Andrew Luchkow has some fun with Google Maps – a proposal for West Coast Express-style rail service throughout the Fraser Valley.
He proposes two lines: Abbotsford via North Fraser and Chilliwack via South Fraser. It allows a lot of choice for riders, as well as a straighter route for trips continuing east of Abbotsford.
A key feature is the cross platform exchange and synchronized train schedules. It could be served by traditional WCE trains and light rail for off-peak/reverse commuters. Of course additional track may have to be built along busy freight corridors (as is being done in Toronto and Montreal).
Andrew welcomes feedback; you can even edit his maps. Check it out here.
I like it!
Thanks for posting this Gordon. However, AFAIK, nothing is happening with Translink’s promised long term study of the WCExpress. Many trains are full, but no additional cars or engines are on order.
I think a more logical route is right down the centre of Highway 1, and built into our $3Billion Bridge.
you can then extend SkyTrain down King George all the way to the Nickomekl Flood Plain if you want.
Face it, every household out in Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack has 2 cars, so they can drive them to large park and rides at the train station. A more direct faster route will draw more customers than a longer route that hits more communities. This is a commuter train, not a subway link.
Actually that’s not true, Translink has ordered 7 more cars for the WCE. The bid went out last month.
Sorry I was wrong the tender went out in Dec/08.
Just Joe
That’s not what the staff on the trains have told me. Can I find a source for this order?
Can you tell me what has happened to the promised long term study of the WCE service?
Just Joe
I called the WCE office and was told that the order might not be up on the Translink webpages because it’s pretty recent. She did confirm that seven new passenger cars have been ordered, for delivery in the middle of next year. They will be used to extend the existing five trains, rather than making up a new train set.
I didn’t ask about the long term study.
Continuing to invest in excessively expensive Sktytrain technology is only going to slow down our ability to extend transit throughout the Fraser Valley.
In a similar exercise to the above, UBC’s Patrick Condon showed what we could get with the Port Mann $3.3 billion in terms of Bambino-style tram (http://www.lrta.info/articles/art0206.html). Stephen Rees has posted the map on his blog at http://stephenrees.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/the-gateway-today/.
Thanks Gordon.
Yes many people in N. America drive out of their communities and park at stations to catch fast trains into the city. And, yes the Hwy 1 alignment would be efficient for valley commuters, although the expense poses many political hurtles.
When I made the proposal, my criteria was a moderate start-up cost, as well as the need to connect regional centres (especially in Surrey) and encourage integrated communities. Of course, any proposal that uses existing rail assumes major upgrades to tracks, crossings and bridges, and the construction of additional track to optimize the service. The cost of this would be a small fraction of the Hwy 1 alignment.
The Abbotsford via North Fraser line would be quite direct. And passengers from Chilliwack could transfer north of Abbotsford efficiently to the North Fraser line for a more direct route into the city. As for Langley City and Cloverdale residents, the South Fraser line would meet them much closer to home.
I welcome your feedback.
Andrew, I had to stand corrected earlier on the issue of additional cars for the West Coast Express, but I think (fingers crossed) that I am on reasonably safe ground in saying that little if anything has come of Translink’s promise to do a serious, long term study of the WCE service.
In your proposal, did you deal with the issue of speeds and end to end times? Right now it takes the WCE some 70 minutes to get to Mission, which is far less that what the rolling stock could achieve. It’s a track curvature and crossings and traffic constraint that’s holding down speeds and keeping times up.
Also, why is there no lobby in favour of commuter or heavy rail? Why is all the attention placed on light rail, either advanced or conventional.
I wonder if you remember the Pacifc Coach lines express buses that used to leave downtown Vancouver every weekday for points in both the north and south Fraser Valley? There was even a Chilliwack Express.
I recall reading that Chilliwack intercity buses were stopped as the company could not guarantee arrival times during heavy traffic. I wish I could find the original source: another very compelling argument for rail in the valley!
As far as light rail vs heavy rail vs commuter rail: my dream is to take the train when needed instead of my car. The type of train is a detail that I’m happy to leave to experts who can choose based on cost, speed, and service.