Metro Vancouver Bus Discussion

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by deasine

I'm 99.9% sure they next stop led display isn't even part of the bid. I think TransLink just hired INIT to include/retrofit them into the buses. Orginally, none of the electric trolleys had the displays.

That's correct.

The ultimate reason that Bombardier was not chosen is well known to those that were following way back then, it was cost. Bombardiers initial bid was actually lower but they were forced to resubmit it as they had included cost savings due to Translink already using Bombardier on the expo and m-line. The cost savings were deemed to be an unfair advantage and a new bid had to be submitted as a stand alone system, that bid came in higher then it's competitor and eventual winner. Would we have been better served with Bombardier? Who knows

Wow....you learn something new everyday.

I had no idea about that. Well, I did know that RAVCo forbid Bombardier from submitting a bid that had included cost savings, but I had no idea that Bombardier actually went ahead with a proposal and had submitted it to RAVCo and that it got rejected. And I also didn't know that the cost savings were substantial.

We were duped......looks like the decision makers were looking out for the process, rather than what is best for the entire region and its people. I'll even have to say that this is beyond retarded.

I do believe that we would have been better served with Bombardier.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

We were duped......looks like the decision makers were looking out for the process, rather than what is best for the entire region and its people. I'll even have to say that this is beyond retarded.

I do believe that we would have been better served with Bombardier.

Yeah, TransLink wasn't looking out for the process: just the company. Canada Line was just looking at the process.

And I would prefer Canada Line much more sigh...

[mr.x]

Well, nothing we can do about it now but just go forward.....hopefully, the people in charge have realized their mistakes and are learning from it......especially with Translink now being run by business people. I would be amazed if they faltered in the same way with similar decisions in the future, they should be asking themselves if they would do the same thing if it were their own company and their own wealth at stake. And in many ways, it is also why I think Translink should be operated more like a business.

[Nutterbug]

Perhaps we could also have had trains that would have turned right at Broadway Millenium Line and given us a one-seat ride between Waterfront and UBC.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by Nutterbug

Perhaps we could also have had trains that would have turned right at Broadway Millenium Line and given us a one-seat ride between Waterfront and UBC.

No, never. That's for sure. There is hardly enough space for a station let alone a track interchange.

Electric Trolley Bus

New Orion Suburban Coaches

I'm not a fan of the "gray" they chose for the orions: it looks slightly metallic.

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

That's correct.






Wow....you learn something new everyday.

I had no idea about that. Well, I did know that RAVCo forbid Bombardier from submitting a bid that had included cost savings, but I had no idea that Bombardier actually went ahead with a proposal and had submitted it to RAVCo and that it got rejected. And I also didn't know that the cost savings were substantial.

We were duped......looks like the decision makers were looking out for the process, rather than what is best for the entire region and its people. I'll even have to say that this is beyond retarded.

I do believe that we would have been better served with Bombardier.

The price difference that was published was pretty big(the bombardier one was close to 2.5 billion if im not mistaken). But just a week or so ago someone posted a article where the ceo of Bombardier said the price difference was less then 10%. Im starting to think that he was talking about the real price difference after you factor in the cost savings, which would make sense because other wise what he said would be a lie.

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by Nutterbug

It has little to do with McCarthyist propaganda and all to do with understanding of the market economy. No competition = no incentive to innovate and advance. Socialism = fail.

Anyways, Cuba sure is an economic powerhouse, isn't it?

Last I heard communism fell almost two decades ago out there. Regarding Cuba its by far the most successful country in its region and thats with a freekin embargo against it by the world super power for the past 30+ years. You also forgot to mention the recent success of China. Anyways you should really get out more because you strike me as a bit removed from the rest of the world, dont just read a book or watch a show, go buy a plane ticket and actually see whats out there.

But lets agree to disagree because this is way of topic

I just take it to heart when someone criticizes the products coming out of my home country when I know full well that many of them are dam good, such as what Skoda works produces...obviously there is always some crap that gets produced(many NA car models are inferior to whats comming out of Japan, Korea, and Germany)....regarding incentive, I guess in a capitalistic system there is no incentive to improve the living standards of others, or to help anyone if it doesnt give you a profit, so its better to produce a car that is a death trap like a Pinto and hide it rather then produce a cheap car that has no luxuries but does its job of moving people.

**Regarding Skoda trolleys, San Francisco which has the largest system in NA uses them. Skoda also supplies the LRT vehicles for Portland...and they would of built their NA headquarters here in Vancouver and a assembly plant. For all these networks, and there are others in NA not to mention that I know for a fact that Skoda has huge expansion plans for our continent(at the moment its the largest tram/trolly producer in western europe, they also produce metros which I havent heard much about). Really this was a big lost opportunity, the fact that the Flyer buses are turning out to be lemons and they cost more is just icing on the cake.

[Nutterbug]

Originally Posted by cornholio

You also forgot to mention the recent success of China.

They're communist in name only. In practice, they're like the farthest thing from it.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by cornholio

**Regarding Skoda trolleys, San Francisco which has the largest system in NA uses them. Skoda also supplies the LRT vehicles for Portland...and they would of built their NA headquarters here in Vancouver and a assembly plant. For all these networks, and there are others in NA not to mention that I know for a fact that Skoda has huge expansion plans for our continent(at the moment its the largest tram/trolly producer in western europe, they also produce metros which I havent heard much about). Really this was a big lost opportunity, the fact that the Flyer buses are turning out to be lemons and they cost more is just icing on the cake.

That would've been so cool. I guess if that happened, we did miss a golden opportunity =(

Update on the INIT Automated Messaging System:
They've gotten more annoying. Now they say something like "Please be aware that this bus is a fare paid zone. Passengers must produce a valid ticket when asked." [in that really annoying voice].

[zivan56]

I just rode 60 foot diesel to SFU from Production Way (D60LFR) this morning and that thing was horrible! It was less than a month or two old and it was rattling more than any other bus I have been on recently. It drove horribly as well, and was literally shaking itself apart.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by zivan56

I just rode 60 foot diesel to SFU from Production Way (D60LFR) this morning and that thing was horrible! It was less than a month or two old and it was rattling more than any other bus I have been on recently. It drove horribly as well, and was literally shaking itself apart.

Same experience on the Main Street articulated trolley and the new diesel articulates on the 99.....very disapointing.

[worldwide]

i take those busses all the time. i wouldnt be suprised if we run in to each other all the time and dont even realise it.

[deasine]

TransLink is studying the possibility of adding another "destination & route #" display at the back of the 60 footer articulated buses: right behind the side seats.

Not the best picture to show, but here:

Original image captured by Bill Wong

[worldwide]

Originally Posted by deasine

TransLink is studying the possibility of adding another "destination & route #" display at the back of the 60 footer articulated buses: right behind the side seats.

on the outside of the bus? interesting. this would be useful for the B-line routes and other all door loading routes (135, 145 etc)

[mr.x]

^ i'm not sure if you can still join, but Translink emails signed-up members to complete online questionnaires. So whenever Translink wants our input, they email us with links to the questionnaire - and they asked for input about the bus signs yesterday.

And you can win prizes btw. If you fill in the form by the deadline, you have a chance to win several cash prizes, usually $100, $200, or $300.....and the odds of winning are about 1 in 3400 (members).