Heavy Rail, Commuter Rail, & Intercity Transportation

[SpongeG]

Washington State approves $150 million to plan Vancouver-Seattle high-speed rail
Kenneth Chan | Mar 15 2022

During media availability following the decision, Governor Jay Inslee deemed the plan, called Move Ahead Washington, to be the “cleanest and greenest transportation package in the history of Washington.”

The state government’s funding for the high-speed rail planning component takes advantage of up to US$700 million (CA$894 million) in matching federal funding that could be made available by President Joe Biden’s US$1 trillion (CA$1.28 trillion) national infrastructure plan.

Funding from both the state and federal governments — potentially up to US$850 million (CA$1.09 billion) combined — would push the high-speed rail project to a new phase of advanced planning. This would include more detailed technical work, geotechnical studies, environmental impact studies, public consultation, and development on a business case and funding models.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-seattle-cascadia-high-speed-rail-washington-state-funding

[logicbomb]

Work began last year but CP will be fully removing the Marpole spur from Hudson in Vancouver to Byrne Rd in Burnaby.

They are looking at options of selling portions of the ROW.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

Work began last year but CP will be fully removing the Marpole spur from Hudson in Vancouver to Byrne Rd in Burnaby.

They are looking at options of selling portions of the ROW.

That's good news - I'm hoping the City will buy at least the portion needed to connect the Arbutus Greenway to the Kent Ave. Greenway. There's no really decent way to bike from one to the other right now.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

Work began last year but CP will be fully removing the Marpole spur from Hudson in Vancouver to Byrne Rd in Burnaby.

They are looking at options of selling portions of the ROW.

CoV is spending $170K to upgrade one of the crossings.

https://www.merx.com/public/supplier/solicitations/notice/22259554737/abstract

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

CoV is spending $170K to upgrade one of the crossings.

https://www.merx.com/public/supplier/solicitations/notice/22259554737/abstract

The total cost is $236,500, and the City is spending $64,500. Transport Canada are contributing the other $172,000.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

That's good news - I'm hoping the City will buy at least the portion needed to connect the Arbutus Greenway to the Kent Ave. Greenway. There's no really decent way to bike from one to the other right now.

Probably the only way to do that is to close off half of a minor road and turn it into a bikeway, since the rail line on Marine is still active (and would be useful for any YVR general industrial uses). Marine Dr. proper is definitely not great for biking, but truing to turn, say 6th Ave into a proper greenway is going to be...difficult.

Lots of widening and other greenery work likely is required to turn it into a real greenway. Basically the infamous 'cycling highway on Point Grey', but on a larger scale, and in the South of Vancouver...

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by fredinno

Probably the only way to do that is to close off half of a minor road and turn it into a bikeway, since the rail line on Marine is still active (and would be useful for any YVR general industrial uses). Marine Dr. proper is definitely not great for biking, but truing to turn, say 6th Ave into a proper greenway is going to be...difficult.

Lots of widening and other greenery work likely is required to turn it into a real greenway. Basically the infamous 'cycling highway on Point Grey', but on a larger scale, and in the South of Vancouver...

Did you miss the post that started the discussion? "CP will be fully removing the Marpole spur from Hudson in Vancouver to Byrne Rd in Burnaby." Assuming the statement is correct, it won't be active in future.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by fredinno

Probably the only way to do that is to close off half of a minor road and turn it into a bikeway, since the rail line on Marine is still active (and would be useful for any YVR general industrial uses). Marine Dr. proper is definitely not great for biking, but truing to turn, say 6th Ave into a proper greenway is going to be...difficult.

Lots of widening and other greenery work likely is required to turn it into a real greenway. Basically the infamous 'cycling highway on Point Grey', but on a larger scale, and in the South of Vancouver...

From logicbomb's post the line is being closed and track removed to Byrne Road in Burnaby near the CNR Bridge.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by madog222

From logicbomb's post the line is being closed and track removed to Byrne Road in Burnaby near the CNR Bridge.

i dont know how much i believe this... they have done some changes recently, removed the yard tracks by Cambie/Manitoba St. though they reconfigured 2 tracks through there, they did not remove the through tracks... it also looked like they've done work on the ballast as well and stuff. so i dont know...

only time will tell.

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

i dont know how much i believe this... they have done some changes recently, removed the yard tracks by Cambie/Manitoba St. though they reconfigured 2 tracks through there, they did not remove the through tracks... it also looked like they've done work on the ballast as well and stuff. so i dont know...

only time will tell.

As of right now, CP appears to be removing siding and spurs but there are plans (this summer?) to remove the tracks from Mile 0 to Byrne. The last customer on the line was Pacific Metals last summer. Of course I feel that CP may once again drag this out wanting max value from the COV and City of Burnaby for the lands.

Really hope this happens sooner so we can get a bike trail connecting New Westminster to the Arbutus Corridor and preserve a future transportation corridor.

[bardak]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

As of right now, CP appears to be removing siding and spurs but there are plans (this summer?) to remove the tracks from Mile 0 to Byrne. The last customer on the line was Pacific Metals last summer. Of course I feel that CP may once again drag this out wanting max value from the COV and City of Burnaby for the lands.

Really hope this happens sooner so we can get a bike trail connecting New Westminster to the Arbutus Corridor and preserve a future transportation corridor.

As long as the corridor is preserved for future transit and its connections to the arbutus corridor use I will be happy. I can see the whole corridor being a very useful core section of a more expansive RER style commuter rail system and in the future.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by bardak

As long as the corridor is preserved for future transit and its connections to the arbutus corridor use I will be happy. I can see the whole corridor being a very useful core section of a more expansive RER style commuter rail system and in the future.

You misunderstand - they're turning the corridor into a bike lane.

[casper]

Originally Posted by bardak

As long as the corridor is preserved for future transit and its connections to the arbutus corridor use I will be happy. I can see the whole corridor being a very useful core section of a more expansive RER style commuter rail system and in the future.

Yes, translink should buy the corridor as a rail corridor. That will likely keep the value down. Suspect CP is seeing $$$$ in their eyes.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

You misunderstand - they're turning the corridor into a bike lane.

I think there's enough width to the right of way that it can do both. Particularly since it abuts N and S Kent Ave along most of its distance through Vancouver.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Did you miss the post that started the discussion? "CP will be fully removing the Marpole spur from Hudson in Vancouver to Byrne Rd in Burnaby." Assuming the statement is correct, it won't be active in future.

Sorry.

Is this just a rumor, or is there an actual source other than logicbomb- I can't seem to find any? CP last time only removed the rail bridges on the outskirts of the spurs when it was being bought out entirely (Arbutus), or it was damaged and going to be removed anyways (Marpole Bridge).
Part of the CN-held Expo Rail Spur was operated until the late 90s, and the tracks are still there south of Edmonds.
There's probably not much incentive to remove the tracks entirely just in case someone else wants to use them- unless the City is buying them out.

Going through Google Earth shows rail sidings ARE being removed on the Ontario St. Yard, but not the rest of the corridor- considering the area is probably not easy to access, I'd actually imagine they're preparing to sell the land that used to be part of the sidings on the yard for a new industrial tenant instead and keeping the rest of the tracks just in case.
It's not the largest lot, but it could probably house a small warehouse (with excellent transportation access, obviously.)

And in any case, it's not exactly the best place for either a transit or bike corridor- it's all industrial on both sides, with some distance to anywhere of note until Knight St and Kerr St.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by fredinno

Sorry.

Is this just a rumor, or is there an actual source other than logicbomb- I can't seem to find any? CP last time only removed the rail bridges on the outskirts of the spurs when it was being bought out entirely (Arbutus), or it was damaged and going to be removed anyways (Marpole Bridge).
Part of the CN-held Expo Rail Spur was operated until the late 90s, and the tracks are still there south of Edmonds.
There's probably not much incentive to remove the tracks entirely just in case someone else wants to use them- unless the City is buying them out.

Going through Google Earth shows rail sidings ARE being removed on the Ontario St. Yard, but not the rest of the corridor- considering the area is probably not easy to access, I'd actually imagine they're preparing to sell the land that used to be part of the sidings on the yard for a new industrial tenant instead and keeping the rest of the tracks just in case.
It's not the largest lot, but it could probably house a small warehouse (with excellent transportation access, obviously.)

And in any case, it's not exactly the best place for either a transit or bike corridor- it's all industrial on both sides, with some distance to anywhere of note until Knight St and Kerr St.

I only saw the Richmond Van Horne spur listed on their three year network plan last updated October 2021.

https://www.cpr.ca/en/about-cp/cp-and-public-policy/three-year-plan

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by fredinno

...it's not exactly the best place for either a transit or bike corridor- it's all industrial on both sides, with some distance to anywhere of note until Knight St and Kerr St.

You're wrong there - it's an excellent connection between the west side of Vancouver (served by the Arbutus Greenway), Marine Gateway and the Canada Line bridge. The Arbutus Greenway is a great biking connection because of its relatively gentle grade, but it essentially dead-ends at its southern end with no decent connection to anything east unless you're willing to risk biking on Marine Drive or Kent Ave, both of which are heavy truck routes with no shoulders.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I only saw the Richmond Van Horne spur listed on their three year network plan last updated October 2021.

https://www.cpr.ca/en/about-cp/cp-and-public-policy/three-year-plan

Yeah, the Van Horne Spur is the Richmond section, not the Marpole Section.
I'm unhappy they didn't maintain some kind of provision for rail or a greenway of sorts there to connect it to Railway Ave...

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

You're wrong there - it's an excellent connection between the west side of Vancouver (served by the Arbutus Greenway), Marine Gateway and the Canada Line bridge. The Arbutus Greenway is a great biking connection because of its relatively gentle grade, but it essentially dead-ends at its southern end with no decent connection to anything east unless you're willing to risk biking on Marine Drive or Kent Ave, both of which are heavy truck routes with no shoulders.

I agree the existing connections aren't good, but neither is the Marpole Spur. The only reason it'd be under consideration is because it's a logical continuation of the Arbutus Greenway.

[rpvan]

Some minor recent murmurs about restarting some form of passenger rail on the old line on Vancouver Island.

Q&A: Island Corridor Foundation’s big pitch to revive Vancouver Island passenger rail
May 19, 2022
https://thediscourse.ca/vancouver-island/vancouver-island-passenger-rail-business-case


Foundation makes a push to restore Vancouver Island rail service
May 20, 2022
https://www.victoriabuzz.com/2022/05/fou...o-restore-vancouver-island-rail-service/


Business case for bringing rail back to Vancouver Island released
May 22, 2022
https://beta.ctvnews.ca/local/vancouver-island/2022/5/22/1_5913950.amp.html


Island Corridor Foundation says First Nations are key to rail line's future
May 24, 2022
https://beta.ctvnews.ca/local/vancouver-island/2022/5/24/1_5916179.amp.html


CRD calls for settlement of land claims on rail corridor
July 15, 2022
https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news...-of-land-claims-on-rail-corridor-5586221


Sooke on track in effort to save Island Rail Corridor
July 27, 2022
https://www.vancouverislandfreedaily.com...-in-effort-to-save-island-rail-corridor/

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by rpvan

Some minor recent murmurs about restarting some form of passenger rail on the old line on Vancouver Island.

Hard to make an economic case for restoring and maintaining the right of way (not to mention the rolling stock) for what would doubtless be a minimal ridership. It would probably benefit more people to convert the entire corridor to a rail trail - that would likely draw more bike riders than a passenger service would see, and they would also likely patronize local businesses along the line.