A Question of Capacity ai??i?? A LRTA Topic Sheet

Contrary to the COV and TransLink, modern LRT can obtain high capacities, on transit routes, by being able to operate at close headways.Ai??Today, the main tram route through the city is being relocated in a subway because the line was seeing 45 second headways during peak hours, giving an nominal capacity exceeding 40,000 persons per […]

Metro Vancouver mayors call for new fees, taxes to fund transit

Well they areAi??back at it, the regional mayors (I should say well paid regional mayors) are asking for more of our money to fund SkyTrain. Yes, that what it boils down to, more money to fund SkyTrain. Our regional mayors tend to think they are transit experts, but with the exception of Burnaby’s Derrek Corrigan […]

The Noviceai??i??s Guide to ai???Railai??? Transit Orai??i??ai??i??ai??i??ai??i?? (Updated)

ai??i??ai??i??ai??i??ai??i??..cutting through the BS about light rail, SkyTrain and BRT. The following is a guide plus definitions about “rail” transit for this coming May’s provincial election. ALM: Automatic Light Metro, the fourth marketing name given for the SkyTrain family of light-metros, when Lavalin briefly owned SkyTrain before gong bankrupt. ALRT (1): Advanced Light Rail Transit, […]

Man marries his car

NO, HUMAN MANAGEMENT IS NOT PERFECT but neither is automated management. Records prove the safest way to go is to have automatic safety controls that will override a human mistake, such as 1920 style automatic train stop. It is much safer to rely on an automatic device checking on a human than to have a […]

Liz James UpsetsThe SkyTrain Lobby

It seems North Shore News weekly columnist, Liz James has upset the SkyTrain Lobby with her most recent article, “No shortage of projects for the new AGLG“.Ai??Ai??So much so, that an email to Ms. James, from a SkyTrain lobbiest comes very close inAi??libeling her good name.” The fact that Ms. James has been on the […]

Quebec Corruption Inquiry: SNC-Lavalin Linked To Scheme To Raise Construction Project Prices

What happens in Quebec must surely happen in BC, asAi??SNC Lavalin has been involved with the heavily engineered SkyTrain and Canada Line light-metros. The question that must be asked; “Has the very expensive SkyTrain and Canada line light metros part of a provincial scheme to ensure healthy profits for corporate friends of the government by […]

Winter Tramway, Light Rail, LRT and ART reliability?

The Cardinal is confident that friends & colleagues in Vancouver will take satisfaction from knowing that European Light Rail & at-grade tramway systems are providing a faultless public service this winter. Images of Croydon (London) Tramlink Ai??Ai??& Manchester Metrolink, are the evidence. Ai?? Ai??A video of Croydon Tramlink services this weekend. Ai??http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zzak2MHvN0 I hope TranLinkai??i??s […]

Mainz’s Trams Climbing 9.5% Grades

Mainz, Germany has rebuilt its metre gauge tramway as modern LRT, with new low floor cars, etc. Mainz’s LRT has three route with a total mileage of 20 km. Please cue to 5:00 on the following U-Tube video of mainz’s trams climbing 9.5% grades with ease. Mainz Germany  

13.9% Grade in Lisbon – Impossible Claims the City of Vancouver!

Ever see a tram climbing a 13.9% grade? Well now you have! A Lisbon tram climbing the famous 13.9% grade in the city. Please don’t tell the City of Vancouver or its Engineering Department, because they will just just believe you.

TransLink’s Subway Fiscal Time Bomb

The SkyTrain/metro Lobby remain mute on the long term fiscal effects of operating subways, especially on routes that have low ridership, say less than 15,000 pphpd. Building a subway is a very expensive proposition and many factors should be considered before embarking on such a costly investment. The first questionAi??any knowledgeable transit planner must ask […]