Technical Assessment of Operating Passenger Rail

on the Interurban Corridor

Presentation to
Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority
Study team:
„ Dennis Letourneau
… 20 years experience:
„ CPR
„ VIA
„ CN
„ CANAC Inc.
„ DRL Solutions Inc.
… Passenger/Commuter/light rail clients:
„ Montreal – STCUM, CTCUM
„ Toronto – GO TRANSIT
„ Calgary – Van Horne Institute – High Speed Rail
„ Vancouver - GVTA
„ USA – METRA, METROLINK, VRE, AMTRAK
„ Australia – CITYRAIL
„ Malaysia/Singapore – KTMB
„ Indonesia - PERUMKA
Study team:
„ Bill Otter
… 41 years experience:
„ C&NW
„ Otter Transportation Consulting Inc.
… Key experience:
„ Division Manager, C&NW Chicago Commuter Rail Service (for METRA)
„ Feasibility Study – METRA MILW West Line commuter rail extension
„ Operating Plans:
… Sprinter DMU Light Rail Project – California
… Los Angeles Union Station for METROLINK & AMTRAK
… Bus Rapid Transit for I-405 HOV lane proposal – CALTRANS
… Space Coast MAGLEV
… Emergency Response Plan – Tri-County Commuter Rail Service – Florida
„ New freight rail service startups:
… Minnesota, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil
Study Objectives:
„ Determine the technical elements and the construction costs that
would be involved in developing passenger rail service between
the Scott Road SkyTrain station and a terminal in Langley City.
Our Scope:
„ Inventory the existing Interurban Rail Corridor
„ Describe transit mode alternatives including stations, frequencies
and capacities for each mode
„ Identify technical and constructability issues
„ Prepare an alternative analysis by mode including a Rough Order
of Magnitude cost estimate for each mode
Not Included in Our Scope:
„ Engineering, design or project management cost estimates
„ Property acquisition cost estimates (including relocation costs)
„ Operations and maintenance cost estimates
„ Conduct of a ridership survey
The Interurban Corridor:

SCOTT ROAD
SKYTRAIN STATION

LANGLEY

PRATT JCT.

SRY
BNSF
CPR
Inventory of the Interurban Corridor:
„ Description of the existing railroad lines
… SRY: Surrey Line-Interurban Corridor (4)
… CPR: Page Subdivision to Roberts Bank-CP, CN, SRY (20)
… BNSF: New Westminster Bridge-Mud Bay Jct. (10-14)
„ Identification and evaluation of each grade crossing
… Public-32
… Private-11
… Pedestrian-5
„ Identification and evaluation of each industrial track
… Active-34
… Inactive, but still in service-19
… Out of service-14
„ Photographic inventory of the Interurban Corridor
… Photo for each rail/highway grade crossing
 INDUSTRY TRACKS ON SRY FROM MP 4.94 TO MP 14.35 (PRATT JCT.)

NORDEL WAY / SRY 4.94

80TH AVE. / SRY 6.80

ACTIVE TRACK
INACTIVE TRACK
VW310 VW280 TRACK OUT OF SERVICE
VW230
VW290 VW260
VW120 VW160 VW300 VW270

VW
22
VW100 VW170 VW150 VW210 VW380 VW400

0
TO CHILLIWACK

VW140 VW180 VW320 VW410 VW430

TO FRASER RIVER
VW330 VW340 VW360 VW370

PRATT JCT. / SRY 14.35 / CPR 23.88

BRIDGE
VW350

OLD PACIFIC HWY. / SRY 13.50

68TH AVE. / SRY 8.24
72ND AVE. / SRY 7.68
04
7.
Y
R

K
AC
/S

W
E .
13

LI
AV

IL
2
N

H
D

TH

C
ST

76

TO
.

VW740 VW840 VE250

N
O
I SI
IV
BD
VW690 VW720 VW800 VW960 VW940 VW980
0
88

SU
VW

VW760 VW820 VW900

E
G
PA
VW920

PR
C
 INDUSTRY TRACKS ON CPR FROM MP 23.88 (PRATT JCT.) TO MP 19.08
PAGE SUBDIVISION

CPR 21.98 / SRY 16.25

ACTIVE TRACK
CPR 23.88 / SRY 14.35

CPR 22.62 / SRY 15.61

TO

INACTIVE TRACK
FR BR

CP
AS ID

TRACK OUT OF SERVICE

R
ER GE

21
FR / S R
56TH AVE.
R

PRATT JCT.

. 28
IV

AS
ER

192ND ST.

ER Y 16
HW .95
VE360
SR

Y.
Y

VE340 VE380 VE660 VE680

VE300 VE620

VE440 TO CHILLIWACK
VE480 VE460 VE540
VE520
VE560 VE580 VE600

CPR 19.08 / SRY 19.15

CPR 21.10 / SRY 17.13

CPR 20.13 / SRY 18.10

LANGLEY BYPASS.

WORRELL RD.
200ND ST.

VE740 VE760
VE700

VE780 TO CHILLIWACK
VE800 VE920 VE940 VE970
VE880
VE900
Passenger Rail Mode Alternatives:
„ Heavy rail diesel push-pull commuter (WCE)
„ Heavy rail diesel multiple unit DMU (Budd car, Colorado Rail Car, etc)
„ Light rail transit DMU (Ottawa)*
„ Light rail transit EMU (Calgary)*

*Light rail alternative route into Langley City:

„ Separate right of way from Pratt Jct. to Langley City
„ Avoids CP’s busy Page Subdivision to Roberts Bank
„ Avoids conflicts between heavy and light rail modes
„ More stations in Langley City-reduced need for parking
„ Street running with noise, traffic and property issues
Potential Station Locations:
Potential Station Locations:
 Assumptions by Passenger Rail Mode:
Mode Heavy Rail Diesel Heavy Rail Light Rail Light Rail
Push-Pull DMU DMU EMU
Assumptions
Rolling Locos-5 Single-end Single-end Double-end
Stock Requirements Cab Cars-8 Colorado articulated articulated
Coaches-8 DMU Cabs-14 DMUs-32 EMUs-40
Potential Station Scenario A Scenario A Scenario B Scenario B
Locations 9 Stations 9 Stations 16 Stations 16 Stations
Frequencies: 30 minutes 30 minutes 15 minutes 15 minutes
xPeak 60 minutes 60 minutes 15 minutes 15 minutes
xOff-Peak
Estimated One-Way 40 minutes 40 minutes 42 minutes 42 minutes
Running Time
Average Speed 25.2 mph / 40.5 25.2 mph / 40.5 kph 23.3 mph / 37.5 kph 23.3 mph / 37.5 kph
kph
Estimated Distance 16.83 miles / 16.83 miles / 27.08 km 16.30 miles / 26.23 16.30 miles / 26.23
27.08km km km
 Assumptions by Passenger Rail Mode continued:
Mode Heavy Rail Diesel Heavy Rail Light Rail Light Rail
Push-Pull DMU DMU EMU
Assumptions
Passenger Cars per Train Peak-3 Peak-4 Peak-3 Peak-4
Off-Peak-3 Off-Peak-2 Off-Peak 2 Off-Peak-3
Aver. Seats per Car 134 94 135 64
Passenger Capacity per Train Peak-402 Peak-376 Peak-405 Peak-256
(seated) Off-Peak-402 Off-Peak-188 Off-Peak-270 Off-Peak-192
Passenger Capacity per Hour Peak-1608 Peak-1504 Peak-3240 Peak-2048
(both directions combined) Off-Peak-804 Off-Peak-376 Off-Peak-2160 Off-Peak-1536
Freight Service on SRY Local-nights. Local-nights. Local-nights. Local-nights.
Surrey Sub-Division Through-rerouted via Through- rerouted via Through-rerouted via Through-rerouted via
BNSF BNSF BNSF BNSF
Maintenance Shop Fraser Shops Fraser Shops Fraser Shops Fraser Shops

Overnight Layover Fraser Shops Fraser Shops Fraser Shops Fraser Shops
Location(s) East Langley East Langley West Langley West Langley
Accessibility System Ramps w/Ramp Wheelchair Lift Station Platform Station Platform
Plates Equipped Coaches Gangways Gangways
Summary of Technical and Constructability Issues:
„ Service reliability-northern & southern corridor segments
„ Construction on steep grades
„ BC Hydro pole line relocation
„ Passenger car safety standards (light and heavy rail)
„ Conflict between vehicle clearance and accessibility standards
„ LRT access to Langley City town center
„ Grade crossing warning system/highway traffic signal interface
„ Safety aspects of pedestrian and private crossings
„ Availability of competing sources for compliant rail vehicles
„ Utilities relocations and property acquisition-effects on cost/schedule
„ Environmental issues
„ Compatibility of signal systems with BC Hydro lines
„ Security issues
„ Track maintenance standards for light rail vehicles on heavy rail track
Summary of Technical and Constructability Issues:
„ Service reliability-northern & southern corridor segments
„ Construction on steep grades
„ BC Hydro pole line relocation
„ Passenger car safety standards (light and heavy rail)
„ Conflict between vehicle clearance and accessibility standards
„ LRT access to Langley City town center
„ Grade crossing warning system/highway traffic signal interface
„ Safety aspects of pedestrian and private crossings
„ Availability of competing sources for compliant rail vehicles
„ Utilities relocations and property acquisition-effects on cost/schedule
„ Environmental issues
„ Compatibility of signal systems with BC Hydro lines
„ Security issues
„ Track maintenance standards for light rail vehicles on heavy rail track
Summary of Technical and Constructability Issues:
„ Service reliability-northern & southern corridor segments
„ Construction on steep grades
„ BC Hydro pole line relocation
„ Passenger car safety standards (light and heavy rail)
„ Conflict between vehicle clearance and accessibility standards
„ LRT access to Langley City town center
„ Grade crossing warning system/highway traffic signal interface
„ Safety aspects of pedestrian and private crossings
„ Availability of competing sources for compliant rail vehicles
„ Utilities relocations and property acquisition-effects on cost/schedule
„ Environmental issues
„ Compatibility of signal systems with BC Hydro lines
„ Security issues
„ Track maintenance standards for light rail vehicles on heavy rail track
Summary of Technical and Constructability Issues:
„ Service reliability-northern & southern corridor segments
„ Construction on steep grades
„ BC Hydro pole line relocation
„ Passenger car safety standards (light and heavy rail)
„ Conflict between vehicle clearance and accessibility standards
„ LRT access to Langley City town center
„ Grade crossing warning system/highway traffic signal interface
„ Safety aspects of pedestrian and private crossings
„ Availability of competing sources for compliant rail vehicles
„ Utilities relocations and property acquisition-effects on cost/schedule
„ Environmental issues
„ Compatibility of signal systems with BC Hydro lines
„ Security issues
„ Track maintenance standards for light rail vehicles on heavy rail track
Potential Station Locations:
Summary of Technical and Constructability Issues:
„ Service reliability-northern & southern corridor segments
„ Construction on steep grades
„ BC Hydro pole line relocation
„ Passenger car safety standards (light and heavy rail)
„ Conflict between vehicle clearance and accessibility standards
„ LRT access to Langley City town center
„ Grade crossing warning system/highway traffic signal interface
„ Safety aspects of pedestrian and private crossings
„ Availability of competing sources for compliant rail vehicles
„ Utilities relocations and property acquisition-effects on cost/schedule
„ Environmental issues
„ Compatibility of signal systems with BC Hydro lines
„ Security issues
„ Track maintenance standards for light rail vehicles on heavy rail track
Summary of Technical and Constructability Issues:
„ Service reliability-northern & southern corridor segments
„ Construction on steep grades
„ BC Hydro pole line relocation
„ Passenger car safety standards (light and heavy rail)
„ Conflict between vehicle clearance and accessibility standards
„ LRT access to Langley City town center
„ Grade crossing warning system/highway traffic signal interface
„ Safety aspects of pedestrian and private crossings
„ Availability of competing sources for compliant rail vehicles
„ Utilities relocations and property acquisition-effects on cost/schedule
„ Environmental issues
„ Compatibility of signal systems with BC Hydro lines
„ Security issues
„ Track maintenance standards for light rail vehicles on heavy rail track
Summary of Technical and Constructability Issues:
„ Service reliability-northern & southern corridor segments
„ Construction on steep grades
„ BC Hydro pole line relocation
„ Passenger car safety standards (light and heavy rail)
„ Conflict between vehicle clearance and accessibility standards
„ LRT access to Langley City town center
„ Grade crossing warning system/highway traffic signal interface
„ Safety aspects of pedestrian and private crossings
„ Availability of competing sources for compliant rail vehicles
„ Utilities relocations and property acquisition-effects on cost/schedule
„ Environmental issues
„ Compatibility of signal systems with BC Hydro lines
„ Security issues
„ Track maintenance standards for light rail vehicles on heavy rail track
Summary of Technical and Constructability Issues:
„ Service reliability-northern & southern corridor segments
„ Construction on steep grades
„ BC Hydro pole line relocation
„ Passenger car safety standards (light and heavy rail)
„ Conflict between vehicle clearance and accessibility standards
„ LRT access to Langley City town center
„ Grade crossing warning system/highway traffic signal interface
„ Safety aspects of pedestrian and private crossings
„ Availability of competing sources for compliant rail vehicles
„ Utilities relocations and property acquisition-effects on cost/schedule
„ Environmental issues
„ Compatibility of signal systems with BC Hydro lines
„ Security issues
„ Track maintenance standards for light rail vehicles on heavy rail track
Summary of Technical and Constructability Issues:
„ Service reliability-northern & southern corridor segments
„ Construction on steep grades
„ BC Hydro pole line relocation
„ Passenger car safety standards (light and heavy rail)
„ Conflict between vehicle clearance and accessibility standards
„ LRT access to Langley City town center
„ Grade crossing warning system/highway traffic signal interface
„ Safety aspects of pedestrian and private crossings
„ Availability of competing sources for compliant rail vehicles
„ Utilities relocations and property acquisition-effects on cost/schedule
„ Environmental issues
„ Compatibility of signal systems with BC Hydro lines
„ Security issues
„ Track maintenance standards for light rail vehicles on heavy rail track
ROM Cost Estimates by Mode (000 Omitted):
Heavy Rail Heavy Rail Light Rail Light Rail
Push-Pull DMU DMU EMU
ROM Sub-Totals 279,510 279,950 455,700 536,290
Contingency (30%) 83,850 82,190 136,710 160,890
ROM Total 363,360 356,140 592,410 697,180
ROM Capital Cost/KM 13,420 13,150 22,590 26,580

The following categories were evaluated:

… Right of way … Passenger stations … Facilities
… Track … Utility relocations … Vehicles (Track & Hwy)
… Systems … Electrification … Equipment/Tools
… Grade crossings … Revenue equipment … Opns during construction
Factors Affecting the ROM Estimates:
„ Study Objective: Achieve initial cost estimate accuracy-avoid cost creep
„ Study Guideline: Cost creep not an acceptable use of Contingency Fund
„ ROM estimates only-no detailed engineering available-30% Contingency
„ Stakeholder input not yet received-many stakeholder groups (Section 1)
„ No contracts or agreements in place to support the proposal/concept
„ Based on Assumptions by Passenger Rail Mode
„ Corridor complexity-Technical and Constructability Issues
Factors Affecting the ROM Estimates continued:
„ Assumes tighter regulations and standards by the time of construction:
… Rail grade crossing/highway intersection design
… Rail grade crossing warning signal/highway traffic signal interface
… Private grade crossings
… Pedestrian grade crossings
… Light rail operations in heavy rail corridor
… Locomotive emissions standards
… Whistle-free zone requirements
… Right of way access, fencing and security
The Interurban Corridor:

SCOTT ROAD
SKYTRAIN STATION

LANGLEY

PRATT JCT.

SRY
BNSF
CPR
Questions & Answers