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Post by Kahloke on Nov 13, 2009 11:25:21 GMT -8
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Post by Kahloke on Nov 16, 2009 16:39:02 GMT -8
LINK has been plagued with problems since opening in July. Here's the latest incident: Light rail train derails in SeattleSEATTLE -- A Central Link light rail train has derailed in Seattle, distrupting trains heading to the Mount Baker, Beacon Hill and SODO stations.
The train came off the tracks on the elevated train platform near Safeco Field about 3:30 p.m.
Sound Transit's Web site says trains will operate every 20 minutes instead of every 7 minutes until the train is cleared.
Officials said there were no passengers on board the derailed train, and engineers are trying to determine what caused it to come off the tracks. link to article with pictures: www.komonews.com/news/local/70237837.htmlLooking at the photos in the article, it looks like the train derailed at the spur line into the maintenance yard, which would explain why there were no passengers on board. |
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 16, 2009 17:27:23 GMT -8
Very interesting. From that series of images in the article it appears that the train had almost cleared the switch into the yard when the switch reset to the mainline before the last truck had cleared. In fact, from the looks of it, the train didn't even technically derail, but instead went in two directions at once, split the switch...  Copyright © 2008 Fisher Communications, Inc.  Copyright © 2008 Fisher Communications, Inc. Looks like a couple of people commenting on that article seem to have it right... And unless the truck ahead of the one that went astray derailed, it was the officials who got the statement wrong and not the media for once, unless they were misquoted of course, which is a real possibility: |
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Dispensing gallons of useless information daily...
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Dec 10, 2009 5:38:27 GMT -8
marinelink.com/en-US/News/Article/332671.aspxStreetcars Shipped from Germany to TacomaTwo streetcars, shipped from Germany, arrived at the Port of modern Bombardier Flexity streetcars Tacoma last week. They are being transported on special-purpose road trailers to Vancouver, B.C. The streetcars arrived in Tacoma onboard the Tomar, a Wallenius Wilhelmsen vessel on December 2, after a 10,460-mile journey from Germany (Bremerhaven-Zeebrugge-Southampton-Panama Canal-Port Hueneme-Tacoma). Each of the two cars is manufactured by Bombardier Transportation and about 105 ft long. Transporting the cars from Tacoma to Vancouver, B.C. was handled by 21st Century Transport, Inc, with assistance from Chapman Hauling. Bombardier Transportation, in partnership with the City of Vancouver, will provide free streetcar service for Vancouver residents and visitors on the Olympic Line from mid-January to mid-March 2010. They are expected to carry about 500,000 passengers during that time. Steve Hall, Bombardier’s General Manager in Vancouver, said, “We are delighted to bring the first 100% low-floor streetcar to North America. The people of Metro Vancouver will now have the opportunity to experience first-hand the latest in European streetcar design during the excitement of the 2010 Winter Games.”
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Post by Northern Exploration on Dec 10, 2009 7:36:32 GMT -8
marinelink.com/en-US/News/Article/332671.aspxStreetcars Shipped from Germany to TacomaTwo streetcars, shipped from Germany, arrived at the Port of modern Bombardier Flexity streetcars Tacoma last week. They are being transported on special-purpose road trailers to Vancouver, B.C. The streetcars arrived in Tacoma onboard the Tomar, a Wallenius Wilhelmsen vessel on December 2, after a 10,460-mile journey from Germany (Bremerhaven-Zeebrugge-Southampton-Panama Canal-Port Hueneme-Tacoma). Each of the two cars is manufactured by Bombardier Transportation and about 105 ft long. Transporting the cars from Tacoma to Vancouver, B.C. was handled by 21st Century Transport, Inc, with assistance from Chapman Hauling. Bombardier Transportation, in partnership with the City of Vancouver, will provide free streetcar service for Vancouver residents and visitors on the Olympic Line from mid-January to mid-March 2010. They are expected to carry about 500,000 passengers during that time. Steve Hall, Bombardier’s General Manager in Vancouver, said, “We are delighted to bring the first 100% low-floor streetcar to North America. The people of Metro Vancouver will now have the opportunity to experience first-hand the latest in European streetcar design during the excitement of the 2010 Winter Games.” Those are the same streetcars/light rail purchased by the TTC for Toronto's agressive transit expansion and replacement of existing streetcars. |
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Post by Kahloke on Dec 17, 2009 8:28:59 GMT -8
An article in the Times today on Saturday's opening of the Sea-Tac Airport Link Light Rail station. Airport rail station opens Saturday
By Mike Lindblom: Seattle Times transportation reporter
Starting Saturday, light-rail riders will finally get to take a train all the way to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The airport stop will not be Link's busiest station, but for thousands of non-commuters — locals as well as visitors — it provides a major incentive to use the new rail system at least occasionally. For $2.50, an adult rider can take a train between the airport and downtown Seattle.
For now, the airport station — which opens at 10 a.m. Saturday — will serve only riders from the north. But the regional system will eventually stretch to Lynnwood, Overlake and north Federal Way by the early 2020s.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and other boosters succeeded in opening the $268 million airport segment and station just in time for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C., when some tourists will pass through Seattle. The airport stop adds an alternative to buses or taxis. Vancouver opened an airport rail station in September, and Portland in 2001.
Up in the air
With its open-air walkways, chill breezes, highway and tarmac vistas, visible pipes and jet fumes, the station seems to celebrate the maelstrom that is modern air travel. It also saved money, after Sound Transit scaled back the original design, including some windows.
Trains stop on an upper level, on a centered platform that is covered by a truss roof but exposed to south winds. (To get to Seattle, you get on whichever train comes first, on either side.)
Drop one level to the mezzanine. To one side are 32 chairs where friends might wait, and public restrooms. A video screen to show arriving and departing flights will be installed in January. Baggage carts are available for a $4 rental fee, and might be helpful for the quarter-mile walk west across a fourth-floor skybridge and through the parking garage to the terminal.
The wide and well-lit walkway is divided from parked cars by steel-mesh fence and yellow posts. There are directional signs in blue leading to the terminal skybridges, where the Port of Seattle added several maps of the station and airport layout.
Not an option for all
Nancy and Rod Black of Yuma, Ariz., journeyed 49 miles on transit trains earlier this week, from Everett to the International District to Tukwila, where they switched to a white shuttle bus for the final leg of their trip — from Tukwila to the airport. Nancy Black says she prefers light rail, but says the lengthy walk from the airport station to the terminal might be a hardship.
"What if you can't walk? That is a question," said Black, who has arthritis and uses a cane.
People-movers were not built, because those would cost millions, nor do the Port and Sound Transit keep electric carts, rental wheelchairs or pedicabs at the station. Patrons can contact Huntleigh, an airport contractor, for free wheelchair service, preferably several hours in advance (206-433-5287).
Tom Beebe of North Seattle, a frequent flier taking the #194 express bus (which Metro will discontinue in February) to the airport on Monday, said the idea of a train from Westlake Center appeals to him, but that he would hate the airport station walkway in cold weather. "I like being able to step out of baggage claim and get on a bus," he said.
Linn Heng of Los Angeles visited a week too early to try the new station. "It will be nice to have the new link directly from the airport to downtown," she said aboard a train heading to Tukwila. Taking the white shuttle buses to the Tukwila station has added about 10 to 20 minutes to the trip to or from downtown, which starting Saturday is expected to take 36 minutes total.
Heng and her companion spent time walking throughout downtown, so a quarter-mile is no big deal, she said.
Beyond the airport
Though farther from the terminal than some would like, one advantage of the station site, along Highway 99, is that it should make construction simple as tracks are extended south, said transit spokesman Bruce Gray.
Also, local drivers can drop off loved ones, heading downtown or to ballgames in Sodo, at its "kiss-and-ride" lot next to the highway. The site is reachable on foot from hundreds of apartments and condos to the east.
In June, a new Metro bus-rapid-transit service called A Line will reach the Tukwila and SeaTac/Airport stations from the south every 10 minutes, for easy transfers to Link.
Air travelers converge on Sea-Tac from so many directions that a downtown line will carry only a fraction of them, at least until more suburban lines are connected.
So for now, shuttle services say they aren't too worried about the competition.
"We'll probably lose a number of college kids and maybe a few businesspeople who have a briefcase, but other than that it should not affect us," said Cliff Lund, a Shuttle Express coordinator at the airport. His clients tend to bring lots of luggage, "which is inconvenient for light rail." Link trains are almost always uncrowded enough to bring a suitcase aboard for those willing to pack light.
Sound Transit makes no near-term ridership prediction, but says 4,000 people a day will hop a train at the airport by 2030, when the network stretches in three directions.
"It's going to take people some time to realize this is an easy option for them," Gray said. "But ridership will grow eventually."
Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010527454_airportlink17m.html |
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Post by SS San Mateo on Mar 15, 2010 12:57:20 GMT -8
A few of my transit videos...
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Post by Northern Exploration on Mar 15, 2010 16:56:39 GMT -8
A few of my transit videos... Interesting to see a market for those Alexander Dennis buses developing in North America. With Victoria and GO Transit in the east using them and a number of places testing them. GO Transit uses them on a heavily traveled highway route that goes between a couple of campuses. I have yet to ride them but want to try them out on the highway in the top front seat  . We also have the Vanhool Double Decker highway coaches in service now on the Montreal to Toronto and Toronto to NYC corridors. The extra capacity in the same footprint I think is proving to be great for heavy traffic. For some reason you don't see many bendy highway buses. |
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Post by Kahloke on Mar 15, 2010 17:51:44 GMT -8
I agree. I like that first video of the Community Transit double-decker. I wonder how many of those CT is running? It seems like it would be a better solution for the downtown Seattle streets where there is limited space, vesus the articulated (bendy) busses CT and Metro primarily use.
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Post by northwesterner on Mar 15, 2010 21:43:20 GMT -8
CT has one but they are buying more.
Plenty of room at our zones downtown right now because 3rd Ave is transit only during rush hour, so it can accomodate many more buses than in the past.
CT is going to Double Deckers because they are running out of yard space with all their artics. Of course, I think they have WAY too many artics, and would be better off with more 40ft commuter coaches (like they use to have) but they seem to want to run one bus on any run.
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Post by SS San Mateo on Mar 17, 2010 7:06:19 GMT -8
The double decker bus in the video is gone now (it was under lease and was returned to the manufacturer at the end of 2009). CT has ordered 23 and they're supposed to arrive mid-year (they will be replacing the NFI D60HF coaches). According to the December 2009 issue of Buses magazine, the order was increased to 120 buses which will be delivered in 2011 and 2012 (I haven't seen the actual article... someone over at the Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board mentioned it). I'm guessing the additional ones will replace the oldest of the D60LF coaches.
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Post by SS San Mateo on Mar 23, 2010 10:32:44 GMT -8
Some more videos...
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Post by Kahloke on Mar 23, 2010 12:50:31 GMT -8
Nice videos. It's been awhile since I have been aboard Klahowya, and I have no interior cabin shots of that vessel. I'll have to do something about that one of these days.
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Post by Kahloke on May 25, 2011 8:12:33 GMT -8
To all you bus fans out there, Metro is starting to update their fleet: Metro debuts new cleaner, greener busesSubmitted by Michael Harthorne, KOMO Communities ReporterTuesday, May 24th, 08:49am
King County Metro is continuing its mission to convert its fleet to clean power with the first of 170 new Orion hybrid-electric buses debuting this week.“These shorter, 40-foot hybrid coaches are a first for Metro, and the fuel efficiency they bring arrives at a good time,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said in a Metro press release. “When combined with our electric trolleys and 60-foot articulated hybrids, more than half of our entire fleet will be either hybrid-electric or fully electric.”
The new buses cost approximately $500,000 each, paid for in part through a $35.8 million federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant. But, Constantine said the new fleet will save money in the long run through full economy. They are predicted to save more than $4.6 million by the end of the year, he said.
In addition, the buses will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent, keeping 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the environment, according to Metro.
The new buses feature a lower floor to make boarding faster and easier and are more spacious and quiet than their older counterparts, according to Metro.
The new buses will start showing up in south King County first before expanding to the rest of the Metro service area.Link to article and photo: sammamish.komonews.com/news/transportation/metro-debuts-new-cleaner-greener-buses/643088?utm_base=storylink |
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Post by Kahloke on Jul 2, 2011 6:47:01 GMT -8
Here's a couple of Sound Transit LINK photos I took when last in Seattle: The LINK Light Rail maintenance/switching yard, along with the old Rainier Brewery on the left side of the photo, now sporting its colourful facade:  LINK's Sea-Tac Airport Station  |
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Post by SS San Mateo on Oct 4, 2011 20:29:51 GMT -8
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Post by Freeland on Dec 1, 2011 15:39:25 GMT -8
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Post by Freeland on Dec 1, 2011 16:15:12 GMT -8
Another one from Bus Driver at Metro Transit in Bellevue. He decorates the interior up for Christmas every year. It is calls it the Christmas Bus. He video the interior of his bus and the Dancing Christmas Tree in Bellevue Square. Great Music. www.c13j.com/video/111130_btqt.html |
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SolDuc
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Post by SolDuc on Feb 25, 2013 20:57:59 GMT -8
I've ridden the Skytrain from the First ride on the Demonstration line through Opening Day to this afternoon. How is the SoundLINK LRT being received down there? Are there plans to extend it north to the U District / Queen Anne Hill area or even Lynnwood? Seems to make sense to get commuters north of Lake Union on a rapid transit line. Good to have the line extended to SeaTac. Ottawa Ontaro is starting the Confederation Line (east west), but it does not go to the Ottawa International Airport. The Canada Line cars were designed wider simply to accomodate the baggage to/from YVR. It can get quite packed on some Saturday mornings.
Sound Transit is actually currently building a tunnel to extend the line to UW, with a stop at Capitol Hill. This should rise ridership quite a bit. Openning is planned for 2016. Also in 2016, the main light rail will be extended south to 200th in SeaTac. They are planning to build the eastside link, and will start when the HOV lanes will be in service on the regular I-90 all the way to Rainier ave (they went only to E Mercer Way until 2010, when WSDOT opened the westbound HOV to the 77th. Earlier last year they opened the eastbound from 77th to E Mercer Way. Once the HOV project is completed, Sound Transit will have the Express Lanes to Install light rail. With an extension all the way to the Overlake TC (Microsoft) it should get many commuters from Seattle in the train rather than on the freeways. Opening for the east rail is currently 2023. They are projects for an extension to Northgate, then Lynnwood on the North. On the south there is one planned for Federal Way. On a fairly far future they might even link the main Link to the Tacoma link. I would also like to see a real Eastside link going from the Tukwila station to Lynnwood via Renton, Bellevue and Bothell. Also a possible division of the east link that would go to Bellevue College and Issaquah would be nice. And farther north I can see the Lynnwood line expanded further north to the current Everett Heavy Rail station. And last a Seattle line going from the Fauntleroy ferry dock to the Silshole Marina via downtown, first hill, the arboretum, UW and Ballard would be the last needed. Many Europeean cities have extremely developped light rail/subway systems that are verry efficient and take over half the commuters in some cases. |
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Post by SS San Mateo on Apr 9, 2013 20:16:28 GMT -8
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Post by Cable Cassidy on Apr 12, 2013 8:08:26 GMT -8
The bus on the left is waiting to get on the 7:00 AM ferry to Seattle and the 2 on the right are on layover prior to making southbound trips.
Great shot! I've always thought it was cool how KCM ran inservice buses on the ferries over to Vashon. There's only 1 place in Canada that does this semi-regularly (Texada Island). Last week the brand new International AC Series community shuttles entered limited revenue service, and this week they're started to go out in larger numbers on longer runs. Here's some photos of these new coaches: www.flickr.com/photos/chsscassidy/8612575592/in/photostreamwww.flickr.com/photos/chsscassidy/8611469183/in/photostream |
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SolDuc
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Post by SolDuc on Apr 23, 2013 18:57:06 GMT -8
I saw this bus at Eastgate P&R today and it is obiously a Sound Transit newcomer. The brand is most likely to be New Flyer and it is a 60' bus but other than that I know little information about it. Does anybody here does?  Sound Transit 2012 NewFlyer  #9813 by SolDuc Photography, on Flickr |
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Post by Mike C on Apr 23, 2013 19:05:18 GMT -8
I saw this bus at Eastgate P&R today and it is obiously a Sound Transit newcomer. The brand is most likely to be New Flyer and it is a 60' bus but other than that I know little information about it. Does anybody here does? This is a brand new New Flyer D60LFR. |
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Post by Blue Bus Fan on Apr 23, 2013 20:05:24 GMT -8
I saw this bus at Eastgate P&R today and it is obiously a Sound Transit newcomer. The brand is most likely to be New Flyer and it is a 60' bus but other than that I know little information about it. Does anybody here does? Here is a link that could help you. |
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Post by SS San Mateo on Apr 24, 2013 8:09:40 GMT -8
That bus went into service earlier this year.
Some of the first Sound Transit D60LFR coaches had the roof fairings (sometimes referred to as wings) which the DE60LFR coaches (both Sound Transit and King County Metro) have. For whatever reason this was discontinued.
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#9813
