Calgary Public Transit - Discussion

[You Need a Thneed]

The station head at Whitehorn Station is now reopened to the public. The station looks MUCH nicer than it did before all of the work started.

I wonder if the other NE stations will receive a similar treatment, or whether they will simply have their platform extended? I imagine that they will receive some of the same upgrades - better lighting on the ramps and bridges for one.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

The station head at Whitehorn Station is now reopened to the public. The station looks MUCH nicer than it did before all of the work started.

I wonder if the other NE stations will receive a similar treatment, or whether they will simply have their platform extended? I imagine that they will receive some of the same upgrades - better lighting on the ramps and bridges for one.

yeah, I saw that this morning. Feels much more open. Although there is only one escalator going up and none going down.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by bomber317

yeah, I saw that this morning. Feels much more open. Although there is only one escalator going up and none going down.

The elevator replaces the down escalator. This should save a significant amount of power and maintenance cost. People with strollers and wheelchairs don't have to go into the deep confines of the station to use the elevator any longer. Able bodied people shouldn't need an escalator to go down.

[frinkprof]

Photos of the new Whitehorn Station head. Looks much improved.

http://imgur.com/a/ZnxWH#0

[TurnedTheCorner]

Looks a lot less dumpy, that's good

[Addick]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

The elevator replaces the down escalator.

Why don't they just operate the escalators in the direction of the peak flow?

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Addick

Why don't they just operate the escalators in the direction of the peak flow?

It would take Calgary Transit 4 hours of "Preventative Maintenance in Progress" to switch the direction of the escalator.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Addick

Why don't they just operate the escalators in the direction of the peak flow?

Why do able bodied people need a down escalator? A downscalator, if you will? Much better to have an elevator that isn't hidden in the depths of the station for the wheelchair and stroller users.

At Whitehorn Station, the remaining upscalator (I know I'm making up words) is actually new, and it goes up on the west side of the stationhead, whereas the up escalator was on the east side before (where the elevator now is)

[red sky]

I like making up words too.

Descentalator

[BurningYears]

I think we are gonna see an increase in accidental stair falls now that people will have to text while walking down stairs instead of the decentalator.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by red sky

I like making up words too.

Descentalator

Sounds like a device for removing noses to me

[SebC]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Why do able bodied people need a down escalator? A downscalator, if you will? Much better to have an elevator that isn't hidden in the depths of the station for the wheelchair and stroller users.

At Whitehorn Station, the remaining upscalator (I know I'm making up words) is actually new, and it goes up on the west side of the stationhead, whereas the up escalator was on the east side before (where the elevator now is)

Is the width of the stairs sufficiently increased for the extra people walking down? Or did the elevator eat up the space where the "downscalator" was? That would be my concern.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by red sky

I like making up words too.

Descentalator

That's a perfectly cromulent word.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Why do able bodied people need a down escalator?

They don't but able minded planners would attempt to provide the greatest capacity during the peaks.

Will it make a massive difference? Probably not.

A noticeable difference that people will appreciate as the small things tend to add up? Yes.

[frinkprof]

So after some time with the new Series 8 SD160 cars (the ones with the perimeter seating, etc.), what are your thoughts? What do you like? What don't you like?

We were discussing this over at SSP and it's been a fairly hot topic. What say you?





I'll provide my thoughts later so as not to start the discussion in one particular direction.

[Arsenal14]

I like the idea of perimeter seating but the implementation sucks. If they remove the poles from the middle of the aisle it would make a huge difference. Right now they create bottlenecks as people don't move into the center of the cars.

The seats are also perhaps a little narrow for most people but I find the congestion of the aisles more of a problem. Put poles between the seats along the side of the car for short people to hold if necessary, just keep them out of the aisle.

[boogerz]

The new trains completely eliminate the personal bubble in favor of marginally more standing room. People are hanging over you left, right, and center during rush hour now, which is uncomfortable on warm days

The new train wasn't built with tall people in mind either. At least in the old trains my long legs would be crammed against the backs of the seat in front of me instead of poking the body or purse of someone standing in the aisle.

[chalms04]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

downscalator/upscalator (I know I'm making up words)

Don't worry, that's what I call them too.

[worth]

People don't move to the center of the cars if there isn't poles in the way. People want to be near the doors, I don't think it has anything to do with the poles. In the older cars, there aren't any poles and a whole isle for people to stand, yet people congregate at the doors.

Mindy you, I do not take the train very often. I do not take it during the weekday rush, I generally only take it to get to flames games because that is basically the only time I go downtown. So my experience may be very different from people who take the train often or every day for work.

I generally don't sit on the trains anyway, so I'm not really all that concerned about seating. If there is a spot, I will sit, if not, no big deal. I'd say about 75% of the time im on the train, there is no seat avail so I stand. And I have no problems standing in the new cars.

[TurnedTheCorner]

The seats are too narrow on the new cars. The AC is nice though.