VANCOUVER | Public Transport

[mr.x]

^ last post has been updated.

What do you mean rumours "on the system did not handle well"?

[mr.x]

LCD tv on a train in Berlin:



LCD tv at a Korean subway station:

[mrtfreak]

I heard there being mention that MKIIs didn't operate well in a A-C-C-B mode. But I doubt that's true. It is true that the longitudinal seating allows for more standing space.

[BKKinTO]

Does anyone has a route map which tells us the attractions of the city so that i can use skytrain from the airport to the city and explore the city by skytrain when i visit there? Thank you.

[mrtfreak]

The Canada line which goes to the airport is still under construction. You wouldn't be able to take it from the airport...

Try Stanely Park (I only know that place since my cousin lives next to it). Not too sure what station is best, but I think you need to take a bus from one of the stations.

[zivan56]

Originally Posted by MelbourneCity

Its wierd because, at the other end of the cars are the two black panels/windows??
Detroit and Toronto have the trains the "right" way around.

It depends when they bought the 2-car units. Some don't have door, and others do. Since they just back up when they reach the end of the line (Waterfront/VCC/King George), they just reverse and go "backwards." None have the Windows though.

[greg_christine]

In the following picture, the driver can clearly been seen through the window of the Toronto train:



The "window" of the other side of the front of the train appears to be just black paint. The trains are automated. Similar trains in Vancouver and Detroit are driverless, so they don't need windows in the ends. I am not sure of the reasons that drivers are provided onboard the Toronto trains.

For more information, see the following websites:

http://world.nycsubway.org/canada/to...arborough.html

http://www.urbanrail.net/am/toro/toronto.htm

http://transit.toronto.on.ca/subway/5107.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarborough_RT_(TTC)

[dchengg]

Originally Posted by mr.x

The Canada Line trains will be in the same 2-car formation, with a connection between cars. They are significantly larger than the Mark II. Canada Line 2-car (42 metres in length and 3 metres wide, capacity of 334 persons). Mark II 2-car (36 metres in length and 2.2 metres wide, capacity of 230 persons).

Some Mark II's actually go on a 4-car formation; they join two pair of cars together. Translink still has yet to order the C-car (the car that goes in between the head and front of the Mark II trains), I'm not sure if they're going to order this.....probably unlikely.

Note that on the Expo Line, the platform capacity is six Mark I cars or five Mark II cars, but since it's currently impossible to have a five Mark II car formation.....we're done to four. The Expo platforms can be expanded to handle eight Mark I cars, which should be equivalent to six or seven Mark II cars.

You could have pretty long Mark II trains that are connected to each other if you have the C-car: A-C-C-C-C-B

Depending if Bombardier wants to continue developing the Mark series, maybe in 10-20 years we'll have a Mark III.

Right now, Translink has a order for 42 Mark II trains at a cost of $153 million....to be delivered by 2008 I believe.


Mark II at Expo Line's Waterfront Station



Mark II at the SkyTrain factory in Burnaby



Mark II leaving Expo Line's Main Street/Science World Station



Mark II at M-Line's Commercial Station



Mark II at Expo Line's Stadium/Chinatown Station



Mark II interior. I still think this was the wrong seating arrangement....a side-by-side tranverse configuration would have meant less seats but it would also mean much more standing capacity and therefore significantly more overall car capacity. These trains are really really packed during rush hour.



Mark II at M-Line's Rupert Station

well i wished they could have more standing space than sitting space, these trains are fast and many people can stand, they should be like hk's MTR sys where there are only seats along time sides

[Overground]

Originally Posted by dchengg

well i wished they could have more standing space than sitting space, these trains are fast and many people can stand, they should be like hk's MTR sys where there are only seats along time sides

I agree. It's the one thing that pisses me off about Translink. It's like they built the trains for tourists and not commuters. Mickey Mouse and not too forward looking on their part which is not surprising.

Here is a proper use of seating. Piccadilly Line.

[mrtfreak]

I'm not too sure about the SkyTrain's usage, but I know that the Kelana Jaya line in KL which also uses Bombardier MKII cars is currently 40% over capacity with side seating.

The Piccadilly standing space looks a bit narrow too. So, maybe a better comparisson would be KL's MKII to Vancouver's MKII?

Kuala Lumpur's Kelana Jaya line:


Vancouver's SkyTrain:

[mr.x]

^ is it possible to take the seats out and re-do the seating configuration? it would be a small cost to increase train passenger capacity significantly.

[Overground]

^That's what I was thinking to. But has Translink even thought of this yet is the question, or do they even care? When they came out with the Millenium Line my brother and I were convinced it would be side-by-side tranverse seating, yet we are still baffled as to why that wasn't the case.

mrtfreak- "So, maybe a better comparisson would be KL's MKII to Vancouver's MKII?"

That is a much better comparison. KL has the right idea.

[dchengg]

im also concerned of security because as what hk has in each station is a information centre with someone that could help you can sell you faresaver tickets and stuff. but in vancouver, its only druggies and all those people that are not appropiate to be there are there. and also they should have the a ticket box to check fares before entering the stations as if like "paid areas" and "unpaid" areas". I want it because it makes me feel unfair when people that dont pay can get on the trains

[mrtfreak]

Originally Posted by mr.x

^ is it possible to take the seats out and re-do the seating configuration? it would be a small cost to increase train passenger capacity significantly.

Depends if the trains were built modullarly. I would think it is possible. The metro where I stay configures seating from time to time, removing seating and adding it back. I would think there need to be a brace to hold the seats up though, along the wall of the car.

The side by side seating you refer to would be more efficient for passenger loads wouldn't it? Why not suggest it to TransLink as I'm sure a lot of companies involved in public transportation are out to look at efficiency which would translate to profits... If not, a petition?

Overground, I think if it were a dense area, the KL seating arrangement should be incorporated. But if it were less dense, probably the Vancouver one would be better. How bad is the congestion on the trains?

[dchengg]

Originally Posted by mrtfreak

Depends if the trains were built modullarly. I would think it is possible. The metro where I stay configures seating from time to time, removing seating and adding it back. I would think there need to be a brace to hold the seats up though, along the wall of the car.

The side by side seating you refer to would be more efficient for passenger loads wouldn't it? Why not suggest it to TransLink as I'm sure a lot of companies involved in public transportation are out to look at efficiency which would translate to profits... If not, a petition?

Overground, I think if it were a dense area, the KL seating arrangement should be incorporated. But if it were less dense, probably the Vancouver one would be better. How bad is the congestion on the trains?

Well im a student so i dont go to work, but when i go to the mall, i try my best to skip the rush hour... cuz... the skytrains are like trying to shove everythin into your luggage... when the doors open, you squish as many you you guys in as possible..

[dchengg]

Police seek SkyTrain knifing suspect
Young victim 'lucky' to be alive after he was stabbed six times


The RCMP are seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect (pictured in video above) in a stabbing and attempted robbery at the Lougheed SkyTrain station.


A Burnaby teen stabbed six times during a bloody robbery attempt outside the Lougheed SkyTrain station early yesterday "miraculously" survived -- and police are on the trail of a suspect.

In a bid to generate investigative leads, Burnaby Mounties have released surveillance-video footage of the suspect with a bleeding left hand fleeing the scene of the crime.

RCMP Cpl. Pierre Lemaitre said the incident began when a 15-year-old was approached by an 18-year-old who demanded cash at about 12:10 a.m.

The youngster was "non-compliant," Lemaitre said.

"He was confronted by this 18-year-old who wanted to rob him of his money," the officer said.

"Apparently, there wasn't too much of a time delay between the request for money and the time he was stabbed."

The victim was knifed six times -- three punctures to the right arm and slashes to his neck, clavicle and rib-cage areas.

"He was stabbed six times in the right side of his body," said Lemaitre. "Miraculously, apart from the arm, the other three injuries were just lacerations, they weren't punctures.

"It could have been a lot worse. He's very lucky -- with the ribs you could get into the lungs, and with the neck you have the jugular [vein]."

The victim was released from hospital after several hours.

The suspect, who police believe was left-handed, was captured on video fleeing the scene on foot. Police believe the suspect was cut on the left hand during the attack.

"The other clue for the amateur sleuth is [that] we are fairly certain the fellow has some type of cut to the left hand that is dominant. We were able to see a blood trail or blood going away from the scene."

A police dog was brought in to do a search but because the scene of the crime is a busy, urban setting it was unable to conduct a track.

Outside the Lougheed Town Centre SkyTrain station yesterday, passengers were stunned at news of the vicious stabbing.

"I take [the SkyTrain] every day to school," said Danielle Kugi. "I've never heard of anything like that in this area.

"There are always SkyTrain officers above and below," the 17-year-old said, explaining she had always felt safe at the station.

But other passengers had a different take on security near the station.

"I see teenagers dealing drugs and people drinking here all the time," said Dennis Leonovich.

"I feel unsafe because the teenagers, they have weapons and stuff."

Leonovich has reason to be concerned about SkyTrain crime. Just a few months ago, he said, he was robbed of his wallet and jacket at a station in New Westminster.

Community crime-watch group members said SkyTrain stations -- especially those at the "end of the line" of each region -- are magnets for crime, but suggested that additional volunteer patrols could help.

"We like to keep the eyes and ears on the street. In the past it has worked," said Don Violette, past-president of the Burquitlam Community Association.

The association helps staff the Burquitlam Plaza Community Policing Station, up the road from Lougheed Mall and SkyTrain.

Violette said the area has seen a marked decrease in crime, loitering and auto theft as citizen volunteers have helped keep the community station open longer hours and bike patrols going later on Friday and Saturday nights, often up to 9 p.m.

The suspect is described as Caucasian, 18, with a medium build and shaved head and wearing a dark, two-tone puffy jacket and blue jogging pants with white stripes.

Police are also trying to contact a woman who may have been in the area at the time of the attack but is not believed associated with the suspect.

She is described as having long, dark hair and was wearing a three-quarter-length coat.

If you can help, call Burnaby RCMP at 604-294-7922 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

CREDITS TO WWW.CANADA.COM

[Overground]

Originally Posted by mrtfreak

Overground, I think if it were a dense area, the KL seating arrangement should be incorporated. But if it were less dense, probably the Vancouver one would be better. How bad is the congestion on the trains?

Well over the years it has got extremely packed on the Expo Line. I don't use it to go to work anymore but I have been on it in rush hour and it can be similar to a packed train in Tokyo or when heaps of people board the Tube at a busy station like Victoria in London. Removing the current seating arrangement to make more standing room would be a huge improvement.

[zonie]

I think you'd get some fierce opposition from seniors if Translink started taking out seats. There's still room for many more cars on the line, so that might be the easiest thing to do for now. Translink could also buy some C-cars with transverse seating or no seats at all, since it might be better to have more people in the middle of the train, anyway.

[mr.x]

^ what about senior designated seating like on the buses?

[dchengg]

^ even if there were designated seats for seniors, theyre not usually enough avaliable OR is not even avaliable for them because of younger people hogging the space