Rail-based Transit Discussion

[Hali87]

I can't remember if I posted this at some point already, but I wrote my undergrad thesis on the topic of rapid/rail transit proposals in the Halifax region and trying to align them with the regional plan/centre plan. It's available on DalSpace here if anyone is interested in reading it.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Hali87

I can't remember if I posted this at some point already, but I wrote my undergrad thesis on the topic of rapid/rail transit proposals in the Halifax region and trying to align them with the regional plan/centre plan. It's available on DalSpace here if anyone is interested in reading it.

Your thesis is excellent (especially considering it was undergrad). I initially only intended to skim through it but once I started reading I couldn't stop. I like your communication style - concise and easy to understand. More importantly the content is practical and well researched.

One question: with the advances in battery technology would it be practical to have a rail system that doesn't require a third rail or overhead wires but instead has a larger inventory of rail cars - some could be at a charging station while others are in operation? If it isn't practical now then maybe it will be within a few years. Someone posted a link to a video about buses that were converted to electric, which had an 80 mile range (I am not sure if my memory of the range is correct).

[Hali87]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

Your thesis is excellent (especially considering it was undergrad). I initially only intended to skim through it but once I started reading I couldn't stop. I like your communication style - concise and easy to understand. More importantly the content is practical and well researched.

Thanks! I tried to keep everything as simple as possible without dumbing it down, and that's kind of the approach that I think should be used to build whatever transit upgrades end up being built. I hope that some of the ideas at least start to enter the vernacular of ideas being thrown around by council or staff. There are also multiple groups at Dal that do all kinds of research like this and there are probably others at the other schools; I think the city should outsource more of its research to the universities.

One question: with the advances in battery technology would it be practical to have a rail system that doesn't require a third rail or overhead wires but instead has a larger inventory of rail cars - some could be at a charging station while others are in operation? If it isn't practical now then maybe it will be within a few years. Someone posted a link to a video about buses that were converted to electric, which had an 80 mile range (I am not sure if my memory of the range is correct).

I don't think there are any trains that can be powered entirely by battery yet. There are some diesel/electric hybrids but I'm not sure where they are used. Electrifying the lines would basically lead to better vehicle performance and lower operating costs but would cost more and take longer to build, and if used in the rail cut might have further CN-related hurdles. Another thing is that would create a dependency on NSP for the system's operation; another "transit strike" kind of scenario could happen if things got really bad between the province and Emera, for example. Looking into the hybrid vehicles would be a good idea though.

Ottawa is currently taking the approach of leaving the initial O-train line diesel and converting part of their Transitway to electrified LRT, it will be interesting to see how things play out there. Apparently the existing line works well in the snow and is on a pre-existing line that gets light freight use (scheduled opposite the transit hours). The cars don't accelerate as well as electric ones though and are designed for more space between stations.

[scooby074]

I think Bombi has some sort of induction system available for the Flexity ie: electric trains with no 3rd rail or pantograph.

But I dont think we should sign on for that if this ever gets off the ground because its new technology and im sure it would have to cost more than the traditional and established pantograph technology.

While diesel would get things up and running faster and cheaper.. it certainly isn't as good as pure electric. Definitely not as clean.

[Hali87]

Originally Posted by scooby074

But I dont think we should sign on for that if this ever gets off the ground because its new technology and im sure it would have to cost more than the traditional and established pantograph technology.

I think that actually if the city signed on with an engineering firm for a "demonstration project" it might cost less. This is what Scarborough did in the 80s with the Scarborough RT (which was a demonstration of what would become the SkyTrain technology). I'm not really sure how this works though, and maybe it would be more expensive. It would probably create more hurdles with CN and/or Transport Canada.

[halifaxboyns]

Hi all - I wanted to share with you this map that I've been working on. I've been doing some work with a community group out this way on opportunities for TOD related to streetcar use. It got me thinking of how, with the proper investment and routing, HRM could create additional opportunity sites for growth/development beyond the proposed corridors in the Regional Centre. I've tried to keep the map simple and removed my future thoughts on LRT (similar to Calgary or Vancouver's) and focused mainly on streetcars.

I have another purpose for the map but would welcome some feedback/comments.

[someone123]

I'm a bit skeptical of the idea of an inner-Dartmouth-only LRT or streetcar route because the densities there are so low and few of the routes make much sense without connections to other parts of the city.

On the other hand, I think there's a ton of value in considering some transit corridors that would exist pretty much only to serve the peninsula (both residents and people needing to get from bus terminals to different employment centres like the shipyard, hospitals, universities, etc.). Express buses for the suburbs plus streetcars for the urban core could be a great solution that provides good service levels at a reasonable cost.

Hopefully in the future more people will appreciate how important it is to use transit to satisfy goals like the 25% urban core infill target. The current strategy of aimlessly trying to cover every part of the city with minimal bus service is doomed to failure. Most of these areas are impossible to serve well with transit and subpar service isn't going to get people out of their cars.