The Broadway Follies Part 4 – The Versatile Light Rail
TheAi??Ai??entire transit debate for the Broadway route has been defined by the SkyTrain Lobby as a quest for speed, as if speed was the only criteria for a successful urban ‘rail‘ line. Yet speed of a transit system is onlyAi??Ai??one ofAi??Ai??many factors that determine a successful ‘rail‘ transit line. From the Haas-Klau study (Bus or […]
When Trolleybus and Streetcar Cross Paths
In answer to a query from a regular poster, ‘Zwei’ has found a picture of a Russian trolleybus and tram intersection showing the overhead.Ai??Ai?? I have included from Wikipedia,Ai??Ai??a short description ofAi??Ai??tram/trolleybus junctions, locations,Ai??Ai??and the electric overhead. Tram – Trolleybus Crossings From Wikipedia Trams draw their power from a single overhead wire at about 500 […]
Adios Seattle’s Trolley Buses?
It seems transit authorities are taking a hard look at Seattle’s trolley bus system, with an eye to abandon the service. The problem in Seattle, as in Vancouver, the trolley busesAi??Ai??are only seen as a electric bus, not a different transit mode suited for a specific job. Trolley buses should be used on heavily used […]
The Broadway Follies Part 3 A?ai??i??ai??? Questions & Answers about SkyTrain
We continueAi??Ai??with the question and answer format about Broadway’s transit issues, with a focus on SkyTrain. Vancouver is the only city in the world that continues to plan and build solely with automatic (driverless) light-metro and many people would like to know why. First, we must tackle the issue of SkyTrain and answer questions posed […]
The Broadway Follies Part 2 – Questions & Answers about LRT
Zwei received a phone call from a confused citizen regarding a transit meeting he attended in Vancouver about transit options for Broadway. It seems a state of confusion reigns about what LRT is, what LRT can achieve, and modern transit in general. This is not to unexpected as TransLink has never been clever about LRT […]
A Basel Light Controlled Road, Centred Tram Stop
The following is a short video of a Basel light controlled, road centred tram stop. http://citytransport.info/mpg/traffic-signal-tramstop320.mpg Please note the following: The cyclist stops for the red light. Taffic light red cycle, 32 seconds. Dwell time 15 seconds. Reserved rights-of-way – hatched and crossed lines on the tram route.
Seattle City Council approves First Hill streetcar line
While Vancouver dithers on approving a tram/LRT line for the city, Seattle council have approved its second streetcar or tram line,Ai??Ai??the First Hill Streetcar Line. The problem in Seattle is, streetcars are not seen as LRT, rather something else as light rail is planned as a very expensive light metro. Only when Seattle gets a […]
Stephen Rees’s blog – Bond shies away from major TransLink reforms – well worth a read.
Many who read the Rail for the Valley blog also read Stephen Rees’s blog, but for the growing number of overseas visitors, his most recent post; “Bond shies away from major TransLink reforms” is well worth a read. http://stephenrees.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/bond-shies-away-from-major-translink-reforms/
Seattle Transit – Kemper Freeman is suing to stop light-rail expansion to Eastside
The transit debate in Seattle is veryAi??Ai??interesting and far more entertaining than anything here in Vancouver.Ai??Ai??Unlike Seattle, Vancouver’s business elite’s glad-handed the hugely expensive RAV/Canada line because they knew some of the over $2.5 billion spent on the metro would find its way into their businesses pockets. The LRT and metro debate in Vancouver Ai??Ai??has […]
Lieutenant GovernorA?ai??i??ai???s Award for Canada Line builder SNC-Lavalin criticized – From the Georgia Straight
An interesting article from the Georgia Straight, shining some light on SNC Lavalin wining the Lieutenant GovernorA?ai??i??ai???s Award for Engineering Excellence. Deserved or not, the comments (on the Georgia Straight Link) are worth reading. Somehow building an economy metro line, that does nothing special and when the taxpayer is kept from finding the real cost, […]
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