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Post by mybidness459 on Jan 3, 2018 16:34:13 GMT -8
What I wouldn’t be surprised to see in the future is the Queen of Oak Bay’s afternoon schedule gets moved up 20 minutes so both her and the Queen of Cowichan are at Horseshoe Bay at 7:20 and have the Queen of Oak Bay do the 7:50 sailing to Langdale and back then tie up while the Queen of Cowichan heads to Departure Bay at 8 and the 10:10 sailings on Route 2 are scrapped What I am waiting for is for the Surrey to get "stuck" in Nanaimo and the Cowichan in Langdale during a unexpected wind storm.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Jan 8, 2018 23:04:40 GMT -8
BC Ferries has issued a service notice changing the previous 7:30pm Island Sky departure from Earls Cove to 8pm, reflecting the reality that it should funnel traffic through from the 5:30pm sailing out of Horseshoe Bay. I'm guessing that the 'Sky crew were previously holding the 7:30 sailing until all traffic actually arrived. I'm wondering now if they'll eventually move the final Earls Cove departure ahead from 10:30pm to 10 or so, since that sailing should connect with the 7:50pm Horseshoe Bay departure. Surely the time of the final Saltery Bay sailing doesn't matter- I can't imagine that there's any southbound traffic to speak of on the 9:30pm departure.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Jan 10, 2018 17:48:31 GMT -8
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Post by Dane on Jan 21, 2018 13:06:59 GMT -8
Going to be interesting to watch the Route 2 & 3 vessel swap tonight. Route 2 has round trip cancellations and as of resumption of service is about seventy minutes late. Route 3 is on time. Going to potential lead to some stacking of vessels and a big service time gap on Route 3?
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Post by mybidness459 on Jan 21, 2018 14:20:38 GMT -8
Going to be interesting to watch the Route 2 & 3 vessel swap tonight. Route 2 has round trip cancellations and as of resumption of service is about seventy minutes late. Route 3 is on time. Going to potential lead to some stacking of vessels and a big service time gap on Route 3? I would suspect that the Cowichan and Surrey would stick to their proper routes today, assuming this based on the reason for the swap is to have a 5:20 sailing from HB to Landale. With the boats running late, The Cowichan will not make it back to HB in time for that scheduled sailing so what's the point. Cowichan eta Dept Bay 3:28pm lvs about 4 pm eta HB 5:40 ish. Surrey basically close to on time running about 10 min late. To lv Langdale about 5:25-35 ish and eta HB about 6:15 ish If they switched the vessels tonight, the 6:35 pm and 8:35 pm rt 2 sailings would be More or less on time, but the Langdale runs will be behind. As a matter of fact the Langdale pm trips will be late no matter what. It's anyone's guess. But then again, if they do the switch it would be the minimum delay. This is the problem when you have this scenario, as the current daily schedule is based on using 2 ships on the Langdale run, if a ship is late on her regular run it effects another route.
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Post by Dane on Jan 21, 2018 22:55:39 GMT -8
The Cowichan did a commendable job making up time all day. Surrey stayed on time, but Cowichan made up an hour through the course of the day so the delays were down to a mere 20 minutes by the last sailing from Langdale.
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Post by mybidness459 on Jan 22, 2018 18:02:58 GMT -8
Heads up regarding Route 1.
Spirit of VI Returns to service on Jan 26, Doing the EVEN hour sailings.
Coastal Inspiration according to RBI at BC Ferries is returning to RT 1 for the Coastal Celebration's Refit. I checked the RBI for April 27 on Rt 1 and the Spirit of VI will be in full service doing her normal sailings. Coastal Renaissance will be re-positioned to be based out of Tsawwassen replacing the Celebration, and the Inspiration will be doing the even hour sailings based at Swartz Bay along with the New West out of Tsawwassen.
This would mean that The Queen of Coquitlam would have to replace the Inspiration out of Duke Point, However only RT 1 is set up on the RBI at this time.
Note: This is Subject to change
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John H
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Post by John H on Feb 4, 2018 15:52:05 GMT -8
Is there a reason why, over the years, the time between sailings on Route 2 continually gets longer? It's never happened on Route 1 - they've always been every hour (or two) on the hour.
Example. In 2003, Route 2 departures were 6:30, 8:30, 10:30, 12:30, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00. That's a 2 hour turn-around time.
Then by 2010 (not sure exactly when it changed) up until quite recently, during the busy times it's been 6:20, 8:30, 10:40, 12:50, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:30. That's a 2 hour and 10 minute turn-around time.
This new schedule that has started, for the winter schedule is 6:15, 8:25, 10:40, 1:00, 3:20... it gets more complicated in the afternoon because of the ferry switchups. But now the turn-around time is between 2 hours and 10 minutes and 2 hours and 20 minutes (longer mid-day).
Is it taking longer to load cars? Are the ferries going slower? Are they building more time into the schedule to improve on-time performance?
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Post by Dane on Feb 4, 2018 19:17:57 GMT -8
It's a few things at work. In no particular order:
- when it was always every two hours with the thirty minute break the ships were always running really late in peak times. There schedule was a farce. I was a semi-regular Route 2 user back then, and albeit young I remember we just showed up at the terminal because the schedule meant nothing and there weren't live updates back then. While they are always behind on peak now a days, still, it's not as substantial.
- the ships are and have been run for the most part slower for the late decade. I think that's starting you ease back again though as anecdotal observation suggests a lot of 95 minutes sailings again vice 100 minutes.
- dock congestion at Horseshoe Bay with schedule changes for the other two routes.
- slower docking vessels has also been a trend since 2003.
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Post by mybidness459 on Feb 5, 2018 14:20:29 GMT -8
It's a few things at work. In no particular order: - when it was always every two hours with the thirty minute break the ships were always running really late in peak times. There schedule was a farce. I was a semi-regular Route 2 user back then, and albeit young I remember we just showed up at the terminal because the schedule meant nothing and there weren't live updates back then. While they are always behind on peak now a days, still, it's not as substantial. - the ships are and have been run for the most part slower for the late decade. I think that's starting you ease back again though as anecdotal observation suggests a lot of 95 minutes sailings again vice 100 minutes. - dock congestion at Horseshoe Bay with schedule changes for the other two routes. - slower docking vessels has also been a trend since 2003. [b Before 1996 rt 2 ships were running on the same schedule as rt 1. That is with a 7am, 9,11, 1pm,3,7 and last at 9 as the standard. However just a few months before the Queen of Cowichan and Surrey swapped places BC Ferries decided to "experiment" with the schedules on both the HB and Tsawwassen runs. They cancelled the 5:30 am sailings on Sundays on rt 30 and Modified rt 2 early sailings so that the Queen of Alberni would do a return to to Horseshoe Bay before beginning her sailings to Tsawwassen. The idea at the time was so the Crew on the Queen of Surrey could do drills, training, etc. The Alberni and Surrey return to their regular service with the 10:30 and 11 am sailings. I remember catching the Alberni on Rt 2 then on rt 30 on the same day. They kept with the 06:30-12:30 am and 15:00-2100 sailings to allow more time for ships to make up time during the day. Even in recent times the Cowichan did not lv HB until closer to 12:50 on her 12:30 trips much of the time.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Feb 5, 2018 16:11:04 GMT -8
It's a few things at work. In no particular order: - when it was always every two hours with the thirty minute break the ships were always running really late in peak times. There schedule was a farce. I was a semi-regular Route 2 user back then, and albeit young I remember we just showed up at the terminal because the schedule meant nothing and there weren't live updates back then. While they are always behind on peak now a days, still, it's not as substantial. - the ships are and have been run for the most part slower for the late decade. I think that's starting you ease back again though as anecdotal observation suggests a lot of 95 minutes sailings again vice 100 minutes. - dock congestion at Horseshoe Bay with schedule changes for the other two routes. - slower docking vessels has also been a trend since 2003. [b Before 1996 rt 2 ships were running on the same schedule as rt 1. That is with a 7am, 9,11, 1pm,3,7 and last at 9 as the standard. However just a few months before the Queen of Cowichan and Surrey swapped places BC Ferries decided to "experiment" with the schedules on both the HB and Tsawwassen runs. They cancelled the 5:30 am sailings on Sundays on rt 30 and Modified rt 2 early sailings so that the Queen of Alberni would do a return to to Horseshoe Bay before beginning her sailings to Tsawwassen. The idea at the time was so the Crew on the Queen of Surrey could do drills, training, etc. The Alberni and Surrey return to their regular service with the 10:30 and 11 am sailings. I remember catching the Alberni on Rt 2 then on rt 30 on the same day. They kept with the 06:30-12:30 am and 15:00-2100 sailings to allow more time for ships to make up time during the day. Even in recent times the Cowichan did not lv HB until closer to 12:50 on her 12:30 trips much of the time. Route 2 deviated from on the hour sailings long before '96- first time was probably after the original ships were stretched, in the '70s. I believe there were other periods as well, but I don't have my schedule collection with me.
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Post by Dane on Feb 5, 2018 22:41:43 GMT -8
The introduction of Route 30 and the introduction of the Fast Cats, both in the 1990s led to some fairly 'unique' schedules, too. Route 2 has always been a constant evolution. For the very brief period of two Fast Cat operations the schedule got quite different with a C class intermixed for overheights and general capacity control.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Feb 6, 2018 17:34:20 GMT -8
Is there a reason why, over the years, the time between sailings on Route 2 continually gets longer? It's never happened on Route 1 - they've always been every hour (or two) on the hour. Example. In 2003, Route 2 departures were 6:30, 8:30, 10:30, 12:30, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00. That's a 2 hour turn-around time. Then by 2010 (not sure exactly when it changed) up until quite recently, during the busy times it's been 6:20, 8:30, 10:40, 12:50, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:30. That's a 2 hour and 10 minute turn-around time. This new schedule that has started, for the winter schedule is 6:15, 8:25, 10:40, 1:00, 3:20... it gets more complicated in the afternoon because of the ferry switchups. But now the turn-around time is between 2 hours and 10 minutes and 2 hours and 20 minutes (longer mid-day). Is it taking longer to load cars? Are the ferries going slower? Are they building more time into the schedule to improve on-time performance? Another point of explanation, from a December 8th Vancouver Sun article reporting on an interview with Mark Collins: it was mentioned that the Horseshoe Bay berths are old and involve "manual components in docking and unloading that cause delays not found at BC Ferries' other terminals."
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Post by mybidness459 on Mar 19, 2018 15:13:23 GMT -8
Check out the Sched for rt 30 in April and May, Looks like they are running 3 ships on the run with extra sailings. I wonder how on earth they are going to perform this, and still get in time for the refitt of the Coastal Celebration and Inspiration before the Peak Summer Sched.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Mar 19, 2018 19:10:29 GMT -8
Check out the Sched for rt 30 in April and May, Looks like they are running 3 ships on the run with extra sailings. I wonder how on earth they are going to perform this, and still get in time for the refitt of the Coastal Celebration and Inspiration before the Peak Summer Sched. By modifying the Coastal Inspiration schedule on route 1 and route 30 such as April 10 there is 11:30 am from Swartz Bay to Tsassawwen then 1:30 pm from Tsassawwen to Duke Point, 4:00 pm from Duke Point to Tsassawwen and 6:30 pm from Tsassawwen to Swartz Bay.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Mar 19, 2018 19:14:29 GMT -8
Check out the Sched for rt 30 in April and May, Looks like they are running 3 ships on the run with extra sailings. I wonder how on earth they are going to perform this, and still get in time for the refitt of the Coastal Celebration and Inspiration before the Peak Summer Sched. It's actually just an extra sailing on a few days in April and May, but still, this is the first time route thirty has had more than eight sailings a day in many years. I'd have to check, but I'll bet it was during the NDP's last term in office. The bizarre thing is that for the entire summer- when extra service is really needed, there is no sign of a change. The Duke Point run has been gaining traffic over the years, and I expect that it won't be long before it actually becomes profitable, like routes one and two, and, there will be absolutely no argument against a permanent improvement in service.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Mar 19, 2018 20:07:47 GMT -8
Check out the Sched for rt 30 in April and May, Looks like they are running 3 ships on the run with extra sailings. I wonder how on earth they are going to perform this, and still get in time for the refitt of the Coastal Celebration and Inspiration before the Peak Summer Sched. By modifying the Coastal Inspiration schedule on route 1 and route 30 such as April 10 there is 11:30 am from Swartz Bay to Tsassewan then 1:30 pm from Tsassewan to Duke Point, 4:00 pm from Duke Point to Tsassewan and 6:30 pm from Tsassewan to Swartz Bay. One time's a typo, four times is... well. It's the biggest terminal in the system. Tsawwassen. Edit your post, and I'll happily delete this one.
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Mar 19, 2018 20:28:44 GMT -8
Check out the Sched for rt 30 in April and May, Looks like they are running 3 ships on the run with extra sailings. I wonder how on earth they are going to perform this, and still get in time for the refitt of the Coastal Celebration and Inspiration before the Peak Summer Sched. By modifying the Coastal Inspiration schedule on route 1 and route 30 such as April 10 there will be a 11:30 am from Swartz Bay to Tsassawwen, then there will be a 1:30 pm from Tsassawwen to Duke Point, then there will be a 4:00 pm from Duke Point to Tsassawwen and 6:30 pm from Tsassawwen to Swartz Bay.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Mar 19, 2018 20:44:30 GMT -8
By modifying the Coastal Inspiration schedule on route 1 and route 30 such as April 10 there is 11:30 am from Swartz Bay to Tsassawan then 1:30 pm from Tsassawan to Duke Point, 4:00 pm from Duke Point to Tsassawan and 6:30 pm from Tsassawan to Swartz Bay. Read my post again...
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Post by Nickfro on Mar 20, 2018 12:45:13 GMT -8
Check out the Sched for rt 30 in April and May, Looks like they are running 3 ships on the run with extra sailings. I wonder how on earth they are going to perform this, and still get in time for the refitt of the Coastal Celebration and Inspiration before the Peak Summer Sched. It's actually just an extra sailing on a few days in April and May, but still, this is the first time route thirty has had more than eight sailings a day in many years. I'd have to check, but I'll bet it was during the NDP's last term in office. The bizarre thing is that for the entire summer- when extra service is really needed, there is no sign of a change. The Duke Point run has been gaining traffic over the years, and I expect that it won't be long before it actually becomes profitable, like routes one and two, and, there will be absolutely no argument against a permanent improvement in service. Quite bizarre indeed. One additional round trip, and all on weekdays by what appears to be a Number Two vessel from Route 1. The strangest thing is the April 10-11 and 17-18 where it appears to originate with a 1130am Swartz Bay departure. I can't recall the last time Route 1 had a sailing that didn't depart 'on the hour'. This one appears to be the Number Two vessel from Swartz Bay (rotating vessel), while all other sailing additions look to be done by the Number Two vessel out of Tsawwassen. I can't help think that these additions are more for commercial vehicle capacity than underheight and general passenger capacity, given the weekday sailing times. The only one that may help underheight capacity is the 845pm Friday sailings out of Tsawwassen. As for the summer, I can only think this is a trial run to see how the addition of a third boat goes from an operational standpoint. This is truly needed in the summer from a general passenger approach, but the key ingredient missing is another boat. Lastly, I don't see this as a 'historic' part of the route since it's a current matter, but more of a 'scheduling' topic. That said, I decided to post here anyways to keep with the group (and hopefully pass Neil's spelling bee contest!).
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Post by arrrrmatey on Mar 20, 2018 12:59:05 GMT -8
It's actually just an extra sailing on a few days in April and May, but still, this is the first time route thirty has had more than eight sailings a day in many years. I'd have to check, but I'll bet it was during the NDP's last term in office. The bizarre thing is that for the entire summer- when extra service is really needed, there is no sign of a change. The Duke Point run has been gaining traffic over the years, and I expect that it won't be long before it actually becomes profitable, like routes one and two, and, there will be absolutely no argument against a permanent improvement in service. Quite bizarre indeed. One additional round trip, and all on weekdays by what appears to be a Number Two vessel from Route 1. The strangest thing is the April 10-11 and 17-18 where it appears to originate with a 1130am Swartz Bay departure. I can't recall the last time Route 1 had a sailing that didn't depart 'on the hour'. This one appears to be the Number Two vessel from Swartz Bay (rotating vessel), while all other sailing additions look to be done by the Number Two vessel out of Tsawwassen. I can't help think that these additions are more for commercial vehicle capacity than underheight and general passenger capacity, given the weekday sailing times. The only one that may help underheight capacity is the 845pm Friday sailings out of Tsawwassen. As for the summer, I can only think this is a trial run to see how the addition of a third boat goes from an operational standpoint. This is truly needed in the summer from a general passenger approach, but the key ingredient missing is another boat. Lastly, I don't see this as a 'historic' part of the route since it's a current matter, but more of a 'scheduling' topic. That said, I decided to post here anyways to keep with the group (and hopefully pass Neil's spelling bee contest!). This all appears to be only for the period when the Coquitlam is replacing the Inspiration as the Duke Point based vessel, to help with the overheight backups that we saw with the last time the Coquitlam operated there. As for the summer, yes extra service is needed on that route, but no vessels are available.
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Post by Kahloke on Mar 20, 2018 14:45:52 GMT -8
I just moved all of the posts regarding the Route 30 scheduling into this thread. Please post here if you want to continue the current discussion. Thanks.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Mar 20, 2018 21:34:25 GMT -8
Question for anyone familiar with the operations on routes five and nine (Chris/Ferryman?)...
The schedule mentions that dangerous cargo sailings happen on Sundays, but unlike most other island routes, it doesn't specify how this is done, and I can't figure it out from a cursory glance at the Sunday schedules.
Any enlightenment available?
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 20, 2018 22:35:43 GMT -8
Question for anyone familiar with the operations on routes five and nine (Chris/Ferryman?)... The schedule mentions that dangerous cargo sailings happen on Sundays, but unlike most other island routes, it doesn't specify how this is done, and I can't figure it out from a cursory glance at the Sunday schedules. Any enlightenment available? Provided that nothing has really changed with this routine over the past few years.... But traditionally Route 5a (Mayne Queen) handles the DG sailings on Sunday morning. There is no regimented schedule since the DG deliveries end up not being consistent every week. However the Mayne Queen will leave Swartz Bay around 06:00 (I forget the exact timing), and make a run to whichever Islands are expecting deliveries in a logical order. Sometimes it will have to stop at all of the Islands, except for Salt Spring (SSI has it's own DG runs on the Howe Sound Queen during the week). If there are no deliveries expected, the Mayne Queen will then deadhead to Mayne Island and tie up until 09:15, where she'll then make a scheduled round trip between Mayne Island and Saturna Island only. After which she'll do another circuit through the islands in logical order to bring back the DG vehicles that were delivered earlier in the morning and the crew will give ETA's to the delivery drivers of "Be back at the terminal by....". But if there were no earlier deliveries she'll either deadhead back, or pick up any slack left behind by the Queen of Cumberland if traffic happens to be busy. In short, the DG sailings are treated similar to charter runs. Sunday mornings are typically quite slow, traffic-wise.
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Post by hwy19man on May 2, 2018 13:25:26 GMT -8
The summer schedule for route one will have improvements for Friday with sailings at 600h and 2359h (midnight). The 600h sailing was Monday to Thursday and Saturday over the past several years.
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