Surrey Langley Skytrain - Expo Line Extension | Proposed

[nname]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

That "one system" is currently hampering maximum frequency east of the PW-Columbia chokepoint, not to mention increasing the amount of switch usage

Still, TransLink doesn't believe the SkyBridge is a choke point. At least it's not nearly as constrained as Main-CMBW. At one point, they were even thinking of terminating every 4th train at Metrotown instead of sending it over to Surrey or Production.

The current plan alternate trains from Waterfront to (1/3) Langley, (1/3) 140th, and (1/3) Production/Arbutus; and from Arbutus to (1/2) Lafarge and (1/2) Waterfront. With the longer trains and slight increase in frequency, the capacity over SkyBridge will be almost the same as the pre-pandemic capacity for the segment between Metrotown to Broadway.

If they need more capacity over SkyBridge, they can easily change the pattern to (1/4) Langley, (2/4) 140th, (1/4) Production/Arbutus.. and then (1/3) Waterfront, (2/3) Lafarge on the Millennium side without much investment besides additional trains (or delayed retirement). But then you're arguing that the SkyBridge will have a demand of well over 18,000 pphpd on or before 2050, more than triple the current demand...

[bloomtronzero]

Originally Posted by nname

Still, TransLink doesn't believe the SkyBridge is a choke point..

I will never stop suggesting that they replace the 555 with a proper BRT, its own lanes barricaded off from traffic, and exclusive use of the 156 & carvolth exits. Simply as a relief for SkyBridge. It's clearly what was in mind when they built those exits. I know that now taking the space away from drivers will be the biggest piss-storm with local news championing the handful of drivers who feel attacked, but it's the cheapest, quickest way to giving the south-fraser a second rapid link.

[Vantage]

Thanks for pointing me to the info.

[Hotwax]

Surrey-Langley SkyTrain project update coming

An update on the highly anticipated Surrey-Langley SkyTrain project is coming [this] morning.

A news conference is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. in Langley with the province’s transportation minister, TransLink, and federal officials.

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/1...update-coming/

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by Hotwax

Surrey-Langley SkyTrain project update coming

Eight new station names announced for Surrey Langley SkyTrain

The new station names are:

Green Timbers Station (140 Street and Fraser Highway)
152 Street Station (152 Street and Fraser Highway)
Fleetwood Station (160 Street and Fraser Highway)
Bakerview-166 Street Station (166 Street and Fraser Highway)
Hillcrest-184 Street Station (184 Street and Fraser Highway)
Clayton Station (190 Street and Fraser Highway)
Willowbrook Station (196 Street and Fraser Highway)
Langley City Centre Station (203 Street and Fraser Highway)

[mcj]

*snip*

[madog222]

Good names IMO, no complaints from me.

[Diegotheartist1]

Ayy! we made it! some of the names I predicted have come true, like my early prediction of 166 St's station as Bakerview. I predicted 184 street to be called 'North Cloverdale', but hence they selected 'Hillcrest' actually makes sense hence it's more to serve the Hillcrest neighborhood (and shopping centre)

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

Eight new station names announced for Surrey Langley SkyTrain

I find this quote amusing considering he wants to stop one of the housing bills...

Eric Woodward, mayor of Township of Langley

“The Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension is a long overdue investment and expansion in the region. For too long, commuters in Surrey and the Township of Langley have had few options to get around. We look forward to future progress on this project, and the recently announced Langley-Maple Ridge bus rapid transit route connecting to the future SkyTrain network.”

[Vantage]

Really enjoy Bakerview as a station name. Something new (I understand there's a park named Bakerview, but it's not close) and descriptive of the area. The view of Mt Baker is the first thing I think of when I think about that stretch of Fraser Hwy down the hill into the valley.

[SkytrainCar026]

Along with the station names, the BC government released the environmental screening review and construction environmental management plan framework. This framework contains a detailed map of the entire alignment!

Surrey Langley Skytrain resources page: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/t...source-library

November 2023 – Construction Environmental Management Plan Framework (see Appendix A): https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/tr...-framework.pdf

Observations
- Why are there two sets of switches within 200 m of each other near 203 St? To accomodate a future connection to the new OMC?
- Interesting that they are going with side pocket tracks instead of centre ones. This requires the same number of switches and same number of switch changes as a centre pocket track.

All images below are from the November 2023 – Construction Environmental Management Plan Framework by the BC Government.







Btw there is a similar document for the Broadway Subway (see Appendix B): https://www.broadwaysubway.ca/app/up...tober-2019.pdf

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by SkytrainCar026

Along with the station names, the BC government released the environmental screening review and construction environmental management plan framework. This framework contains a detailed map of the entire alignment!

Surrey Langley Skytrain resources page: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/t...source-library

A rather humorous quote from the Public Engagement Summary Report (pg 25):

Suggestion to ensure that the project is designed to allow future extensions to Abbotsford, Hope, Chilliwack, and further into Surrey and Port Coquitlam

Uhm yeah, about that... This will be run by TransLink so it'll only be in Metro Van - only the last two options there are possible. Maybe BC Transit can be convinced to build their own Skytrain to connect the other three together.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by SkytrainCar026

Observations
- Why are there two sets of switches within 200 m of each other near 203 St? To accomodate a future connection to the new OMC?

Thanks for posting these, great to finally see the complete route.

BCRTC often parks maintenance vehicles on the tracks over service hours durring major maintenance projects. If they are parked on a centre pocket track the switches become unavailable so they park the maintenance vehicles on one service track beside the centre pocket track with one direction of service slowing down significantly and traveling through the pocket track. Side pocket tracks avoid this issue, the maintenance vehicles can be parked on the pocket track while not blocking the switches between the service tracks and without trains needing to slow for the switches.

[Bobert]

According to that environmental report, the guide way will be aligned to the south side of Fraser Highway through Green Timbers. Kinda interesting considering the massive median space they've cut out of the road over the least year or so

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Bobert

According to that environmental report, the guide way will be aligned to the south side of Fraser Highway through Green Timbers. Kinda interesting considering the massive median space they've cut out of the road over the least year or so

I think it is shown in the median, they just don’t show the new lanes on Fraser Hwy.

[officedweller]

Thanks for posting the reports and images!

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SkytrainCar026

Observations
- Why are there two sets of switches within 200 m of each other near 203 St? To accomodate a future connection to the new OMC?
- Interesting that they are going with side pocket tracks instead of centre ones. This requires the same number of switches and same number of switch changes as a centre pocket track.

At Green Timbers, they seem to have put the side pocket track to avoid the riparian area to the north.
A wider guideway down the middle for a centre pocket may have required longer bents into the riparian area.
It also allows a straighter allignment for the operational tracks.

The switches at 203 are for station movements which they probably want close to the station so a wrong-railing train entering the station doesn't delay an outgoing train, or vice versa.
You're probably right that the ones near 200A are for the OMC access branch.

[nname]

You see on the either side of the 200A switch, the type of pillar supports a third track to be built in the future, so yes likely it's for OMC access. But not sure why both sides of the switches have those pillar though, unless the OMC location is right beside the track, on the north side of industrial avenue?

[Diegotheartist1]

I wonder if the supposed OMC location could be elevated (probably won't be) like Detroit's People Mover system (which also uses the same technology and similar Model of MK1s)

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by nname

You see on the either side of the 200A switch, the type of pillar supports a third track to be built in the future, so yes likely it's for OMC access. But not sure why both sides of the switches have those pillar though, unless the OMC location is right beside the track, on the north side of industrial avenue?

Could be for the environmental review, they have included both as options. You'd think that they'd only need one access track.
I could see N-S oriented tracks.