Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[WestCoastEcho]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

It always amazes me how bad the trolley buses are in snow. Don't other snowy places use them? Is it the tires we use here?

I've heard the issue is that the trolley buses don't have a limited slip differential, but an open one, which causes problems if one tire has grip, the but the other one doesn't. But that was what I've heard, and I'm not sure that's correct.

[jollyburger]

In a situation where they can't get a clean plow of the roads maybe they should switch to some gravel?

https://www.tranbc.ca/2011/02/17/winter-traction-why-small-rocks-instead-of-sand/

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

In a situation where they can't get a clean plow of the roads maybe they should switch to some gravel?

https://www.tranbc.ca/2011/02/17/winter-traction-why-small-rocks-instead-of-sand/

Check out the comments underneath that article and you'll see that gravel creates a whole series of new problems, with cars damaged and windshields cracked. In urban areas on paved roads it also ends up washing down the storm drains, increasing the likelihood that they'll backup causing flooding. When there's a lot of we slush on the street, it's often very unpleasant being a pedestrian as drivers go too fast spraying slush all over the sidewalks, and any unfortunate passing walkers. Imagine adding gravel into the slushy mix?

[Migrant_Coconut]

They tried sand last year, but IIRC effectiveness was minimal and it ran into the same problems.

[s211]

Originally Posted by WestCoastEcho

I've heard the issue is that the trolley buses don't have a limited slip differential, but an open one, which causes problems if one tire has grip, the but the other one doesn't. But that was what I've heard, and I'm not sure that's correct.

Remind me, but aren't most of our buses built in Winnipeg?

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by s211

Remind me, but aren't most of our buses built in Winnipeg?

...and that relates to our steep hills, how?

[MIPS]

I think he assumes that because it's built in Winnipeg it is therefore built universally to the Winnipeg spec for winter.

FYI, New Flyer builds buses to the customer's specifications. It's likely TransLink either didn't factor what type of differential to use, or opted against the added cost.

[cabotp]

if you looked at the lifespan of a transit bus there would be a very limited amount of time when a limited slip differential or a locking differential would be needed. So I would be surprised if any of the buses did have 1 of those options.

Now a touring bus I could see possibly having it since they will probably be driving over mountainious terain quite a bit in their life time.

Keep in mind though that even if a a bus had a limited slip differential or a locking differential. It doesn't mean that it would suddenly never get stuck again.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by cabotp

if you looked at the lifespan of a transit bus there would be a very limited amount of time when a limited slip differential or a locking differential would be needed. So I would be surprised if any of the buses did have 1 of those options.

Now a touring bus I could see possibly having it since they will probably be driving over mountainious terain quite a bit in their life time.

Keep in mind though that even if a a bus had a limited slip differential or a locking differential. It doesn't mean that it would suddenly never get stuck again.

"Additional bus tire traction – Bus Operators can use a snow switch which gives bus tires better traction in snow."

Not sure exactly what it does.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

They tried sand last year, but IIRC effectiveness was minimal and it ran into the same problems.

Last year or the year before they sprayed a lot more brine too didn't they? I didn't see as much of that this year on city streets.

[Express691]

A press release is to take tomorrow the 21st at Brighouse Station for Canada Line expansion.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/trans...e-service-translink-vancouver-bc-2034808

[scryer]

Originally Posted by Express691

A press release is to take tomorrow the 21st at Brighouse Station for Canada Line expansion.

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/trans...e-service-translink-vancouver-bc-2034808

Yay, more trains .

What needs to happen at Brighouse station is double tracking it and completing the missing half of the station.

Don't get me wrong, I am happy for more trains but if we want to increase more effective service for Richmond then we need to seriously consider double tracking and making Brighouse into a real station.

[ilikeredheads]

We've been through this. Double tracking Brighouse is just not gonna happen. The reality is that this is a mistake Richmond will have to live with.

[Mac Write]

So basically re-announcing more trains will be coming and frequency increase of maybe 30 seconds between trains (so 2:45 instead of 3:15?). </sarcasm>

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

why do we know the announcement before it is made? doesn't that just defeat the purpose? seems like a waste of money to hold a press conference since we already know.

[ilikeredheads]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

why do we know the announcement before it is made? doesn't that just defeat the purpose? seems like a waste of money to hold a press conference since we already know.

politicians loves their photo ops.

To be fair, vast majority of people dont' follow transit news.

[cairnstone]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

We've been through this. Double tracking Brighouse is just not gonna happen. The reality is that this is a mistake Richmond will have to live with.

It will happen as the population growth around brighouse is huge. Also its already listed on translinks 15 year plan. It wont be a impossible. just will require piers to span to the center of 3 road. and a station that would span both sides.

The bus loop is being worked on as we speak.

There is a number of 600 plus unit projects all south of westminister highway. So over the next 10 years or so will see over 1000 people move into dt richmond

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

We've been through this. Double tracking Brighouse is just not gonna happen. The reality is that this is a mistake Richmond will have to live with.

I've mentioned this before, but the real solution is to move the bus loop/routes to terminate at Lansdowne Station, effectively making that double-track station the defacto terminus/ transfer point with most trains short-turning there (allowing higher frequency) and only sending some trains down to Brighouse.

[Sheba]

Relief has arrived: Canada Line peak service increased with new trains

There is now much-needed capacity relief on SkyTrain’s Canada Line, specifically during the busy peak hours starting today.

TransLink announced in a press conference this morning that four new additional two-car trains formally began service today, effectively increasing passenger capacity by 15% during the peak hours or about 800 passengers per hour per direction.

A few other trains have arrived but are still undergoing commissioning, while others are still being manufactured in South Korea by Hyundai Rotem, which also built the fleet of original 20 two-car trains in 2008. The first new train entered the service rotation last fall.

Aside from improved air conditioning and other very minor changes, the new fleet is identical to the original fleet.

Later in Spring 2020, all 12 new additional two-car trains — a total of 24 new additional cars — will enter service, increasing capacity by about 35% compared to 2019 levels. In real numbers, the peak capacity will be increased to over 8,000 pphpd — up from 6,100 pphpd last year. This capacity increase is achieved by running frequencies by up to one minute higher.

...

[teriyaki]

Haven't been in town to catch the new trains. They mention that there are some minor changes aside from the Air Conditioning, anyone know what those look like? I'm a sucker for tiny details like that. Can tell from the picture that there looks like LED headlights on the new trainset?