All about funiculars!

FlA?ibanen The FlA?ibanen in Bergen Norway   Zwiesystem has always been interested in alternative transit modes and this web site on Funiculars has peeked Zwei’s interest. http://www.funimag.com/index.htm I can think of two or three locations in the lower mainland where Funicular operation could be an asset …… how about SFU for a start?

Vancouver considers higher-density housing plans for Cambie Street corridor – Have we given land developers a $2.5 billion subsidy?

From the ‘Well I told you so department’. In Vancouver, expensive subways are built not to move people, but toAi??subsidize land development. Readers of the Rail for the Valley blog know that this announcement was predicted and why there much hype and hoopla in the mainstream media with the recently opened Canada line metro; the […]

LIGHT RAIL FOR SURREY – The Whalley – King George – White Rock (WKW) Line

Surrey wants light rail, but where will the first LRT line go and what line would attract the most customers to the new light rail line? If the goal of the new light rail line is to serve customer needs and offer the ability to provide an attractive alternative to the car, it must serve a […]

IS IT TIME TO HAVE A ROYAL COMMISSION ON URBAN TRANSPORTATION?

Recent angst and confusion in local and national blogs concerning bus, light rail, metro, and commuter train makes Zwei wonder if a Royal Commission on Urban Transportation is needed. There are no national standards that readily defines transit mode and one is needed, so the average Canadian (read Canadian taxpayer) can engage in honest debate on urban transportation. […]

B.C. government willing to talk about light rail to Langford – From the Victoria Times Colonist

Good news from Victoria! Though I find the proposed cost of $950 million rather steep ( the full build 136 km. Rail for the Valley Leewood TramTrain report cost less than $50 million more to build), that the provincial government is actually talking LRT is ground breaking. Victoria’s geography may play a part in this […]

Port Moody mayor calls for public pressure on TransLink to build Evergreen Line – From the Vancouver Province

From the “Bin there, done that department“. I think Port Moody mayor Joe Trasolini now understands that the Evergreen (locally called the Nevergreen) is probably not going to be built, in his tenure in office. There are now three strikes against the Evergreen line; not enough money to fund the metro; Vancouver wants a SkyTrain […]

Is a Customer First Transit Policy Foolish?

In addition to Cardinal Fang’s most excellent postAi??last Sunday, one has to reflect on the question; “Should a customer first policy take priority over transit oriented development or TOD?” Certainly TOD has become the great philosopher’s stone for transit planners in METRO Vancouver, where most lands around SkyTrain stations and along the SkyTrain route have […]

Much longer delay on Evergreen Line start feared – From the Black Press

 From the So What's New Department.   The never ending financial problems for the 'Nevergreen Line' continue as TransLink has not anted up the $400 million to complete the line. Brave talk on new funding formulas are laughable as the regional taxpayer is maxed out and any new taxes may see a voter rebellion on […]

SkyTrain loss is Ansaldo’s gain

Bombardier and their friends on the Skyscraper blog must be weeping a sad song. After many years, carefully cultivating a case for an elevatedAi??SkyTrain light metro in Honolulu, the Ansaldo company of Italy, pipped Bombardier and SkyTrain at the post, by winning the Honolulu light metro contract. The main difference between SkyTrain and the Ansaldo […]

London’s Post Office Railway, The First Automatic Railway

London's Post Office Railway, also known as Mail Rail, was a narrow-gauge driverless private underground railway in London built by the Post Office with assistance from the Underground Electric Railways Company of London to move mail between sorting offices. Inspired by the Chicago Tunnel Company, it was in operation from 3 December 1927  until 31 […]