Compass Card Fiasco

Installed but not working. Until the compass Card becomes operational the turnstiles stay idle, paying silent testament to TransLink’s incompetence. As expected, TransLink’s new Compass Card is turning into a fiasco and now the transit agency is contemplating a single zone for buses. Because of TransLink’s simple three zone fare system and full fare/concession fare […]

Lies, Damned Lies and the Vancouver Sun

So, Calgary’s Nenshi backs Gregor Robertson’s Broadway subway plans. Well not exactly, he supports better urban transit funding and all Mr. Nenshi said was “So I imagine there is a scramble right now in Ottawa precisely to figure out how to fund Vancouver’s next Skytrain expansion.” How the Vancouver sun can construe this as support […]

The SkyTrain Subsidy Revisited

The SkyTrain and Canada Line light-metro are bleeding over $350 million from TransLink’s $1.2 billion budget! In 1993, the GVRD (now Metro) and Transport 2021, published the study, “The Cost of Transporting People in the BC Lower Mainland” and for the first time the annual SkyTrain subsidy was mentioned. In 1991, SkyTrain was subsidized to […]

Horse manure from Vision(less) Vancouver and the N.P.A.

Wow, such BS from Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and mayor wannabeAi??Kirk LaPointe, saying he is going to build an affordable subway is laughable. Robertson has no proof to back up his claim that a subway will be; “taking 50,000 cars off the road”. One should remember the empty claim that the Canada line would take […]

In Toronto – A $3 Billion Subway Carries Fewer Customers Than A Streetcar Line!

Those who promote a Broadway subway had better beware, subways are not the magic elixir in attracting ridership. A Toronto CBC news story giving mayoralty hopeful Doug Ford (brother of the discredited Rob Ford) an “F” for his subway plans contains an interesting item: “The Sheppard subway is a classic example,” said Bedford. “It cost […]

All Quiet on the Transit Front?

With civic elections only weeks away, there has been a lull with transit issues and stories. The city of Vancouver, which considers itself the centre of the universe, provides us with some mirth as the elections draw near. The left leaning C.O.P.E. political party is proposing that all Vancouver residents should have universal transit for […]

Aubagne Tram – The Economy Tram

Light Rail can be built cheaply, if there is the political and bureaucratic will is there to ensure LRT is built economically. At first glance the Aubagne tramway is very expensive, costing ai??i??166 million or CAD $235 million to build, but only for 2.7 km., which works out to an expensive $87 million/km. to build. […]

You Just Got to Be Kidding!

I am speechless! Is this the best that TransLink can do? SkyTrain delays good time to support the economy: TransLink Spokesperson says grab a coffee or a bite to eat while waiting Ai??Anita Bathe October 1, 2014 VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) ai??i?? TransLink is trying to turn a negative into a positive. It says lengthy SkyTrain shutdowns […]

SkyTrain fizzles Once Again

What can I say, Skytrain grinds to a halt again! Until the SkyTrain Lobby stops claiming that SkyTrain almost never stops due to unforeseen problems, Zwei will keep posting when SkyTrain does stop due to a mechanical failure to prove otherwise. Portland’s LRT has come to grief several times this summer, but at least Tri-Met […]

A Letter in the Courier

A letter in the Vancouver Courier. Letter: Transit planners are on the wrong track Re: ai???Mayorsai??i?? Council may expect Vancouver to fund Broadway line,ai??? Sept. 24. Vancouver Courier September 30, 2014 11:28 AM To the editor: Re: ai???Mayorsai??i?? Council may expect Vancouver to fund Broadway line,ai??? Sept. 24. Mr. Gellerai??i??s articleAi?? illustrates a very important […]