SkyTrain to Nowhere

SkyTrain built for the same price as light rail, think not. The real cost, will be somewhere around $3 billion, but then include the Expo line rehab, the cost will be orbiting around $6 billion. If the regional mayors cave in to the demands of Surrey’s mayor, they will set back transit expansion by a […]

And the Weather Does Not Affect SkyTrain, Or Does It?

Contrary to the constant spin that the grade separated SkyTrain is not bothered with weather or such problems, today’s rain caused several stations to close. Despite all the recent hype and hoopla, SkyTrain operation is affected by circumstances beyond its control. For all the extra costs associated with SkyTrain, service does cease when problems happen. […]

TransLink Fails Transit 101: Articulated Cars

True to form, TransLink and the mainstream media haven’t a clue about SkyTrain or SkyTrain vehicles. A news story on CKNW radio as well as other media sources claimed erroneously that the MK.3 rail cars are articulated. The new MK. 3 cars are not articulated, they are gangwayed, allowing communication throughout the four car train […]

A Stationless SkyTrain In Surrey

Charlie Smith of the Georgia Straight gets it, but that is no surprise, Charlie Smith and the Georgia Straight has always been the newspaper of note when it comes to SkyTrain? Why, you say? Because he asks real questions. By building SkyTrain, the new mayor of Surrey wants a funnel to take commuters out of […]

Has The SkyTrain Flip-Flop In Surrey Derailed?

Ah, the realities of political promises as the new Mayor of Surrey has now discovered; a very big $514 million problem. Even the most ardent of SkyTrain supporters, except for the tin foil hat brigade, realize SkyTrain costs a lot more to build than light rail and even may concede it costs more to maintain […]

Dated Thinking From A Dated Mayor

Dated transit thinking comes from SkyTrain, because light-metro is a dated transit system. There is no backbone for transit, except for a network of transit lines and only if it is designed properly, designed for the needs of its customers and not the electoral needs of politicians. One $2.95 billion SkyTrain does not a backbone […]

Quebec City Gets Le Tram

As light rail begins to gain influence in Canada, out in Lotus Land, stupid is as stupid does continues. Quebec City unveiled plans Friday to build a $3-billion public transit network that will include tramways, an electric trambus and reserved bus lanes. Meantime in Surrey, the new mayor halted plans for a $1.65 billion fully […]

Grenoble’s Tram

Grenoble tramway system is one of the very successful new build light rail line in France. Overview Native name Tramway de Grenoble Locale Grenoble, Rhône-Alpes, France Transit type Tram Number of lines 5 Number of stations 81 Daily ridership 233,700 (2015) Operation Began operation 1987 Operator(s) Société d’Économie Mixte des Transports Publics de l’Agglomération Grenobloise […]

No SkyTrain For Surrey For A Decade

Don’t shoot the messenger. Didn’t old Zwei didn’t try to warn everyone, the Mayor of Surrey’s juvenile anti LRT crusade may mean no SkyTrain in Surrey for ten years or more and if Bombardier closes down production of SkyTrain cars, could mean no SkyTrain period. The indoctrinated believers, will still demand the obsolete SkyTrain, and […]

McCallum’s $2.9 Billion Question

From the 2017 Steer Davis Gleave – HATCH report, the total cost for SkyTrain, including fifty-Five new cars is $2,914,798,721.00. As 2019 nears, the cost is rising. Memo to Doug McCallum: we are not building SkyTrain to 1980’s cost of construction. Memo to Gord Lovegrove: I think you need to join the Light Rail Transit […]