Without the right questions, transit plan could fail

Of course in the Vancouver metro region, the right questions about transit have never been asked for fear of getting ‘correct’ answers. Building Metro Vancouver’s mini-metro system has always been about land development, political prestige and vote getting and not providing the best transit choice or the most affordable transit choice for the transit customer. […]

U.S Light Rail & Tram news

Firstly a report from abc 15.com in Phoenix Arizona http://www.abc15.com/dpp/traffic/record-light-rail-ridership-due-to-gas-price-hikes Record light rail ridership due to gas price hikes? Light rail ridership has hit a new record, at the same time as gas prices did the same. But Metro is being careful about drawing conclusions. Nearly 1.2 million riders used the light rail in March, […]

Friends of Rail For the Valley – AGM This Tuesday in Chilliwack

For those who are not on our mailing list, you may not have received this notice. The Friends of Rail For the Valley Society will be holding its Annual General Meeting this Tuesday in Chilliwack.   When: Tuesday April 12th at 7:00pm Where: University of the Fraser Valley,  Chilliwack Campus, 45635 Yale Rd Building A, Room […]

A letter To Rail for the Valley

Good Morning   I am an avid believer of a Ground LRT System for the lower mainland and the valley.   As a previous resident of Abbotsford I daily commuted to Surrey and Vancouver with frustration and impatience,that never seemed to end. I have like many others sent e-mails to Ken Hardie (Trans Link spokes […]

AdiA?s TransLink? Letters Published in the Postmedia Press

The following letter has appeared in the Postmedia press including the Vancouver Province and the Delta Optimist and should start some lively debate. A valid question is asked; “Why is TransLink planning for transit on Broadway, when they know it will be decades before anything is done; or, is there already a secret agreement involving […]

You could waste away waiting for guided bus

cambridge-news.co.uk http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/You-could-waste-away-waiting-for-guided-bus.htm Let's make no bones about it – we’re all getting on a bit while we wait for the guided bus to arrive. But two “passengers” at the busway stop in Swavesey really have reached the end of the line. A pair of skeletons have been spotted close to the track, appropriately appearing on […]

Light Rail news from around Europe

HK order low-floor trams from Transtech Rail.co April 1 2011 http://www.rail.co/2011/04/01/hkl-orders-low-floor-trams-from-transtech/ Helsinki City Transport (HKL) and the Finnish Rail rolling stock manufacturer Transtech signed an agreement to purchase 40 new trams on 24 March. The contract comprises of 40 trams and a possible further 90, if the tram extensions of Helsinki go to plan. The […]

April Fool from Rob Ford

Rob Ford’s Designs on Metrolinx (Update 2) http://stevemunro.ca/?p=5061 Posted on April 1, 2011 by Steve Updated 9:45am: Environmentalists scoffed at plans to convert rail corridors to roadways.  “Electrification of GO was our big chance to show the world just how green a transit system could be”, said Jamie Kirkpatrick of the Toronto Environmental Alliance.  Trains […]

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 […]

The Good & Bad; News from Toronto

Firstly the good news; Toronto's transit system will receive 39 kilometres of new subway and light rail track in a $12-billion expansion package announced by the province and city on Thursday. Ontario invests billions in Toronto transit 'spine' http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110331/toronto-transit-announcement-110331/ ctvtoronto.ca Thu. Mar. 31 2011 1:01 PM ET Toronto's transit system will receive 39 kilometres of […]