Maybe it is just for me again, but I seriously do think that the Skytrain fails too much. I understand that it is a mid-80’s design… NO IT ISN’T! From my 2 years of experience taking the SkyTrain to SFU, I notice that problems occur the most frequently between Columbia and up to Lougheed Town Centre, our magnificent “MILENNIUM” Line. Whereas Expo Line, the real mid-80~90 design fails the least often, or at least not between Columbia and King George.
The most common type of trouble for SkyTrain, from my experiences, seems to be caused by short circuits, with a frequency about every 3 months or so. As a result, part of the system is often subjected to numerous delays or suspension of service for hours. One time I even had to take a train that’s opposite from Surrey and switch to a bus to get into a expo line station.
What causes a newer system to fail more often than an older one? I am not an engineer so I don’t know. However, my friends have told me some rumours, saying that a mixture of technology might be its cause.
The SkyTrain was originally designed by Urban Transportation Development Corporation; a company that was later sold to Bombardier. According to him, there could have been a not-so successful technology transfer when the 2 merged. However, as an immigrant, I have no idea if it is true or not, but being a fan of mechanical works I have to say it is plausible. Far as I know, the MK-IIs are also produced by Bombardier, and needs to be put on a track that is not their original work. To me it is kind of similar to fitting Airbus avionics onto a Boeing aircraft…
But anyway, these are just some of our nonsense guesses. I hope TransLink could eventually improve and resolve these things, to make our rapid transportation system better.
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