Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[finalcoolman]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

What would have been the best way to build Lougheed Station?

I think he's referring to the basket weave that was not followed through on when they built the Evergreen Line out of cost cutting. It would have allowed for the current platform configuration without wrong-railing and no crossover switching at Burquitlam.

[Olden Retreiver]

Originally Posted by finalcoolman

I think he's referring to the basket weave that was not followed through on when they built the Evergreen Line out of cost cutting. It would have allowed for the current platform configuration without wrong-railing and no crossover switching at Burquitlam.

Basically, yes.
Although I’m not at all convinced a 3rd track and 3rd platform was ever needed at all. Maybe it helps avoid train conflicts.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

Expo line doesn't goto VCC Clark. It terminates at Production Way.

Ah, of course, thanks
- so the issue only arises for SFU students boarding at Lougheed (on foot or from a bus) going to Production Way.

From the diagram below - it provides a convenient same platform transfer from eastbound Millennium Line to eastbound Expo Line.

From the Daily Hive:


http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/lougheed-town-centre-platforms-june-2018-changes

• Video Link

Originally Posted by Olden Retreiver

Basically, yes.
Although I’m not at all convinced a 3rd track and 3rd platform was ever needed at all. Maybe it helps avoid train conflicts.

I think it was to facilitate Lougheed's use as a terminus station with trains reversing direction.
(i.e. the reason why the Sapperton-Columbia leg can't be operated as a branch of the Millennium Line (instead of a branch of the Expo Line).
It was also designed to allow a direct train from Expo Line to Coquitlam (with reversing).

[TransitFreak]

Finally, common sense prevails at Lougheed Centre. Aside from the extra switch maintenance, People probably got confused about getting on at platform 2 on any train and being told to get off at Production-Way. Now the only shared platform is platform 1 and going to Coquitlam or Waterfront.

Production-Way will become the main transfer point from Expo line to millenium line heading west from a convenience standpoint. Only one head to head conflict which is after the station headed east - Douglas/Lafarge train vs. Production Way/University which should be manageable. Essentially platform 1 will be extra wide due to not much passengers loading on platform 2, platform 2 really an unloading platform for Expo.

Looks like I'll need to go there June 25 or so afterwards to see the new routing!

[SpongeG]

so if coming from coquitlam centre and wanting to go to say new westminster you will now need to walk down and back up. Pretty clear I guess. I live right there and don't use the skytrain much anymore.

[MIPS]

I still really enjoy the artistic style they have with these new videos. Even with no audio I was able to clearly understand what they were trying to say.

[Mac Write]

What are the long term "SkyTrain" extension/new lines plans?
•VCC-Clark - Arbutus
•King George - Langley Center
•Arbutus - UBC
•?
•?
•?
What are official plan ideas not fantasy. is there a plan to go past waterfront down Hastings st?

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

What are the long term "SkyTrain" extension/new lines plans?
•VCC-Clark - Arbutus
•King George - Langley Center
•Arbutus - UBC
•?
•?
•?
What are official plan ideas not fantasy. is there a plan to go past waterfront down Hastings st?

I don't know that there are any "official" plans - look at the B-Line routes as that's usually what comes before Skytrain.

[TransitJack]

Originally Posted by Olden Retreiver

Basically, yes.
Although I’m not at all convinced a 3rd track and 3rd platform was ever needed at all. Maybe it helps avoid train conflicts.

I agree, as Bridgeport Station shows you can merge two lines easily.

That being said, because Expo turns back at PW, the extra Lougheed platform allows for staging of an Expo Line briefly without conflict to let a MLine go ahead without delay.
The extra platform also allows for service through the station in the event of a medical issue or stalled train.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

so if coming from coquitlam centre and wanting to go to say new westminster you will now need to walk down and back up. Pretty clear I guess. I live right there and don't use the skytrain much anymore.

Or, keep riding one more stop and switch at Production Way where you can just cross the centre platform.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

i have a question, what is the prupose of the centre track at Port Moody Station? as seen in this google earth screenshot.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

i have a question, what is the prupose of the centre track at Port Moody Station? as seen in this google earth screenshot.

That's a storage pocket to the west of the actual station. They can (and do) park trains there in between morning and afternoon rush hour, and sometimes overnight. It's also a convenient place to park a problem train so that it's out of the way and not blocking trains in either direction.

[MIPS]

-as explained above-

[Mac Write]

Besides the 99 which B-line or future b-line is the busiest? I just want to see were we will be in 2030.

[Bdawe]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

Besides the 99 which B-line or future b-line is the busiest? I just want to see were we will be in 2030.

I would assume the 95 on Hastings or perhaps the 91 on 41st. (though Translink says that the 95 is actually slightly less well ridden then the 135 was)

The other B-Line Corridors are much smaller than Hastings or 41st currently are (or were before B-Line-ification)

[dothediu]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

What are the long term "SkyTrain" extension/new lines plans?
•VCC-Clark - Arbutus
•King George - Langley Center
•Arbutus - UBC
•?
•?
•?
What are official plan ideas not fantasy. is there a plan to go past waterfront down Hastings st?

We know for certain the next 2 major projects (estimated built around 2024-2030) will be:
Broadway (VCC-Clark - Arbutus)
Surrey LRT

After that, these are likely: (https://tenyearvision.translink.ca/planned-projects)
Project development and early works for the Surrey-Langley Line
Planning for a potential gondola to SFU Burnaby campus
Planning for rapid transit to UBC Point Grey campus

You are missing the Evergreen Line PoCo spur. Coquitlam Central is built for that connection, which likely wont happen for a while.

I don't see a Skytrain for Hastings/95 B-line happening for at least 25 years, as it's redundant with the Millenium line, and tunneling along Hastings will be too expensive. Not much space above ground either.

[dothediu]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

What would have been the best way to build Lougheed Station?

If it was a completely new build, I think the way Coquitlam Central is built (for the future with the PoCo spur) would have been the best way to build Lougheed. They did not have the space to build another platform for the south of the station, plus there's a bunch of switches already at the east and west of the station.

https://goo.gl/maps/kHbjkKm9fBJ2

4 platforms, from north to south:

1 - from Burquitlam (side platform)
2 - to Burquitlam (centre platform)
3 - from Braid (centre platform)
4 - to Braid (side platform)

But then again, Columbia seems to work with just 2 platforms with the spurs. If only Columbia was built as centre platform station, it would've worked well but pretty busy for sure.

[Firebrand]

Originally Posted by dothediu

Project development and early works for the Surrey-Langley Line

Didn’t TransLink stated that the line will be LRT or something?

[Mac Write]

Someone said awhile ago that Lougheed station was supposed to be built down the centre of North Road this was 1997 time frame.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Bdawe

I would assume the 95 on Hastings or perhaps the 91 on 41st. (though Translink says that the 95 is actually slightly less well ridden then the 135 was)

The other B-Line Corridors are much smaller than Hastings or 41st currently are (or were before B-Line-ification)

I wouldn't be surprised to eventually see them put a Skytrain from downtown Van to Kootenay Loop - that corridor has multiple bus routes that could be replaced / moved elsewhere. Either end of that line could continue over to the North Shore.

Originally Posted by dothediu

We know for certain the next 2 major projects (estimated built around 2024-2030) will be:
Broadway (VCC-Clark - Arbutus)
Surrey LRT

After that, these are likely: (https://tenyearvision.translink.ca/planned-projects)
Project development and early works for the Surrey-Langley Line
Planning for a potential gondola to SFU Burnaby campus
Planning for rapid transit to UBC Point Grey campus

You are missing the Evergreen Line PoCo spur. Coquitlam Central is built for that connection, which likely wont happen for a while.

I don't see a Skytrain for Hastings/95 B-line happening for at least 25 years, as it's redundant with the Millenium line, and tunneling along Hastings will be too expensive. Not much space above ground either.

Tunnelling is crazy expensive, which is why I suspect they'll do more on / above-ground lines and leave most of the subways for future generations.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the SFU Gondola get bumped up the list. The 145 bus up Burnaby Mountain is basically a B-Line already, serving the community that lives up there nowadays. Plus when we get winter and snow it's not unusual for TransLink to have to shut down bus service as it's dangerous to drive up and down the hill.

Image of current and the next set of B-Lines to start up (really large or I would have posted it here).