Regional Politicians Mull Political Oblivion

Well, here we go again! “Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble“, the dreaded TransLink auto levy again has raised its ugly head. Here we have a largely incompetent transportation agency, which doesn’t run our transit system, which has absolutely no public scrutiny, and is in constant financial peril, demanding more taxpayer’s money. TransLink’s mission statements seems […]

Winter Tramway, Light Rail, LRT and ART reliability?

The Cardinal is confident that friends & colleagues in Vancouver will take satisfaction from knowing that European Light Rail & at-grade tramway systems are providing a faultless public service this winter. Images of Croydon (London) Tramlink Ai??Ai??& Manchester Metrolink, are the evidence. Ai?? Ai??A video of Croydon Tramlink services this weekend. Ai??http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zzak2MHvN0 I hope TranLinkai??i??s […]

Mainz’s Trams Climbing 9.5% Grades

Mainz, Germany has rebuilt its metre gauge tramway as modern LRT, with new low floor cars, etc. Mainz’s LRT has three route with a total mileage of 20 km. Please cue to 5:00 on the following U-Tube video of mainz’s trams climbing 9.5% grades with ease. Mainz Germany  

13.9% Grade in Lisbon – Impossible Claims the City of Vancouver!

Ever see a tram climbing a 13.9% grade? Well now you have! A Lisbon tram climbing the famous 13.9% grade in the city. Please don’t tell the City of Vancouver or its Engineering Department, because they will just just believe you.

TransLink’s Subway Fiscal Time Bomb

The SkyTrain/metro Lobby remain mute on the long term fiscal effects of operating subways, especially on routes that have low ridership, say less than 15,000 pphpd. Building a subway is a very expensive proposition and many factors should be considered before embarking on such a costly investment. The first questionAi??any knowledgeable transit planner must ask […]

The Greer Report & Rapid Transitai??i?? A repost from 2009.

From 2009 Posted by zweisystem on Thursday, September 17, 2009 – With minor editing for 2013. OverAi??13 years ago the Greer Report, done by Greer Consulting Services, issued a scathing report on the Broadway/Lougheed Rapid Transit Projects, later to be know as the SkyTrain Millennium Line. The report found: cost comparisons appear to have been […]

The London Underground: 150 Years in Culture

Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai?? The first journey on the London Underground was made 150 years ago, on this day, 9 January 1863 from Praed Street (Paddington) to Farringdon; the line opening for public service on the 10th of January . Since then, the iconic transport system and culture have crossed paths. We look at the artists, writers and […]

Traffic congestion in Metro Vancouver as bad as Los Angeles. A report that TransLink will ignore!

Oh yes, TransLink is on the right path in providing an affordable public transit alternative – NOT! Vancouver faces many transportation problems, but TransLink and its very unconventional transit planning must rank as number one. As I have said before, “Transit is to move people and not money“, yet TransLink still bumbles along planning hugely […]

SkyTrain is Obsolete, Why Then Doesn’t The SkyTrain Lobby & TransLink Get It?

Two letters in the North Delta/Surrey Leader, one from Daryl Cruz of “SkyTrain For Surrey” fame and a rebuttal from Malcolm Johnston, a contributor to this blog. The assertions by Cruz that “building LRT will cost us billions and billions more than building SkyTrain”, is outright dishonest and comes from a profound ignorance about light […]

January 2013

The Cardinal sends greetings & fraternity to all for the new year. The Cardinal concludes with conviction, that 2013 will mark a watershed forAi??@ grade Light Rail, Trams & Streetcars in Canada & BC in particular. So, Mr Daryl Dela Cruz, LIM, Rico & Richard be afraid, be very afraid for the day of street […]