Calgary Area Regional Transit

[milomilo]

I saw those maps. They're very interesting but I expect they are extremely speculative and aren't intended to be accurate. Lots could change between now and then, and there's a lot which obviously can't be correct, for example apparently the frequency on the LRTs now is the maximum they will ever be.

[Jaspertf]

Originally Posted by milomilo

I saw those maps. They're very interesting but I expect they are extremely speculative and aren't intended to be accurate. Lots could change between now and then, and there's a lot which obviously can't be correct, for example apparently the frequency on the LRTs now is the maximum they will ever be.

Only the 2015 maps are likely to be accurate, possibly the 2028. Being in construction I can guarantee the Green Line will be delayed, very few major infrastructure projects run to schedule or budget.

Only if the Red and Blue lines are removed from 7th Ave can their frequency be improved, due to the sequencing of the traffic lights and the fact they share the same track.


Also there is a new advocacy for passenger rail website:

https://www.railalberta.com/

Not created or controlled by me, I am concentrating on other activities.
To make passenger rail in Alberta a reality needs all our help, even if all you can do is spread the word and share the website.

[joe498]

So this site just popped up: https://www.railalberta.com/

[joe498]

https://www.thestar.com/calgary/2018/10/...tions-for-calgary-to-banff-corridor.html

[MalcolmTucker]

Excellent.

[milomilo]

That's great, and how things should be done.

I'd like it if they looked at the feasibility of extending it to the airport. I know transit to downtown doesn't work out cost wise normally, but since we do have a lot of YYC-Banff traffic, that could tip the scales and make this a pretty attractive proposition, IMO.

I really hope this gets momentum behind it, as right now there is none. The Olympics could be the thing to do it (even though it won't actually be that useful for the games). As I've made my opinion known, I don't think rail to Banff can be done cheaply so it will need a big investment all at once. But once that is done, I have no reason to doubt it will be successful on a ridership basis (if not, perhaps, a financial one at first) and we'll be glad we did it.

[DizzyEdge]

I note an interesting agenda item for today's Council meeting:

"Hyperloop Development and Testing in Calgary, TT2018-1054"

[MonctonGoldenFlames]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

I note an interesting agenda item for today's Council meeting:

"Hyperloop Development and Testing in Calgary, TT2018-1054"

Committee received a report for information on Hyperloop - a proposed mode of freight and passenger transportation that uses a vacuum tube system to propel pods at high speeds (over 1,000 km/h) over long distances. There are no functioning hyperloops in service, and only two test tracks in the world – the Virgin Hyperloop One 500 m test track in the Nevada Desert and the SpaceX subscale model in Hawthorne, California. In 2017, a hyperloop company approached The City of Calgary looking to establish a research office, and construct a 10 km test track in Alberta. The hyperloop company investigated several locations for tests tracks outside of Calgary city limits. Administration supports the development of a privately funded test track outside the city boundary due to the economic and research benefits that could arise from its development. However, due to the hyperloop technology still being in a conceptual / developmental stage, regional plans should not be changed to account for it, and the development of a test track within city boundaries is not recommended. The decision to allow for the construction and operation of a hyperloop test track falls outside of The City of Calgary’s jurisdiction. The Government of Alberta is in ongoing discussions with the hyperloop company regarding the company’s interest in moving forward with a safe and suitable hyperloop test track location in the province.

[milomilo]

Hyperloop is complete vaporware, as a famous man once said, a lie can get half way round the world before the truth can put it's pants on.

But if they want to invest and test it here then sure. Just don't give that nonsense a cent of public money.

[Reecemartin]

[Deleted]

[Jaspertf]

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

I note an interesting agenda item for today's Council meeting:

"Hyperloop Development and Testing in Calgary, TT2018-1054"

As temperatures get colder, all metals and materials become more brittle and susceptible to fracturing. Over the past winter both CP and CN have been operating their trains at slow speeds to prevent breaking rails, causing the grain backlog. Ski hills will shutdown chair lifts below -20degC, to prevent cables snapping.

The temperature in the Prairies gets below -30degC in the winter. The frost level in Alberta is considered to be 3.0m, all water utilities are buried below 3m in the ground to prevent freezing.

To work effectively in Alberta, Hyperloop/Transpod would have to be underground. Also with a speed of 1000kph it would have to be dead straight, which can easily be achieved with tunnelling.

A simple train tunnel costs atleast CAD20million per km, Crossrail is costing more. A Transpod tunnel would also need to be sealed in order to maintain even a partial vacuum, and this does not include the mag-lev propulsion technology or the construction of the terminals and pods.

For a quick relevant example, Tokyo to Nagoya mag-lev. The direct route is 286km with the majority in a tunnel, it is currently estimated at JPY5.1Trillion or CAD 60 Billion.

Hyperloop/Transpod is a fantastic idea and a great use of technology, but it will be a massive white elephant for Alberta. The combined population of Tokyo and Nagoya is 47 million, the best place for this technology in North America is in the North East Corridor between Washington DC and New York.

[milomilo]

No, it's 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵.

• Video Link

This guy sounds legit to me and the things he says make sense. Even if he's wrong about most things (and I don't think he is), any one of his points is a dealbreaker. Hyperloop is vapourware, and people need to take their Elon Musk rose tinted glasses off and stop treating the idea as legitimate.

[joe498]

Banff sees drop in traffic as transit ridership increases

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/banff-traffic-transit-1.4865717

[lubicon]

Nice to see the increase in transit numbers but keep in mind the poor weather in August, and the fact that Parks were free in 2017 might also be in play here.

[milomilo]

If anything though, you'd expect that to cause a decrease in ridership though. So the fact transit ridership went up so much while cars went down is great news.

[Jaspertf]

The FRA has finally updated 49 CFR parts 229, 231, 236, and 238. Effectively they have created a new Tier 3 for high speed trains, also they have finally acknowledged that Crash Energy Management and Crash Prevention Measures are better than building high-velocity bank vaults. Under the new rules, old, heavy trains can now be replaced with lighter, sleeker, more-modern models. European and Asian trains are designed to absorb impacts and avoid collisions in the first place, and they have better safety records. The trains will now be more energy efficient and cheaper thanks to the changes, and they will also be more likely to have features that prevent overcrowding, like open gangways.
As Canada follows the FRA regulations, the development of rail will now be cheaper and more viable.

[milomilo]

That's awesome! I always that that rule was junk.

[Jaspertf]

Calgary-Bow Valley Mass Transit Feasibility Study will hopefully be released by the end of February, it should be an interesting read.

[MalcolmTucker]

Nice! Too bad they have missed the window for funding under the current provincial government.

[Jaspertf]

There will always be funding opportunities, each regime wants to make their mark and show what the are doing, major infrastructure project always fulfil this role.