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  • Vancouver Winter Olympics -- a streetcar?

  • Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in Canada. For specific railroad questions, see Fallen Flags and Active Railroads categories.
Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in Canada. For specific railroad questions, see Fallen Flags and Active Railroads categories.

Moderator: Ken V

 #741407  by ExCon90
 
Sorry if this has already been dealt with, but I don't see any thread on this topic back to 2007. A recent news story about the Winter Olympics mentioned that some kind of streetcar operation is to be provided along a line defined only as "a little-used rail line" on the south side of False Creek, for a distance of about a mile and a half. Is there anything to this, and if so, any information about equipment, etc.?
 #741610  by CN Sparky
 
I don't recall seeing anything about it recently either...

That's the old Science World to Granville Island run... known as the Downtown Historic Railway, until October 08 when it shut down. http://www.trams.bc.ca/dhr.html for more info there.

Not up to date, but: http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/transport/railway/ also.

I used to work at Science World... that station on Quebec street was always being used by some homeless guy to shoot up drugs or sleep in after hours... what a shame.

As for the "Flexity" that's going to be around for the Olympics... http://www2.bombardier.com/vancouver/index.html

And I just found this one: http://regardingplace.com/?p=2891
 #742107  by ExCon90
 
Many thanks for the info and links. I remember riding cars like 1207 in 1952 from Carrall St. to Sapperton, and to New Westminster - Marpole - Steveston and return. Glad I did it when I had the chance.
 #791476  by canfan
 
Yeah they had the Olympic line. It looked like a light-rail to me, I saw it a few times jogging from West Van to downtown. I didn't get the chance to ride it but I think there was a station in West Van going over to Granville Island, not sure about the rest. It seemed to have decent ridership, and it looked like they dumped new ballast, upgraded track, and installed cantenary for it. Too bad its not permanent.
 #791637  by CN Sparky
 
I had a chance to ride it before it closed up. Pretty smooth...

The "Olympic Line" went from the Canada Line station at the Olympic Village (which is actually a few blocks away, but who's keeping track...) to Granville Island. Since the whole area around the actual Olympic Village was a secure zone, they weren't running that far along. Basically stopped at the Cambie Street Bridge. The track from there to Science World/Quebec street wasn't upgraded. I don't even see track connecting to Quebec yet.

I hope the Historic Railway isn't getting shafted by that Olympic upgrade... now they have a shorter line? Sheesh..

Such a waste too... since Translink can't fund anything... they are shipping the two test units back to Brussels... until Vancouver can afford to actually buy them, and then will have to pay to ship them back here!!