Bombardier’s Porto Metro (well it is really LRT) Wins Prize.

Well, Bombardier can build light rail and award winning LRT at that, which is something that will be hard to admit in Vancouver. The Porto Metro uses Bombardier’s (ABB) Euro and Flexity trams in a combination of subway and at-grade rights-of-ways and there is not even a hint of ALRT/ART automatic operation. There is no […]

ZA?rich Suburban Light Rail Line Approved

From the Railway Gazette. The Swiss city of ZA?rich has approved a new suburban 13Ai??4 km tram line, the Limmattalbahn light rail line which would link the ZA?rich suburbs of Altstetten, Dietikon and Killwangen-Spreitenbach. The project is backed by the cantons of ZA?rich and Aargau, which would pay 75% and 25% of the estimated SFr670m […]

Stop Press – SkyTrain Fizzles Again – UPDATED

Once again, SkyTrain breaks down and during rush hour too! This nonsense of having only one metro line to service downtown Vancouver, demonstrates just how bad TransLink’s planning is – one breakdown and the system fizzles. From CKNW Radio News http://www.cknw.com/2013/10/22/skytrain-problem/ Here is TransLinkai??i??s statement: Ai??Due to a problem between Main and Broadway Station on […]

Advice Notes For Promoters Who Are Considering Light Rail

Thanks to David Cockle of Leewood Projects for sending the following ‘guidance notes’ for light rail, ultra light rail and more. UK Tram has produced a general Guidance Note and a series of Advice Notes for promoters who are considering a Light rail, Ultra Light Rail or Personal Rapid Transit Scheme.Ai?? These Notes provide promoters […]

Tram looks ahead to avoid collisions

New technology will make trams safer and here is a lesson to be learned. Modern light rail, trams and streetcars are constantly evolving, into a safer and and more convenient transit mode. There is no such evolution with SkyTrain as it is essentially the same mode since 1978, just tarted up every now and again. […]

The Real Costs of Subways – Is The Provincial Government Listening?

There is a misconception by Vancouver politicians and engineers; TransLink’s planners and bureaucrats; Ministry of Transportation bureaucrats; and The Minister of Transportation and the Premier, that subways are rather cheap to build. TransLink has fortified this perception by deliberately over-engineering light rail to sell the idea that the cost of at-grade and or on-street light […]

The Current Vacuum In Regional Transit Planning

Where’s the transit? This question is being asked more and more and despite the hype an hoopla from Translink in their quest for more money, there is absolutely no concept of a regional transit strategy. Oh yes, we have SkyTrain for Vancouver; light rail for Surrey; and express buses (BRT is somewhat a fraudulent term) […]

Zwei Reflects And Makes A Prediction

The Rail for the Valley Blog was started on December 8, 2008, to bolster awareness of the then newly formed Rail for the Valley group and the need for an affordable rail service from Vancouver to Chilliwack. One can only write so much about the Rail for the Valley project and the blog branched out […]

Letters

Transit and transportation are on the minds of local residents, which is a good thing because the more people who want real change for transit will demand it of their politicos. Nothing wrong with Massey Tunnel Published: September 30, 2013 Re: Massey Tunnel replacement. At first glance, the premierai??i??s announcement for a new bridge sounds […]

Does the Provincial government Want TransLink To Fail?

Like a death dirge, the TransLink referendum drags on and on, yet the provincial Premier is steadfast on the question of a funding referendum for TransLink. The regional mayors are more and more making fools of themselves wanting one of many tax proposals to fund the TransLink behemoth, yet abhor a “none of the above” […]