I was going through some of my photos and came across a set where I was comparing old and new signage on the SkyTrain. Below is one example from Granville Station. You can see the new sign in the foreground, with the existing sign further back. What struck me is how complex the information is on the new sign. The primary emphasis (judging from the size of the text) of the new platform signs is placed on the platform numbers, as opposed to the direction of travel as is in the old sign. In fact, the direction of travel isn’t Continue Reading
Transportation
Thoughts about public transportation and the like.
Hello Compass Card!
Yesterday when I got home from work, I was excited to find my Compass card waiting for me in my mailbox! Compass is TransLink’s new electronic fare card that will be rolled out in Metro Vancouver this fall. Earlier this year, fare gates were installed in most SkyTrain station entrances, and Compass readers installed on buses. TransLink is running a “beta test” of the Compass system with 10,000 volunteers from September 9th to October 1st (testing before launch is definitely a good idea!). The Compass card uses NFC to communicate with the card readers. There’s a small microchip and an Continue Reading
New Xcelsior buses hit Vancouver streets
It has been quite a while since we’ve received new buses, especially a new model, here in Metro Vancouver. This past Monday, the newest buses of the fleet, New Flyer Xcelsior XDE60s, commenced revenue service on the #49. West Vancouver also has some Xcelsiors, but they are the 40 foot diesel versions as shown on the right. They have been in service since January. According to New Flyer, Xcelsiors boast several advantages such as better fuel economy, streamlined design, and a better experience for both the driver and passengers. These new buses look a lot sleeker than their predecessors, however Continue Reading
Reindeer Sightings
We have two reindeer buses roaming the streets of Metro Vancouver, one conventional based in Vancouver and a shuttle based in Port Coquitlam. Rudolph Rudolph is a little shy and only comes out occasionally for short trips in the Vancouver area, however, there have been sightings of him in other municipalities in the region. This year, Rudolph was decorated with additional external lighting. Where is Rudolph? Rudolph Shuttle The Rudolph shuttle, on the other hand, isn’t shy at all, and is usually out and about on many shuttle routes in the Coquitlam area. Where is Rudolph Shuttle? Other Reindeer Buses
Canada Line OMC Tour (Round 2)
I had the opportunity to tour the Canada Line Operations and Maintenance Centre for a second time yesterday. Photos from both of my visits can be found on my Flickr account.