Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion II

[Mac Write]

How is Translink introducing the Mar V into revenue service? It seems that only one train right now (my guess is to work out all the bugs of live revenue service). When will the other 3 trains go into revenue service.

I don't want to be chasing down 1 train all day. I did it with Mark II 305-306 in 2009 and that wasn't fun.

[Vantage]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Well someone on CPTDB said it went from Stadium-Chinatown to the Waterfront public media event and then on a service run to Surrey.

The public event was scheduled from 11AM - 1PM
The YouTube livestream (currently at 3:28PM) says it was started five hours ago and it was a 30 minute stream.

Seems more likely the press conference started around 10AM and then the Skytrain was sent to Waterfront for the event.

Just wanted to add that there is footage of the train arriving eastbound at Stadium—Chinatown third platform with all the officials and everyone on board. And I think it was Gregor Robertson mentions in his speech that they rode it to the station for the press event.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

How is Translink introducing the Mar V into revenue service? It seems that only one train right now (my guess is to work out all the bugs of live revenue service). When will the other 3 trains go into revenue service.

I don't want to be chasing down 1 train all day. I did it with Mark II 305-306 in 2009 and that wasn't fun.

Each train will be commissioned individually, they need to complete 2000 continuous kilometers in non-revenue service without a fault as a final qualification.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Vantage

Just wanted to add that there is footage of the train arriving eastbound at Stadium—Chinatown third platform with all the officials and everyone on board. And I think it was Gregor Robertson mentions in his speech that they rode it to the station for the press event.

I just watched the speech now and at 6:52 I only heard him talking about him talking about "deja vu" from his arrival 10 years ago on a Mark 3 Skytrain.

• Video Link

But I found the CBC footage of the arrival with dignitaries and no idea where they boarded.

• Video Link

This YouTube short filmed at the press conference seems to show it went down the Expo line eastbound before turning back at a switchback to go to Waterfront (assume between Commercial and Nanaimo)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DihYwjQbdls

I don't know how the track is arranged to get to the third platform but I'll assume it came from Waterfront does sound like the most logical answer where the VIPs boarded.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

This YouTube short filmed at the press conference seems to show it went down the Expo line eastbound before turning back at a switchback to go to Waterfront (assume between Commercial and Nanaimo)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DihYwjQbdls

I don't know how the track is arranged to get to the third platform but I'll assume it came from Waterfront does sound like the most logical answer where the VIPs boarded.

There are two sets of switches between Main Street and Stadium that could have been used to route from the 3rd platform to Waterfront, no switches west of Stadium. Alternatively it could have used the pocket track east of Nanaimo to reduce conflicts with other train schedules.

I think logistically the most likely origin for the ‘dignitaries’ would be OMC1.

The Daily Hive article has a photo taken by Kenneth of the train headed WB between Commercial-Broadway and Main. Based on the position of the sun this photo was taken somewhere around 9-10.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by madog222

Each train will be commissioned individually, they need to complete 2000 continuous kilometers in non-revenue service without a fault as a final qualification.

So there will just be empty trains running alongside revenue trains for a while?

[madog222]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

So there will just be empty trains running alongside revenue trains for a while?

For arleast the next four years!

[madog222]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

So there will just be empty trains running alongside revenue trains for a while?

For atleast the next four years! Though they will have BCRTC personal onboard, not completely empty.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by dpogue

That is presumably so they can show the transfer at Broadway-City Hall when the Broadway extension opens.

Although they're going to be pretty crushed for space when the Langley extension also needs to show up on that same map... The branches of the Canada Line are already looking rather questionable, and people were commenting that Joyce-Collingwood and Oakridge should theoretically line up as well

It's an LCD screen not a printed sheet. The screen can scroll or alternate.

Ron.

[Mac Write]

I am surprised the other 3 trains haven't done their revenue service 2000k yet. thought with the Mark II 1300-1400 series 305-306 was on the system alone or a while.

[dpogue]

Train 602 (6011-6025) was the first to arrive but is being used for special system testing and has not (to my knowledge) started its non-revenue testing.

Train 604 (6031-6045) was doing non-revenue testing but I haven't seen it lately. It's possible it had some sort of fault that requires re-starting the testing and they opted to just keep going with the next train.

Train 606 (6051-6065) has completed its non-revenue testing and is now in revenue service testing. This is the train that was used for the promotional event on Thursday.

Train 608 (6071-6085) is somewhere in the yard. I don't think it's been out for non-revenue testing yet.

Train 610 (6091-6105) just arrived this month.

[Mac Write]

Thanks for the info on all 5 trains in possession by RTBC. When they do non revenue and in revenue testing. Do they have weight on board to simulate full train? or is this only for the initial testing of a new model of train?

[jollyburger]

Another Skytrain Mark V launch YouTube video

• Video Link

PR person mentions they head out to about Joyce and then back to Waterfront for the public event.

Someone left one of the train panels for the electronics unlocked during the first public run so the guy filming closed it and informed an attendant

[jollyburger]

West Vancouver isn’t quite ready to get rolling with a series of potential infrastructure upgrades that could improve bus service in the area.

On Monday council voted to postpone discussion on enhancing to bus speed and reliability to September. Reasons for the delay include a lack of public input in the summer, and because the Ambleside local area plan hasn't yet been approved.

But Couns. Christine Cassidy and Nora Gambioli dissented. Cassidy said TransLink was being too prescriptive in it suggestions, which included removing some bus stops in Ambleside. And Gambioli said council should be moving forward with at least some of the upgrades sooner.

TransLink has made $4 million available to the district for the upgrades in 2025, staff said, adding that 80 per cent of buses are running slower today than they were five years ago. Last year, staff partnered with the transit provider to identify bus service projects along marine drive between 13th and 25th streets.

https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/west-v...-on-bus-infrastructure-upgrades-10929077

Staff report:

https://westvancouver.ca/media/6623

Presentation:

https://westvancouver.ca/media/6624

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

Thanks for the info on all 5 trains in possession by RTBC. When they do non revenue and in revenue testing. Do they have weight on board to simulate full train? or is this only for the initial testing of a new model of train?

There are multiple steps of testing. The first few tests happen in the yard. The non-revenue testing is for testing system integration (stopping points, doors, route assignments, map displays, announcements, etc.) and how it plays with other trains on the line.

[idunno]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/west-v...-on-bus-infrastructure-upgrades-10929077

Staff report:

https://westvancouver.ca/media/6623

Presentation:

https://westvancouver.ca/media/6624

West Van doing what West Van does best. Delay and question every change.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Yeah, I was thinking that they'd be cramped for space once Langley opens, too.
I'd also prefer if Waterfront were shown with the two lines at an angle to each other
or have the oval oriented vertically with the two lines skewed so they do not line up.
A tourist could mistake it for a through running station.

Tourists already frequently have connection issues at Waterfront. Every day during cruise season you'll have tourists going down the secondary Expo line entrance at Canada Place looking for the Canada Line entrance. The current wayfinding is pretty low quality overall, this kind of fits with that. Really Waterfront needs to get redeveloped at some point, but that's still a fantasy at this point

[Migrant_Coconut]

Sub-optimal connections can at least be fixed with signage... which TransLink isn't doing either. Are they legally unable to make changes or something?

[cganuelas1995]

I was on the Richmond train when a couple asked me if the train went to YVR.

If only there was some sorta signage regarding that. Something illuminated probably

[teriyaki]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

I was on the Richmond train when a couple asked me if the train went to YVR.

If only there was some sorta signage regarding that. Something illuminated probably

The signage on the Canada Line is truly abysmal and has been since day 1.