The Translink Buzzer is a publication of our transit authority. It used to be a tiny brochure found on buses and trains. In fact, they still are. Yet, the website now makes updates instantaneous and more engaging.This picture shows one of the new Mark II cars. They were built for the new Canada Line SkyTrain that will soon start running from the airport in Richmond to downtown Vancouver. Apparently, the line will open earlier in the fall than anticipated. The new cars are going to be out on existing tracks. The first are being tested now. The whole system is driver-less being controlled from a central control room in Burnaby.
The new design looks nice just because it's new. Still, with each successive generation we have incurred substantial development costs. I know that we are basically, buying into new technology in order to make Bombardier, the firm, more competitive for other projects and overseas sales. Still, if the original car designs from the 1980's were re-deployed the costs could have been substanitally less expensive. The first trains were smaller and noiser but at least there were plenty of places where passengers could hold on. All the plans were already there. The parts would have been interchangable. It should have been a 'no-brainer' to go with the tested and true. When it comes to mass transportation, having a BMW is nice but a little Toyota Corolla would have been sufficient. Public organizations and even public/private partnerships have a hard time staying practical.