed to deal with the most likely problems. Sure, if there's a cracked rail then all bets are off. But "red plugs", "clamps", other likely tools & supplies and both mechanical and electrical personnel ought to be dispatched to every incident like this, IMHO.

[Mac Write]

Also having to dispatch from OMC seems like a long time to drive to the location, and with not enough switches a speeder couldn't race down the track weaving in and out of trains.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

...a speeder couldn't race down the track weaving in and out of trains.

That sounds like something out of an action movie...

[dpogue]

Using speeders during revenue hours is a huge pain, because they are "untracked equipment" and don't report their positions in the computer. Safety requirements mean the speeders need a work zone set up with no trains in the area and the track marked as closed in the computer.

In cases like this, it's literally faster for staff to get permission to just walk to the problem area. The track is closed anyways.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

You'd think that they'd have a "go team" ready for this kind of issue with a van that includes all the stuff needed to deal with the most likely problems. Sure, if there's a cracked rail then all bets are off. But "red plugs", "clamps", other likely tools & supplies and both mechanical and electrical personnel ought to be dispatched to every incident like this, IMHO.

FWIW

Back on the guideway, two other Response Crews are covering the system, one at Commercial-Broadway Station and another at SkyTrain’s Operations and Maintenance Centre (OMC) for points east. These crews are ready to respond to any problem in the guideway within minutes. They are equipped with spare parts, several specialized cleanup and repair kits and linear induction motor (LIM) tapping sticks.

http://buzzer.translink.ca/2010/02/the-night-shift-on-the-skytrain-guideway/

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

FWIW

http://buzzer.translink.ca/2010/02/the-night-shift-on-the-skytrain-guideway/

Interesting article - thanks. But I note that it describes overnight procedures for checking the line during the Olympics, which is a very different situation than responding to the kind of switch problems that we were discussing.

[cganuelas1995]

I was wondering if it would be beneficial to have the buses with 2 or more doors board on all of them, considering the fact that they have validators by all doors.

[ilikeredheads]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

I was wondering if it would be beneficial to have the buses with 2 or more doors board on all of them, considering the fact that they have validators by all doors.

only if the route is constantly overcrowding, like the 99 B-Line, where single door boarding just takes too long. For most other routes, multidoor boarding is not necessary. In fact, for security reasons, it's actually better to have everyone board at the front because the driver can see who's boarding and make sure they've tapped their card.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

only if the route is constantly overcrowding, like the 99 B-Line, where single door boarding just takes too long. For most other routes, multidoor boarding is not necessary. In fact, for security reasons, it's actually better to have everyone board at the front because the driver can see who's boarding and make sure they've tapped their card.

What about having multidoor at major transfer points, i.e. the 401 when it's doing a transfer at Brighouse?

[officedweller]

Saw these at the YVR Station on Wednesday
- don't travel much so not sure how long they've been there.

Pic by me:

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Saw these at the YVR Station on Wednesday
- don't travel much so not sure how long they've been there.

Pic by me:

They should probably wait until they get the middle C cars in the rolling stock.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

They should probably wait until they get the middle C cars in the rolling stock.

wont be for a long time, plus it is just a sticker; easy to replace and move around.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

wont be for a long time, plus it is just a sticker; easy to replace and move around.

Oh, thought it was painted on.

[waves]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Saw these at the YVR Station on Wednesday
- don't travel much so not sure how long they've been there.

Pic by me:

Last I was at YVR was about a year and a half ago and these were then.

[cganuelas1995]

When did the Canada line start telling us to exit at Broadway City Hall for the 99 B-Line?

[Express691]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

When did the Canada line start telling us to exit at Broadway City Hall for the 99 B-Line?

As recent as this week.
Also heard announcements to all major connections + 95 B-Line for Canada line trains pulling into Waterfront.