Debunking the SkyTrain myth. Rail for the Valley answers the UBC SkyTrain Lobby!

It was brought to Zweisystem’s attention yesterday that a blog site was established by the UBC SkyTrain Lobby, critiquing modern LRT.Ai??Ai?? Zweisystem responded,Ai??Ai?? posting correctionsAi??Ai??forAi??Ai??the many myths, half truths and anti-LRT claptrap so often used by the SkyTrain lobby. The SkyTrain folks removed the comments and by doing so, fully admit that they are afraid […]

One hundred posts!

Light Rail in Nice France – Could be Langley, Abbotsford or Chilliwack! This marks the 100 post to the Rail For the Valley blog and I hope that for all who read the various postings have found them informative. When John Burker asked me to help with postings for the then new Rail For the […]

All-candidates meetings in the Fraser Valley

With the election campaign now in full swing, it’s time to get some concrete answers from the candidates and keep Rail for the Valley on the agenda. Here is a very incomplete list of All-candidates meetings in the Fraser Valley. Check back for updates. There WILL be more meetings posted as they are announced. (E-mail […]

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 […]

Highway 1 Day of Action a Soaking Success

By all accounts! Pictures: Day of Action in pictures on Flickr (feel free to upload yours) I’ve heard over and over again, from people up and down the Valley and in Vancouver, that this was actually a really fun event, & people want to do it again. *If you have a banner that needs storing, […]

Highway 1 Day of Action TOMORROW!

Just one more day… Please get your friends and family out to this important, historic event in the Fraser Valley. It’s simple: Choose an overpass, make some signs, & do your part, Saturday from 11:00am to 1:00pm, to bring passenger rail service back to the Fraser Valley! LIGHT RAIL FANS TO HIT THE HIGHWAY Our […]

April 11 Day of Action UPDATE

LIGHT RAIL FANS TO HIT THE HIGHWAY Banner-making workshops Abbotsford Where: gather at UFV – Abbotsford campus, east lobby of building A, by the Roadrunner Cafe (bottom floor). If you get lost, contact Paul Gieselman at 604-703-3650. When: Tuesday April 7, 7:00 pm Vancouver workshop/party Where: 1825 Charles St (@ Salsbury) When: Thursday April 9, […]

Karlsruhe’s TramTrain’s – Why is TransLink so afraid!

A map of Karlsruhe’s regional tram (tramtrain) network Since 1993, Karlsruhe’s award winning two system (now called tramtrain) LRT system has been operating safely, track-sharing with mainline railways. Karlsruhe’s tramtrain concept is now used on no fewer than ten light-rail systems in Europe and North America and presently being planned for numerousAi??Ai??transit systems world wide. […]

Nordhausen – TramTrains for small towns

Nordhausen is a German cityAi??Ai??at the southern edge of the Harz Ai??Ai??mountains, in the state of Thuringia.Ai??Ai?? Nordhausen’s population is a very modest 44,272 andAi??Ai??with a population density of 421 /kmAi??A?, one would think that the town is just too small for light-rail butAi??Ai??has a metric gauge tramway networkAi??Ai??with 2 lines (7 km long, built […]