UK News – Train operators plan to reopen mothballed lines

Interesting news from the U.K. which might bolster the campaignAi??Ai??for those wishing the return of the Vancouver to Chilliwack interurban. The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) or in layman’s terms, the privatized companies formed from the old British Rail, have plans to reopen several abandoned or mothballed railway lines. What is of interest is […]

Two letters in the Tri-City News

Massive transit expansion needed in Metro Vancouver The Editor, Re. “Build real rapid rail” (Letters, The Tri-City News, June 5). I have to second letter writer Barry Waterlow’s suggestion that only a massive rapid rail and SkyTrain expansion could convince commuters to use public transit and reduce the number of vehicles owned. Why wouldn’t comfort […]

LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT ASSOCIATION Discussion Document 73 March 2009

Ai??Ai?? The following, though written for an English audience is pertinent to our current transit debates and maybe of some interest to those advocating rail transit here. Ai??Ai?? FALSE INFORMATION USED TO DESCRIBE A TRANSIT SCHEME Ai??Ai?? Introduction Ai??Ai?? This document is partly designed to correct a practice of using false information regarding transit modes. […]

TramTrain, the interurban of the 21st century!

With the ongoing campaign for the “return of the interurban” in the Fraser Valley, an understanding of what the 21st century interurban is needed. The old Vancouver to Chilliwack interurban,Ai??Ai??ran from downtown Vancouver along streetcar tracks, up Main St. and down KingswayAi??Ai??to the beginning of the Central Park Line, just past Commercial drive. Then the […]

The seamless (no transfer) journey – Transit’s Holy Grail!

It has been long known that the seamless or no transfer journey is the ‘ticket’ to attract customersAi??Ai??to public transit asAi??Ai??itAi??Ai??is well understoodAi??Ai??that oneAi??Ai??could lose upwards of 70% of ridership per transfer, even inter modal. On older tramways and streetcar systems, many lines offered more than one service, providingAi??Ai??the all importantAi??Ai??seamless journey toAi??Ai??many destinations. Cities […]

Karlsruhe Light/Heavy Rail Track-Sharing System

Here is a good article, from Railway-technology.com, that describes the Karlsruhe Model of track-sharing: Karlsruhe Light/Heavy Rail Track-Sharing System, Germany “Close to the French border in south-west Germany, Karlsruhe in Baden-WA?A?rttemberg was the first European city to implement track-sharing for light and heavy rail vehicles. The ‘Karlsruhe Model’ is considered the reference point for similar […]

Why we build with LRT

What is Light Rail Transit or more commonly known as LRT? According to the Light Rail Transit Association (www.lrta.org) Light rail is a mode that can deal economically with traffic flows of between 2,000 and 20,000 passengers per hour per direction, thus effectively bridging the gap between the maximum flow that can be dealt with […]