Heavy Rail, Commuter Rail, & Intercity Transportation

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

The timing does seem suspicious. Apparently some people were seen fleeing the scene, so there's at least a chance they'll be caught. Kinda dumb of them to do it in broad daylight - perhaps that suggests that it was done by some kids rather than by disgruntled garden box owners.

It's a shame to see these old wooden trestles go. If it's damaged badly enough and they decide to replace it then they'll probably put up one of those steel-and-concrete trestles like they have at the south end of the Fraser River Bridge beside the Patullo. IMHO they have no character at all. I guess it depends on how long the design and construction take, as well as the cost.

Considering there's only one customer there, I think they'll forgo any repairs and sell off the remaining ROW.

Originally Posted by spm2013

I meant if they wanted to get trains onto the Arbutus Corridor. That's correct right?

I wonder how they insure their bridges. And they saw people running from the scene so arson seems to be spot on.

Correct, CP could use the Marpole spur to reach the Arbutus Corridor.

[cabotp]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

I really hope that someone didn't set it on fire because of the Arbutus issue

If they did they would be one the dumbest idiots I have ever heard of.

Considering that taking down the bridge would not have any impact on trains running along the arbutus corridor.

[jsbertram]

I guess the dream of LRTs from Granville Island on Arbutus and then crossing over to Richmond has died.
Unless the bridge / trestle is rebuilt.
(not likely by CPR)

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

I guess the dream of LRTs from Granville Island on Arbutus and then crossing over to Richmond has died.

Would it ever have made any sense for a transit line to use a swing bridge that is open as often as not?

[spm2013]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Would it ever have made any sense for a transit line to use a swing bridge that is open as often as not?

Well I guess the fantasy world where Translink has money for an LRT line they could also build a new bridge

[Metro-One]

So, if CP does not want to fix the bridge do they have to take down the remainder of the crossing? If so it may be cheeper simply to fix the destroyed portion.

Also, if this is arsen, and in any way related to the Arbutus issue, do you really think this is going to make CP any more sympathetic to the city of Vancouver and the residents in the area? I think not, I think more the opposite will be true.

Is it just me or does the city of Van seem like it wants to make enemies left right and centre? From the Provincial Government, to the Vancouver Port, to CP Rail now.

[AverageJoe]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Also, if this is arsen, and in any way related to the Arbutus issue, do you really think this is going to make CP any more sympathetic to the city of Vancouver and the residents in the area? I think not, I think more the opposite will be true.

If it's proven to be arson I could see CP implementing security measures to protect their property. It'd be a good enough justification to clear everything off their property and have the CP Police patrol it... then it's game over for the residents.

[spm2013]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

So, if CP does not want to fix the bridge do they have to take down the remainder of the crossing? If so it may be cheeper simply to fix the destroyed portion.

Also, if this is arsen, and in any way related to the Arbutus issue, do you really think this is going to make CP any more sympathetic to the city of Vancouver and the residents in the area? I think not, I think more the opposite will be true.

Is it just me or does the city of Van seem like it wants to make enemies left right and centre? From the Provincial Government, to the Vancouver Port, to CP Rail now.

It only appears to be that one approach so maybe it's not a huge number. Could probably use some more fencing around that area as well.

[DKaz]

The Arbutus LRT could swing east and terminate at Marine Drive Station. With future extensions east. Remember the old Coquitlam-New West-Marine Drive Station DMU option?

[officedweller]

POsted by Delirium in the Marine Gateway thread.

I could see a spur from the rail line - as long as a right of way is preserved...

Originally Posted by Delirium

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/vancouver/2014/vch2014_0237.jpg

[MIPS]

It appears CP has put up a new fence along an old portion of track in front of the station downtown and assimilated it back into the yard. This photo is a little old and a few days after it was taken they had pulled up all the weeds and had the tracks sitting on fresh gravel.


Image courtesy of MIPS

It doesn't really change a whole lot other than it boxes in the terminating end of the SkyTrain. I wonder how that will affect future line expansions.

[officedweller]

Thanks.
I guess the weeds weren't a community garden?

[twoNeurons]

R.I.P. Uznanski and thank-you for the train to Seattle.

Kenneth M. Uznanski, Jr., the former head of the Washington State Department of Transportation Rail Division and a highly respected national figure in passenger railroading, died July 7, 2014 at St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Wash. He was 52.
Between 1991 and 2010 at WSDOT, Uznanski was instrumental in developing the highly successful Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor and implementing many other improvements to the state’s passenger and freight rail services.

“While several individuals deserve credit for Washington state’s successful rail passenger program, none more than Ken Uznanski, fine husband, father, and manager, and guiding light of the WSDOT’s Rail Division for many years,” writes consultant and passenger rail advocate Lloyd Flem of All Aboard Washington. “From the viewpoint of one who worked very closely with Ken, I knew his managing of Washington State’s rail program was not just a job, it was a calling. He knew all aspects of what the work entailed, worked with uncommon diligence to lead a loyal crew to where Washington was judged throughout our country as having among the very best state-level passenger rail programs. During Ken’s years as Rail Manager, I had open access to him at all times. My job was to help carry his message to the legislature, civic and community leaders, and members of Congress. A mutual trust was present and total. Ken understood that an independent rail advocate could often approach elected officials and other influential people in a way public employees or others with narrower corporate or institutional interests could not as easily do.”

Consultant Tom White worked closely with Uznanski on Washington State rail programs: “Ken led a small, dedicated group of state, Amtrak, BNSF employees, and consultants in developing passenger and freight rail improvements in the state of Washington.
Under his watch, the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor program was developed from an idea into today’s Amtrak Cascades service. The 2007 report on the program contained a plan for current and expanded 110 mph service that was sufficiently detailed to cause Washington State to be awarded the first federal high speed rail grant money, $6 million, and to be subsequently awarded a second grant of close to $800 million.

“WSDOT developed a close working arrangement among Amtrak, WSDOT, and BNSF. The working team had one goal—develop a high quality rail system in Washington, passenger and freight. Passenger service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. was restored and the long process of all passengers getting off the train for customs at Blaine/White Rock was eliminated. Dozens of municipal and other speed limits between Vancouver, Wash., and Blaine, Wash., were eliminated. New crossing signals were installed at virtually every grade crossing between Vancouver and Blaine. Washington State developed the performance spec that would ultimately become the Amtrak Cascades Talgo trains, and worked with BNSF to develop and implement the higher speed limits that the Talgo trains were capable of achieving, reducing Portland-Seattle schedule running time by 30 minutes...

READ the full article here: http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/pass...-m-uznanski-jr-1962-2014.html?channel=41

[twoNeurons]

A great short article on the Japanese Shinkansen. Interesting that they called it the Super Express of Dreams.

It seems that Vancouver - Seattle is still waiting for the "Somewhat fast train only existing in dreams"

I know there are other complications to our route, but it seems like we just really need a visionary to just DO IT!

Half a century ago, Japan built the world’s first high-speed rail network — a network that remains the gold standard in train travel today. In this week’s Forefront, Next City examines how that country is now helping Texas build its own bullet train, a potential game-changer for transportation in the Lone Star State.

When it launched on October 1, 1964, the world’s first high-speed rail network was known as yume no chotokkyu — literally, the “super-express of dreams.” The first line in Japan’s now world-famous shinkansen network, which would come to be known as the “bullet train,” was built against all odds, in the face of fierce public opposition, technical difficulties and astronomical costs. The $80 million loan secured from the World Bank for construction and engineering barely covered expenses, and the head of the project, Shinji Sogō, resigned amid the scandal of an out-of-control budget. People called the team who worked on the project “the crazy gang.”

But when it pulled out of Tokyo Station 50 years ago, the much-maligned bullet train accelerated a process of change that would transform Japan’s cities, geography and identity. After the devastation of World War 2, “The shinkansen was the symbol that Japan had not only caught up, but, in terms of railway technology at least, in 1964 had overtaken the rest of the world,” writes Christopher P. Hood in Shinkansen: From Bullet Train to Symbol of Modern Japan. It was more than just a train. The 0 Series shinkansen, painted gleaming white with a blue stripe running its length, became an early symbol of the technological ascension Japan would display through the rest of the 20th century.

Today, over 350,000 annual trips transport tens of millions of passengers all over Japan with sublime efficiency — the average delay time is less than a minute. A research report titled “30 Years of High-Speed Railways: Features and Economic and Social Effects of The Shinkansen” by Hiroshi Okada, estimates that the economic impact from the shinkansen train network, based on the time saved from faster travel, is approximately ¥500 billion ($4.8 billion USD) per year. Okada stresses that the cultural impact is also significant, a shinkansen offers people living far from urban centers “easy access to concerts, exhibitions, theaters, etc., enabling them to lead fuller lives.”

Read the rest here:
http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/japans-b...t-and-still-best-high-speed-rail-network

[officedweller]

Little Campbell River Rail Bridge, South Surrey, successfully replaced:

http://www.thenownewspaper.com/news/corr...l-bridge-successfully-replaced-1.1603168

[SOSS]

There is a lot of truck traffic taking containers north and south in Metro Vancouver, is there any feasible route that a heavy rail line could be used to take these trucks off the road? I know Arbutus doesn't connect all the dots- could it? Or is this just a complete pipe dream?

[Tetsuo]

Originally Posted by SOSS

There is a lot of truck traffic taking containers north and south in Metro Vancouver, is there any feasible route that a heavy rail line could be used to take these trucks off the road? I know Arbutus doesn't connect all the dots- could it? Or is this just a complete pipe dream?

There's no customers on the route, even the marpole spur that runs along Kent is losing customers.

[SOSS]

Not to service customers but to service just the ports. Containers are moved from one part of the port to another all the time.

[WBC]

Originally Posted by SOSS

Not to service customers but to service just the ports. Containers are moved from one part of the port to another all the time.

Isn't there an initiative to move more containers in between ports by ships? Wouldn't that be the cheapest/best way to do this?

[logicbomb]

Looks like they are in the process of finally removing the old BCER tracks near Royal Oak. Saw crews surveying the site.