FROM THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT ASSOCIATION – TRAMS ARE SYMBOLS OF CITIES
From the LRTA, the modern tram, workhorse of today’s public transit systems in over 600 cities around the world, yet noticeably missing in Metro Vancouver. Indeed, the modern tram is absent in soulless Vancouver and it is time to change this. Let’s put some soul into Vancouver; let’s plan for trams!
For the Fraser Valley Folk, only a Karlsruhe type TramTrain, can be affordably built to meet Fraser Valley transportation needs for today and the future.
TRAMS, SYMBOLS OF CITIES
and so much more . . .
Blending in with scrumptious things,
trams promote exports for the whole of
Portugal, and represent the charms of
Lisbon too.
Like a respected actor stepping down off the stage and mingling with the audience, this tram brings rail services right into the heart of the community in a village near Basel, with no smell, no noise, and no pollution – just supreme accessibility.
With style and a positive image, trams de-stigmatise public transport and persuade people to leave their cars at home in this residential Antwerp street.
Selling office space, and helping to fill it with skilled workers, trams appear on television to present a positive image of their cities.
Steel, granite and copper deliver a reassuring air of permanence at this major hub in Prague, where multi-accessible trams beat other traffic into submission.
Trams constructively assert their place in the scheme of things in Zurich, calming the less sustainable traffic.
Ecologically impeccable, this Antwerp tram blends in cleanly with its surroundings and can draw its energy from environmentally-sound sources.
This tram in Brussels is so smooth-riding that a young artist can spend the journey busily at work with her sketch-pad.
In cities like Zurich where the unique appeal of trams is understood and celebrated, vintage trams are operated amongst more modern ones.
Trams blend in perfectly with tourist attractions, pedestrians, cyclists and the occasional car in this historic Ghent square, delivering a positive image and affordable mass transit for everyone.
Civic pride in the trams of Brussels was on display at an event celebrating the 150th anniversary of the city’s trams.
Trams blend in well with their surroundings, and they can shift large crowds to and from sporting venues.
Trams need to be on the surface to showcase their positive image. Putting them underground hides them away, and impairs their accessibility.
Trams operate efficiently and accessibly amongst other traffic in this Brussels suburb.
Without any fuss, trams welcome everyone aboard, promoting inclusivity and harmony.
Connectivity in Karlsruhe, where trams spread their positive image all over the conurbation – to outlying villages, busy main line railway stations, former suburban stations, and into the street. Transit presence and flexibility par excellence.
David Holt 5th November 2021
Third to last picture looks like the tram on the Olympic line in Vancouver. Vancouver is not missing. Vancouver still has an old tram sitting in a shed near the olympic village station on the Canada line. Olympic line is still in good condition, just needs to be cleaned up. Currently being used as a garbage dump and a place for teens to hang out.
Zwei replies: The two trams that operated on the Olympic Line were destined to operate in Belgium and were detoured here to operate on the demostration line.
You don’t have to search very far to find a city which has a Light Rail Vehicle/Streetcar as one of its key urban symbols. These symbols become so common that they are used in local products and business ideas. Everything from possible adult orientated, Canadian based Lego-Ideas Sets (something Lego has been widely searching for) to local beer and ciders.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0323/4129/products/2022TorontoStreetcarCalendarCover_2048x.jpg?v=1629911712
https://www.google.com/search?q=ttc+streetcar+products&client=tablet-android-samsung&prmd=insxv&sxsrf=AOaemvIWCtVXBgA0mkzJaS4Lvtf4UKg7FA:1636734279597&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5ms6qnpP0AhWmmOAKHdd6B1kQ_AUoAXoECAIQAQ#
https://i.redd.it/wj2lp71yc7v61.jpg
https://untappd.com/b/amsterdam-brewing-company-downtown-brown/166684
https://www.google.com/search?q=queen+street+501+cider&client=tablet-android-samsung&prmd=msixvn&sxsrf=AOaemvLZbRO5METpk4El1WYL3L71MUWd4A:1636735349072&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjI8MmoopP0AhXhct8KHWVAAhcQ_AUoA3oECAIQAw&biw=1024&bih=600&dpr=1#
https://www.google.com/search?tbs=simg:CAEShwIJBs860o5QBcEa-wELELCMpwgaOgo4CAQSFJUk4CjVCvoNjC3aGqon6A7OPs44GhoXnbS8UY55uq8BNr9gaq3w5faOpIpbMD5-VyAFMAQMCxCOrv4IGgoKCAgBEgTeqs2aDAsQne3BCRqbAQogCg1idWlsZGluZyBzZXRz2qWI9gMLCgkvai9mN3BoNGMKFgoEbGVnb9qliPYDCgoIL20vMDRuZHIKIAoMcGxheSB2ZWhpY2xl2qWI9gMMCgovbS8waDhsaGhiCh4KC2xlZ28gdHJhaW5z2qWI9gMLCgkvbS8wNzNmdnQKHQoJdHJhaW4gc2V02qWI9gMMCgovbS8wN3M5YnF0DA&sxsrf=AOaemvLWjHuSX1H29EXJvPe86y2bxjdiwA:1636736368647&q=ttc+tram+lego&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjW6t-OppP0AhXKZs0KHY9NDoQQ7Al6BAgXEAs&biw=1024&bih=600&dpr=1#M
These symbols also become associated eventually, with important local traditions. Each year in Toronto, not only does the TTC have a display at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition, started in 1879) but when new vehicles arrive, they are always displayed at the “EX”. This tradition started because the first electric railway operation in Canada was operated on the grounds as part of the Toronto Industrial Exhibition. The story is well explained by the local transit historian and Blogist, Steve Munro:
“From 1883-1891, an electric railway operated from Strachan Avenue to Dufferin Street in the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, then known as the Toronto Industrial Exhibition. The line was a demonstration by J.J. Wright of the Toronto Electric Light Co. and Charles Van Depoele, described in the archives as “a Belgian-American street railway promoter. Van Depoele was famous for the development of the Trolley Pole method of power collection,
For the first year, the line ran with third rail power, but from 1884 from overhead wire and a pole pickup that showed more promise for street operation.
The line was seasonal and ran only during the CNE linking the grounds with the horse car service on King Street. The fare was a princely five cents, separate from the TSR.”
Several links below are historic images of Van Depoele’s 1884 demonstration line which ran from Strachan Ave. to Dufferin Street (later the Dufferin Gates) across the CNE grounds.
https://swanboatsteve.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/cnerly_1894_s0071_it10248.jpg?w=660&h=480
https://swanboatsteve.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/cnerly_1894_s0071_it3447.jpg?w=660&h=485
Many other streetcars or streetcar mockup models were introduced to Toronto at the CNE over the years.
1938 PCC Streetcar display at the CNE
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cneheritage.com%2Fgallery%3Fmain_category_id%3D61%26main_category_name%3DTransportation&psig=AOvVaw1hIy3bb9Q3JZoLRn7BYAPG&ust=1636840117109000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCJDwhavmk_QCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE
1975 Mock Up display of the new Canadian Light Rail Vehicle (CLRV) at the Ex.
https://transittoronto.ca/photos/images/ttc-4000-2424-ex-display-197508.jpg
1988 Articulated Light Rail Vehicle Display (ALRV)
https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital/torontosun/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/sun-september-1-pic-3-cne-ttc-new-alrv-4900-on-disolay-1988.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=564&type=webp
During 2011 the first mock up arrives, unfortunately too late for the CNE, so it is shown off at the Hillcrest Yards.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/20111110streetcar1.jpg
In 2012 Bombardier shows off the Mock Ups for the new Flexity Freedom Light Rail Vehicles for Toronto’s new Light Rail Lines at the Ex.
https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/20120827scene1.jpg
Vancouver has skytrain. It is the workhouse of public transit for Metro Vancouver. The skytrain is symbol of Vancouver. Vancouver is not soulless.
There is skytrain lego. https://buzzer.translink.ca/2018/07/skytrain-and-downtown-new-westminster-re-imagined-as-lego/
This week Translink show off the new Mach 5 Skytrains coming in 2024.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/mark-v-skytrain-design-translink
Zwei replies: The Hive is Translink’s mouthpiece to disseminate propaganda. The so called MK 5 cars are just tarted Bombardier MK 2 Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) cars, with a few extra gizmos and gadgets to confuse the public.
The real name and brand of these cars Is Movai Automatic Light Metro (MALM) with SkyTrain being TransLinks name for the regional light metro system. The MK 5 car probably refers to that these trains will operate in 5 cat train-sets.
Hi Zwei,
The new Mach 5 cars look like the Mach 3 trains that are currently operating on the expo line with some minor upgrades. Yes, translink will have 5 car trains to increase capacity with the ends extending beyond the platform.
Mach 2 cars are currently operating on the coquitlam extension.
The old trams in Lisbon are fun to ride on and the Pastei de nata are delicious to eat.
Zwei replies: Mach 2 cars? I hope not.