Pushing a wooden stake through the heart of darkness

 I raised my head. The offing was barred by a black bank of clouds, and the tranquil waterway leading to the uttermost ends of the earth flowed somber under an overcast sky–seemed to lead into the heart of an immense darkness." – Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness    It has not been a very good [...]

Comparing Light Rail, Bus and Subway Costs

Two  reports on Canadian Light Rail systems The following link is to a report published in 2006 by Calagary Transit Light Rail Transit in Calgary  http://www.calgarytransit.com/pdf/Calgarys_LRT_1st_25Years_TRB_revised.pdf Currently, the average hourly operating cost of LRT is approximately $163, including operating, maintenance and utility costs. With an average of 600 boarding passengers per revenue operating hour, the [...]

Allez le Tram, the Politics & Financing of the French Tram

The Cardinal has reported on the success of French Light Rail/Tramways, regularly on the Rail for the Valley blog. In this article the history, development, style, politics & importantly financing will be outlined. With a light rail renewal France has gone full steam ahead to become a leader in technological design and leading style. Howard [...]

Light Rail Transit, LRT or Tram-Train

Tram and train used to be two entirely different public transport systems. Tram served shorter (read: urban) distances. Train served longer (read: regional) distances. But the difference between city and region has disappeared in much of Europe. The difference between tram and regional rail is blurring as well. A new generation of light rail transit [...]

LIGHT RAIL FIRM RELEASES INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF KEVIN FALCON TRANSIT STUDY

UPDATE: Media so far News1130 http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/187220–rail-group-provincial-report-biased Chilliwack Times http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/news/False+assumptions+worry+rail+expert/4325083/story.html Laila Yuile (2nd item in the post)  http://lailayuile.com/2011/02/22/government-is-as-government-does/   LIGHT RAIL FIRM RELEASES INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF KEVIN FALCON TRANSIT STUDY At the request of Rail For the Valley, the rail firm Leewood Projects Ltd has provided an analysis of the recent MoTI Transit Study commissioned by former Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, that came [...]

BC Liberal Responses to Fraser Valley Transit Survey

  In contrast to the Liberals, all NDP candidates responded positively to the survey, with top contender John Horgan going as far as explicitly stating his support for Light Rail as far east as Abbotsford and Chilliwack: “I support an at-grade light rail system through Surrey and Langley, eventually reaching Abbotsford and even Chilliwack." -John Horgan For many more [...]

Absurdity, Hiatus, Ignominy, Irony, Paradox and Prognosis

The Cardinal cordially welcomes Zweisystem back & offers him wishes for a speedy recovery from his recent illness; – Hurry up and get the heck out of there! Zwei, remember Mark Twain’s advice `be careful when reading health books; you may die of a misprint’   With Zweisystem back in the section, continuing his mission, [...]

Rail For the Valley – QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES FROM THE CANDIDATES

  CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE QUESTIONNAIRE + RESPONSES With new leadership coming to both major political parties in B.C., Rail For the Valley found out where the candidates stand on crucial transportation issues for the rapidly growing Fraser Valley.  On January 26, a Questionnaire was distributed to all leadership candidates from both political parties. Three weeks later, [...]

A city committed to tram-trains

Kassel’s tram-train system has transformed public transport in the region. With other cities starting to take an interest in the concept, it is no wonder people from around the world are making the journey to central Germany. Report from the Light Rail Transit Association [LRTA] published in the January 2010 edition of Tramways & Urban [...]

World Tramway patronage statistics

At grade tramway system statistics. Passenger patronage, in excess of 100 million boardings per annum Updated for 2010   St Petersburg, Russia: 476 million Budapest, Hungary: 364 million Prague, Czech Republic: 350 million  Warsaw, Poland: 270 million Moscow, Russia: 251 million Vienna, Austria: 240 million Zagreb, Croatia: 214 million Zurich, Switzerland: 199 million Yekaterinburg, Russia: 180 [...]