Track facts – Modern light-rail track

The recently built tramtrain line in Heilbron Germany There has been much debate about the cost of track laying and the cost for new tracks for light rail or streetcars. The following will hopefully shed some light on how modern LRT (streetcar) tracks are laid on-street. With the interurban, of course, the majority of the […]

From the Tyee – Passenger rail rights at risk: Langley Mayor

By Amy Juschka May 7, 2009 An agreement that protects passenger rail rights in the Fraser Valley is set to expire this summer and Langley Township Mayor, Rick Green is calling for its urgent renewal. The Master Agreement is between BC Hydro, who owns the right of way, and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), whom bought […]

Useful links for the BCE Interurban – old and new

A BCE interurban leaves Chilliwack station………… For a map of the old interurban and time tables: http://www.scribd.com/doc/2473591/Interurban-Timetables Though Zweisystem doesn’t agree with their conclusions: http://www.scribd.com/doc/515139/DRL-Solutions-Interurban-Report And a short history of the interurban: http://www.hastebc.org/haste-news/a-short-history-interurbans-lower-mainland ………….and arrives in downtown Vancouver!

Getting a handle on the cost of light rail – How much does modern LRT cost?

Relaying new trackAi??Ai??for Nottingham’s LRT, on a disused railway formation. What does light rail cost to build? What has been left out of the ‘Rail for the Valley’ debate is real cost of light rail construction. True, a $35 million/km. figure has been bandied about, but this seems much too high and is based on […]

The 300 km. solution – An affordable way to reduce gridlock and pollution

For overAi??Ai??two decades the Light Rail Committee has stated that toAi??Ai??have a viable alternative to the car, over 300 km. of light rail must be built in the region, the question of course is, “can we afford it?” The answer is yes! To be successful modern LRT must not just serve major destinations like town […]

The Heritage Tram – Interesting possibilities for the Vancouver to Chilliwack Interurban

Heritage streetcars, operating in museums, onAi??Ai??their own trackage orAi??Ai??running in scheduledAi??Ai??Ai??Ai??service, on existingAi??Ai??transit routes, have proven to be extremely popular and operate in many cities around the world. A proven tourist generator, heritage streetcars and interurbans could expandAi??Ai??Vancouver centricAi??Ai??tourism up the Fraser Valley to Chilliwack. There is plenty of scope for vintage streetcars or heritage […]

Lawned rights-of-ways = non-user friendly & green transit

In stark contrast to SkyTrain’s and RAV/Canada Line’s (in Richmond) ugly elevated concrete viaducts, Europe is greening their tram-lines. European transit authorities are lawning their tram routes, creating a park like atmosphere, which is further enhanced by trees, shrubbery and statuary. Tram lines, either ballast and tie on the ground or elevated on a viaduct […]

In today’s Tyee – Hats off to Prof. Condon and UBC, they are now planning for the 21st Century!

In today’s Tyee is a very interesting item about LRT, Gateway and how monies invested (some say squandered) in the Gateway – Port Mann Bridge expansion could provide over 200 km. of LRT for Surrey, Whiterock, Langley, Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge and New Westminster! Now add in the 90 km. Vancouver to Chilliwack Interurban […]

Trondheim – A template for light-rail in the valley? It’s a cert!

Population (2009) Ai??Ai??-Ai??Ai??Total 168,257 Ai??Ai??-Ai??Ai??Density 480/km2Ai??Ai??(1,243.2/sqAi??Ai??mi) Trondheim, Norway boasts the northernmost tramway line in the world: the GrA?A?kallbanen, the last remaining bit of the Trondheim Tramway is an 8.8 km (5.5 mi) route (which is mostly single-track outside the inner most parts of the city; except the stretch between Breidablikk and Nordre Hoem stations) which […]

Trams in the countryside – where’s all the density that’s supposed to be needed for light-rail?

The following video is ofAi??Ai??the famous Stubaitalbahn Innsbruck-Fulpmes Tram, which starts in downtown Innsbruck and terminates in the mountains, servicing the small town of Fulpmes. Standard trams are used through out the journey, providing a seamless or no-transfer journey for the customer. The Stubaitalbahn Innsbruck-Fulpmes Tram is just further proof that light-rail can successfully operate […]