Streetcars belong: Even in the U.S.

They’re coming. They’re actually now being built, not just planned, not just proposed. Streetcar lines are back. From Railway Age; http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/blogs/doug-bowen/streetcars-belong-part-2-even-in-the-us.htmlAi?? Streetcars are still under the radar for most railroad folks, perhaps understandably, given the fledgling nature of the mode in the U.S. The lines established and under construction, are small in scope and distance. […]

Dead passenger found riding subway

Dead passenger found riding Berlin subway By Reuters BERLIN – A 65-year-old man thought to be sleeping while sitting upright on a Berlin underground train as it crisscrossed the German capital was actually dead, police said on Sunday. “It’s tragic,” a Berlin police spokeswoman said. “We don’t know how long he was sitting dead on […]

Translink plays dead at the first lick of snow, but all over the world street level Light Rail & Tramways take the weather in their stride

In other words a few inches of snow doesn’t stop @ grade LRT/street level Tramways; a foot and so long as the snow sweaping is effective the LRV/Trams keep on operating. Croydon Tramlink TransLinkai??i??s bus company is expensive, inefficient and dysfunctional in inclement weather; US & European Tramways operate without a doubt in snow conditions. […]

Is the Mainstream Media “Getting It”?

It seems Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s disastrous showing of its public transit service is beginning to raise eyebrows within the TransLink friendly mainstream media. SkyTrain did work, my god it should, there was hardly any snowAi??to speak of to impede service, but it was the failure of the buses that was embarrassing. TransLink’s entire transit philosophy […]

Challenge Richard

SkyTrainai??i??s Expo Line was built in 1985 and opened in time for Expo 86 with 20 stations connecting Waterfront Station in Vancouver and King George Station in Surrey. Between 1985 & 2012; One Hundred & Fifty One full service tramways have been built & opened worldwide, with another 56 under construction or approval. The full […]

Comparative examination of New Start light rail transit, light railway, and bus rapid transit services opened from 2000

From our friends Lyndon Henry and David Dobbs at Light Rail Now. A useful document comparing busAi??rapid transit schemes with light rail. http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/conferences/2012/LRT/LHenry.pdf

The Broadway Follies: Sorry, but Surrey is next in line

And the transit debate keeps going! Vancouver, which always acts as the proverbial spoiled child, wants a multi billion dollar subway under Broadway and is setting the stage with scare tacticsAi??withAi??a Goebbelesque flavour of lies deceit and deception. The SkyTrain lobby, always adding their own special brand of nonsense, further muddies the debate. Surrey, with […]

Vancouver Take Note – Trams In, Cars Out In Sydney, Australia Transport Planning!

Here isAi??a news itemAi??that should give the City of Vancouver planners and engineers something to think about, make cars defer to trams. In Vancouver, the hierarchy for transportation is bicycles first, cars second and public transit third. It’s OK to close a city street for cyclists, but its not OK to close a city street […]

Broadway Follies – An Alternative Plan

First off, I just do not agree with Mr. Fitch nor do I think his plan is not well thought out. One of the main reasons for building LRT on heavily used transit routes, is the economy gained from using ‘trams‘ instead of buses. As light rail runs on a dedicated rights-of-way with priority signaling […]

The Broadway Follies – The Smear Campaign Begins!

On radio station CKNW, the opening salvos from the SkyTrain Lobby were fired at the public, in the was of getting public opinion to support a $2 billion plus SkyTrain subway under Broadway. The BS meter was running full throttle, when the usual suspects, Frances (BS) Bula, from the Globe and mail; Michael Geller, President, […]