Civic Elections Done, Now It’s Time For the TransLink Referendom

This spring’s TransLink referendum has a good chance of going off the rails, simply because the bureaucratic behemoth is sailing into very dangerous uncharted waters. Translation, the taxpayer wants to get even. Why do I say that? TransLink has had “0” public input since its inception and today is so estranged from the public it […]

TransLink Report On SkyTrain Out

From what I can see, the problems that plagued SkyTrain last summer, were ones of very bad management and deferred maintenance. TransLink’s bad management is legendary and the outfit continues its oppression of transit customers with gestapo like ticket checks and its general anti transit customer attitude. The question of deferred maintenance is another matter […]

Ottawa Developements

From our friend Haveacow from Ottawa On November 7, 2014 the western tunnel segment and central tunnel segment became one segment. The tunnel for the LRT system in Ottawa is being dug in 3 individual segments, what is called the Sequential Tunneling Technique. This means faster tunneling and gives a certain amount of space in […]

Surrey’s Proposed LRT Advances

Looks like the proposed three line LRT network in Surrey, is advancing. The old anti-LRT rhetoric continues, despite well over thirty years of commercial operation by over 500 tram/LRT lines around the world that disproves this nonsense. No mention that only seven Skytrain systems have been built since the late 1970’s mind you, demonstrates that […]

Compass Card Fiasco

Installed but not working. Until the compass Card becomes operational the turnstiles stay idle, paying silent testament to TransLink’s incompetence. As expected, TransLink’s new Compass Card is turning into a fiasco and now the transit agency is contemplating a single zone for buses. Because of TransLink’s simple three zone fare system and full fare/concession fare […]

Lies, Damned Lies and the Vancouver Sun

So, Calgary’s Nenshi backs Gregor Robertson’s Broadway subway plans. Well not exactly, he supports better urban transit funding and all Mr. Nenshi said was “So I imagine there is a scramble right now in Ottawa precisely to figure out how to fund Vancouver’s next Skytrain expansion.” How the Vancouver sun can construe this as support […]

SkyTrain Switch Excuse Grows Very Thin

Like the old fable; “The boy who cried wolf“, the ongoing TransLink excuse for problems on the Skytrain system is growing very thin. Again, SkyTrain goes kaput on the tail end of the morning rush and again TransLink blames a “switch problem” as the reason. Sorry, I just do not buy that excuse anymore and […]

Horse manure from Vision(less) Vancouver and the N.P.A.

Wow, such BS from Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and mayor wannabeAi??Kirk LaPointe, saying he is going to build an affordable subway is laughable. Robertson has no proof to back up his claim that a subway will be; “taking 50,000 cars off the road”. One should remember the empty claim that the Canada line would take […]

In Toronto – A $3 Billion Subway Carries Fewer Customers Than A Streetcar Line!

Those who promote a Broadway subway had better beware, subways are not the magic elixir in attracting ridership. A Toronto CBC news story giving mayoralty hopeful Doug Ford (brother of the discredited Rob Ford) an “F” for his subway plans contains an interesting item: “The Sheppard subway is a classic example,” said Bedford. “It cost […]

Aubagne Tram – The Economy Tram

Light Rail can be built cheaply, if there is the political and bureaucratic will is there to ensure LRT is built economically. At first glance the Aubagne tramway is very expensive, costing ai??i??166 million or CAD $235 million to build, but only for 2.7 km., which works out to an expensive $87 million/km. to build. […]