Is a Customer First Transit Policy Foolish?

In addition to Cardinal Fang’s most excellent postAi??last Sunday, one has to reflect on the question; “Should a customer first policy take priority over transit oriented development or TOD?” Certainly TOD has become the great philosopher’s stone for transit planners in METRO Vancouver, where most lands around SkyTrain stations and along the SkyTrain route have […]

MLA says TransLink priorities are wrong

From the Oh what a suprise Department Look after south of Fraser before considering UBC http://www.langleyadvance.com/news/says+TransLink+priorities+wrong/4646857/story.html Ai?? The Delta Optimist April 20, 2011 Ai?? TransLink better get its priorities straight and look at improving services south of the Fraser River before looking for money to build a SkyTrain line to UBC. Ai?? Delta South MLA […]

Much longer delay on Evergreen Line start feared – From the Black Press

 From the So What's New Department.   The never ending financial problems for the 'Nevergreen Line' continue as TransLink has not anted up the $400 million to complete the line. Brave talk on new funding formulas are laughable as the regional taxpayer is maxed out and any new taxes may see a voter rebellion on […]

Tram projects planned in northern France

Railway Gazette 14 April 2010 France, Artois-Gohelle http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/tram-projects-planned-in-northern-france/browse/2.html A consortium comprising Systra, Inexia, Eccta, Ilex and Urbanica has been appointed to manage two tram projects in northern France. The contract was awarded by the Artois-Gohelle local transport authority, which is responsible for public transport in an area comprising 115 towns and villages with a total […]

LRT and Subway Construction Costs

From the Toronto LRT Information Blog http://lrt.daxack.ca/blog/ Discussions on Toronto and GTHA LRT Possibilities Much of this site is devoted to promoting LRT as a viable alternative to Subway for rapid transit expansion within the GTA where capacity needs exceed or will exceed that of bus operation, but do not warrant a Subway level of […]

SkyTrain loss is Ansaldo’s gain

Bombardier and their friends on the Skyscraper blog must be weeping a sad song. After many years, carefully cultivating a case for an elevatedAi??SkyTrain light metro in Honolulu, the Ansaldo company of Italy, pipped Bombardier and SkyTrain at the post, by winning the Honolulu light metro contract. The main difference between SkyTrain and the Ansaldo […]

Expansion, improvements and upgrade for Croydon Tramlink

Following the March announcement from Transport for London, that ten new Light Rail vehicles were to be procured for the successful Croydon Tramlink system. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/19308.aspx The mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced the shortlisted bidders to supply Transport for London (TfL) with up to ten more trams, which will increase services on the Tramlink network. […]

Kisses on a postcard

In the 19th & 20th centuries, Trams & Streetcars were part of the streetscape in towns and cities in Canada, Europe & America. Studying contemporary postcards, it can be seen how well this form of urban transport fitted in with homes, businesses & people. ThisAi??coloured postcardAi??of post World War One Karlsruhe, Germany, shows a typical […]

Easter weekend Tram & Light Rail news – Europe, Australia & the USA

Light rail vehicle unveiled http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/bielefeld-vamos-lrv-unveiled.html 21 April 2011 Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai?? GERMANY: The first of 16 high-floor light rail vehicles for Bielefeld city transport operator MoBiel was presented to a select audience at HeiterBlickai??i??s Leipzig plant on April 14.Ai?? MoBiel placed a ai??i??47m order for the cars with a consortium of Vossloh Kiepe and HeiterBlick on January […]

The Sunday Supplement Essay

The fall out from Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts State of the City report Tuesday, has raged far & wide in the BC papers and on the blogosphere, not unexpectedly much of the debate has centered on the link between transport or transit, development or land use and city planning, residential unit design or population density. […]