Go behind the scenes to SkyTrain's Control Centre and discover who really drives the SkyTrain cars. For more videos about Metro Vancouver: www.metrovancou...
The control system used is called SELTrac, originally developed during the late 1970s in Germany actually based on an older rail signalling technology called LZB. Alcatel Canada continued development of the technology, and then the rights were passed onto Thales who owns the rights for the system today. SkyTrain, Docklands Light Railway, and the Dubai Metro are all examples of other light rail systems using the same technology. SELTrac is still one of the most widely used Communications-Based Train Control systems on the market today.
Theres actually a computer room that has 3 Computer systems that control the trains. Each of them is called a VCC, one for each expo and millenium line and another for the yard rails. Theres also another system called the SMC that does the scheduling. The data gets to the train through 2 slippery coax cables which u can see on track that crosses every 20 meters and the VCC allows the train to go if clear. software is proprietary Alcatel boots from 1.44MB disketts and clustered IBM PC server.
I am from California, and we have trains with drivers in the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) system in the San Francisco Bay Area. It seems like every other year or so the drivers go on strike, shutting down the entire system for a week or more. These driverless trains look pretty good to me.
@trwent Something similar almost happened recently in the form of various unions considering a strike. Thankfully the worst of which didn’t occur, a strike at such a level would be chaotic for a transit reliant region.
you are right! the current comes form the wires and into the induction strip (metal plate in center of track) and the current moves the motors and the skytrain!
in the video it says the electricity is from the 2 wire on the side. How does the trian get the electricity? Does the wires somehow connect to the metal thing in the middle of the track
The old trains are going to be refurbished and kept in service till around 2040. Trains cost a lot of money and the Mark Is are classic so I hope they don't have to get rid of them anytime soon.
LOL The funny thing is BOTH Vancouvers were actually founded by the same person and both cities decided to name themselves after their founder. He Cpt George Vancouver in the middle 1800's. This is Vancouver British Columbia though. You know, home of the worlds warmest winter Olympics next week :P
So how does the computers on board communicate with the control centre? Wireless transmission? Also, I assume when to close the door of the train is operated by human, not computer right?
loganlyk everything is computer controlled including door closing. Most train stoppages have been caused by people impeding the doors. Holding the doors, trying squeeze on past the ding. After 6 tries it will hold until reset by skytrain control. Many people cursing the idiots. The System works very well and is quite reliable despite the age of the original cars. The linear induction mortar technology has no doubt helped this(pulls via centre rail as opposed to motors on the wheels), although the Canada line is somewhat limited by its more tradition motor on wheel tech, and its smaller stations offset somewhat by wide trains.
but thats always happening. Im sure in another 30 years san francisco will have some new system that makes vancouver's system look outdated. And then some other city's new system will make san fransisco look outdated. Its just an endless cycle.
Only in Vancouver, do they really push this 30 year old technology. Notice in other parts of the world, they have moved from this to other, newer and better forms of mass people movement. I wonder if Doug or his other counterparts actually use any of the TransLink services?
