TramTrain – Gaining Momentum

Most people do not know what a TramTrain is. The concept is simple and in earlier times it was called the “interurban”. TramTrain is a modern streetcar or tram, so configured that it can operate on the railway mainline, thus very affordably servicing distant destinations, otherwise far too expensive for an independent tram/LRT line. First […]

A MEMO TO PREMIER EBY

The Honourable David Eby, Premier of BC Dear Premier Eby, The ongoing rift between Canada and the USA will have generational effects and will never go back to normal, as President Trump has forever changed how people behave. Trump and MAGA is a prelude for great change in BC. The ongoing climate change with summer’s […]

Listen To The Experts

Currently the full program to extend the Expo and Millennium Lines a mere 21.7 km will now cost in excess of $16 billion. The now, estimated cost to complete the Broadway subway to UBC is now past $8 billion. Yet the provincial government had be carried kicking and screaming to find a few million of […]

Entering The Land of Unicorns and Pixie Dust – TransLink’s Current P.R. Gamble

A re-post. First posted on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 Memo from Zweisystem: This post is from 2021, yet we still see TransLink beating the drum for more and more money, as politicians, both regional, provincial and federal are afraid to say no more money and live within your means. All financial numbers will be updated […]

Notes From The Past

The preceding graph is from the late 1980’s and adjusted for 2024 Canadian dollars: San Diego: $10.25 million/km Portland: $20.25 million/km Nantes: $25.15 million/km Calgary: $30.26 million/km VAL: $56.7 million/km SkyTrain: $66.82 million/km. Please note, the current 16 km Expo Line extension to Langley is now costing in excess of $375 million/km or put another […]

The Upcoming SkyTrain Mk.5 Train Fiasco

Zwei told ya so! First, the 16 km Expo line extension cost is now put at $6 billion; $7 billion if one includes the operations and Maintenance Centre Number 5. The next shoe to drop will be the announcement that the 5.7 km Millennium Line (Broadway subway) extension to Arbutus, will top $4 billion. And […]

OMC #5 – Who Made $8 Million?

An interesting passage from Bob Mackin’s Breaker News has peaked my interest concerning the the Operations and Maintenance Centre #5. “A Dec. 11, 2023 NDP cabinet order, signed by Surrey-Green Timbers MLA Rachna Singh, took a nearly 37-acre parcel of land at 176th and the Fraser Highway out of the Agriculture Land Reserve on which […]

The NDP Just Love FastFerry Projects!

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana, an early 20th century writer and philosopher. Well, the NDP certainly do not remember their past because the $6 billion, 16 km Expo Line extension to Langley is turning into another “FastFerry” fiasco! Well done, Premier Eby, well done! The fast ferry […]

News Flash – Expo Line Langley Extension Now $6 Billion

Rail for the Valley Vindicated! Despite the name calling and insults, for Rail for the Valley’s estimate of $5 billion for the 16 km Expo Line Extension to Langley, as it now seems it was $1 billion off. Today, the provincial government has put the cost of the extension at $6 billion! So, where is […]

FLASH – Is TransLink Buying ALR Land For OMC#5?

News flash! It now seems that TransLink is going to purchase (if not already bought) Agriculture Land Reserve Land near the corner of the Pacific Highway and Fraser Highways. This is probably going to be the new site of the Operations and Maintenance Centre #5. The reason: ALR Land is $200 thousand an acre versus […]