REM vs Eglinton Crosstown

[August1991]

Apparently, this Ottawa rapid transit has been a disaster.

I live in Montreal. My mother, over 65, now rides the STM with a simple swipe - no cost to her.

I have a Bixi fob - about $100 per year. It works.

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I have not used the REM. I walked around the long queue on Saturday. Quebecers love new. 

[August1991]

All politics is local.

[August1991]

To understand better my thinking:

-while the workers/builders were building this infrastructure, they (the builders) produced nothing of use

-but everyone else had to feed these builders/workers

Edited August 1, 2023 by August1991

[August1991]

People in Quebec through forced savings paid for this building. (IOW, I had less food so someone else could eat while building this REM.)

The REM was paid from the RRQ - my savings. I frankly think this is a good way to organise a society for public infrastucture.

This is how the Americans organise their Social Security. It is pay as you go.

At issue, how best to build this REM.

 

[Guest]

People riding this, who have the money, should travel to Tokyo and Hong Kong.

You would be furious at learning public transit can work, be on time, and be efficient.

Here's to hoping this was a fluke issue. Montreal are known for a reliable metro service. 

 

[I am Groot]

9 hours ago, August1991 said:

People in Quebec through forced savings paid for this building.

Do tell.

So like, no money from the federal government at all, right?

[Guest]

12 hours ago, August1991 said:

Quebecers love new. 

Everyone loves new. Remember Target stores.

Its when they find out its new, and broken that they are quick to file out.

[herbie]

But Vancouver's had SkyTrain since 1986 and it never had these torubles, never broke down even once in almost 40 years. And there's never a problem catching a ferry to the Island either..... And I have a bridge to sell you....

 

[Guest]

16 hours ago, herbie said:

But Vancouver's had SkyTrain since 1986 and it never had these torubles

In a merit based society, this type of stuff wouldn't fly. 

Things would need to be planned, and best possible tools for the requirements would be provided.

Go to Tokyo, and questions asked are simple. 

What is most efficient way from point A to point B?

What are the most proven vehicles to get us there? 

I have seen so many projects in the west where it feels like they start building and figure things out as they go. Unveil, and revise as issues prop up.

"Lets make the handrails on the stairs steel".

Shouldn't they be galvanized or aluminum? 

No. Steel is cheaper. We can just paint them.

*two months later, handrails are rotted after a start of a winter*.

[herbie]

4 hours ago, Perspektiv said:

In a merit based society, this type of stuff wouldn't fly.

That's the problem, we're not. We're production based. Get it out to market fast as you can and hire armies of lawyers to contest any screw ups.

[August1991]

On 8/1/2023 at 4:07 PM, I am Groot said:

Do tell.

So like, no money from the federal government at all, right?

The federal government paid for the bridge - it was part of the US-Canada federal Seaway.

In fact, Harper made all this possible. And Charest. And Sabia.

It is extremely hard to get things done. Charest and Sabia did it.

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BTW, my mother took the REM today. For free! (She stayed in Zone A and she's over 65.)

It reminds me of the Moscow new Ring - or Bangkok's metro.

Edited August 3, 2023 by August1991

[August1991]

I paid $4.50 for the ride back to Montreal.

The view is remarkable. If you are a tourist to Montreal, do the ride. You are on the bridge but higher than any truck driver. You will see Montreal in a different way.

Noisy, but it works.

 

[August1991]

17 hours ago, Perspektiv said:

In a merit based society, this type of stuff wouldn't fly. 

Things would need to be planned, and best possible tools for the requirements would be provided.

Go to Tokyo, and questions asked are simple. 

What is most efficient way from point A to point B?

What are the most proven vehicles to get us there? 

I have seen so many projects in the west where it feels like they start building and figure things out as they go. Unveil, and revise as issues prop up.

...

I have been to Tokyo. I walked around.

To me, Tokyo is a city smartly organsed by very poor people.

Tokyo was built quickly. Moscow was built to last.

 =====

Europe is an architecture of wealth.

India is a method to live.

China? It is poverty.

[August1991]

No one goes to China to see its ancient wealth. Great Wall?

No one goes to India for its wealth - Taj Mahal?

Yet both societies still exist.

=====

People go to Europe to see stone buildings.

Europe is rich and eats with forks.

India is poor and eats with fingers.

The Chinese are very poor and eat with sticks.

 

 

[August1991]

13 hours ago, herbie said:

That's the problem, we're not. We're production based. Get it out to market fast as you can and hire armies of lawyers to contest any screw ups.

Agreed.

This REM will make many people live better. 

 

[August1991]

Sorry for my diatribe about China and India.

If you are a tourist to Montreal, I advise parking in Dix30. You will have a walk to the REM station, and then a wonderful view of the river, and the city. The REM leaves you at Place Ville Marie.   

Thank Harper, Charest, Sabia.

I could be wrong but I think Michael Fortier also made this possible.

[Guest]

47 minutes ago, August1991 said:

The Chinese are very poor and eat with sticks.

Hong Kong is a city for the elite in China. 

Ride their MTR, to see how efficiently public transit could operate. Especially trains.

Efficient, clean, quiet.

[August1991]

2 minutes ago, Perspektiv said:

Hong Kong is a city for the elite in China. 

Ride their MTR, to see how efficiently public transit could operate. Especially trains.

Efficient, clean, quiet.

Hong Kong is a few million in a country of over a billion.

Europe, even after numerous civil wars, has many stone buildings and works of art.

Tourists go to America for Disneyland. They go to Europe for the Coliseum.

=====

Anyway, the REM works. When I took it, kids were in front looking in awe while their parents stood beside. It was like Expo 67.

True, the escalators don't work. There are ridiculous signs about YUL. And it is bare bones, Lutheran, Scandinavian. But it works - so far.  

[August1991]

I took the REM again.

Once again, in front, kids and parents. Like Expo 67!

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The view to Gare Centrale is weird - a different view of the city.

(The Bernard Landry station will never exist.)

[August1991]

How all this happened/worked?

I reckon Couillard deserves some credit too.

=========

Resolving the past? The future is a far better place. 

[August1991]

This REM is only a few (five) stations. Along a federal bridge -built, designed for the tram.

The tram followed a federal right-of-way. Nothing underground,

They tested the system -without people- for several months 

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As a say, we should thank Harper for this. 

[August1991]

With all that said, the MonoRail in Expo 67 also had no driver - no person in front.

The REM has no one in front, no driver,

And the doors are like in Bangkok. They prevent people from suicide 

[August1991]

I'm no transport engineer but I suspect that for urban places, it is better to start with a few stations, short distance, A system where trains can stop, return. Double tracks. Circles are better.

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As to Quebec, Manitoba - Canada, I am surprised that we still have diesel railways.

Our hydro-electricity is so cheap. We waste it to heat our homes. We should use it to move our people and things.  

 

Edited August 6, 2023 by August1991

[August1991]

Harper, Fortier, Charest and Sabia figured out a way to make the world a better place. 

Well-intentioned Guilbault and Trudeau Jnr encourage others to cause problems - make the world worse.

Guys, work together.

[August1991]

From what I understand, Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown has been blocked at the Yonge Station.

In Montreal, the REM was blocked in the tunnel under the mountain - and then to YUL.

At present, the REM works for a few stations - and people can test it.

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Progressives/liberals/leftists now use the word "transition".

I prefer the term "conservative" - IOW, let's see. And they call me "far-right".  

Edited August 6, 2023 by August1991