Why the SkyTrain and DLR are So Unique

Vancouver and London had some of the world‘s first automated metro systems, and their success meant that they evolved to become unrecognizable over the years. But, what makes these networks so unique, and why don't we see more like them?

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Ever wondered why your city's transit just doesn't seem quite up to snuff? RMTransit is here to answer that, and help you open your eyes to all of the different public transportation systems around the world!

Reece (the RM in RMTransit) is an urbanist and public transport critic residing in Toronto, Canada, with the goal of helping the world become more connected through metros, trams, buses, high-speed trains, and all other transport modes.

[neolithictransitrevolution]

The DLR is a really strong example that if you build frequent transit, even with minimal useful connections, people will use it.

[andrewmackie]

What blew my mind about SkyTrain was when I first rode it during rush hour. I was going up the stairs just in time to see my train depart. My heart sank and I got ready to wait for the next train. Then I looked up the track, and saw another train zooming in, right on the heels of the one I missed. I couldn't believe it. Van's service is awesome, and I want it here in Ottawa.

[CharlieND]

So many cities in the USA that are currently lacking in rapid transit (San Antonio, Columbus, etc) could benefit from a system like the SkyTrain. Its versatility is very remarkable, having features of both a metro and a regional-scale train line like you said. The 90 second headways at peak times that can be seen on it is also extremely beneficial for a mass transit system. Also, I think a lot of people would prefer having something like the SkyTrain or DLR built as opposed to a surface LRT running in the median of a road.

[TheArmouredArmadillo]

The DLR is an incredible example of how something that was designed to be fairly low cost can turn into something magnificent and loved, as well as encouraging development of an area into the hugely important hub it is today. Especially considering when it was built, not much connected to it, no Jubilee line extension, no running to Stratford and no elizabeth Line, yet it was still used, and over time has just become better integrated to make it even more useful and important.

also, congrats on 200k subs

[chickenpommes]

Trivia about the DLR's original rolling stock: It's still running on the Stadtbahn system in Essen, Germany, including some street-running sections!

[GojiMet]

The DLR and SkyTrain being automated for about 35+ years should be enough to dispell the idea that automated metro trains are a new fangled thing that has had no testing or is unsafe.

[jakethadley]

Man I love the DLR, despite all its flaws! My GF lives off one of the stations, been riding it from Canary Wharf to see her. The trains are so dumpy and odd-looking, but the network is frequent and fast so it's more than adequate for what we need. Being able to nip right into Bank is amazing, especially with the easy changes between trains/lines.

[fallenshallrise]

As a rider the Skytrain experience is really good, it's on it's own right-of-way so it's faster than traffic, it's automated so you're not subject to the whims of drivers, and it's frequent so travel times are predictable within 3-5 minutes.

Compared to BART with it's super long, infrequent trains that fall behind schedule or sometimes don't come at all and run faster in daytime sunny weather and slow way down on the outdoor portions when it's dark and rainy.

I even like the detatched cars on the old trains with no walk-throughs. It means you can sit in peace while in motion and there are no people endlessly walking from one end of the train to the other looking for a better spot.

[loluna]

I'd love for you to make an explainer on the Tyne-and-Wear Metro - built 7 years BEFORE the DLR - its a system that doesn't get enough attention, despite being one of the few metro / light rail systems we have here in the UK!

[Croz]

I think part of the reason we haven't seen more of them is their requirement for complete grade separation compared to a light rail system. One of the things to get cut when transit planners are looking to save money are scrapping elevated and tunneled sections, instead running at street level with at grade crossings or in mixed traffic. And as soon as you do that, you're locked into driver operated light rail even if it's just a short section. Seattle is a good example, if it wasn't for the at grade sections in the city center you could easily have an automated SkyTrain or DLR style service.

[ConnerSkager]

The more I learn the more I wish Seattle would have built something like the sky train instead of link. It makes so much more sense for the city as we also have very difficult geography and a lack of legacy rail.

[neolithictransitrevolution]

I don't think the Sky Train is as niche as you imply. I think it really fits into any city where you have significant density but not packed in highrises. Areas like Scarborough (unirononically) or Mississauga, where you have high density developments and connections to higher level regional services, but exisiting urban layouts make Trams less valuable due to the lack of at grade ROW and the larger distance between locations due to sprawl which makes higher speed essential. Likewise, the sprawl means densities aren't high enough to support full subway projects where trains would opperate at low capacity.

Really I think most Urban, but not metropolitan, areas should use a combination of Skytrain for transit and Tramway to work as an extension of walking.

[AndrewSephiTV]

I lived one year in Vancouver, even though the city is not so transit-oriented especially if you live outside Vancouver (I lived in Burnaby on the division with Coquitlam), there was a Skytrain station where I used to live but, if I had an early morning flight from YVR for example I had to take a cab because the Skytrain only operates after 6-7am on weekends. Now that I live in Edmonton, I can see how much better Vancouver is. Edmonton feels like any north American town, with very limited transit, lots of cars and highways crossing the city. I didn't like Vancouver at the time because took me almost 2 hours to get to the University, but now in Edmonton, I live much closer to my current university but takes me 1 hour to get there because of how bad transit is here.

[plankton]

The thing I think is particularly attractive of these systems is offering ultra-low wait times even at off-peak times. That sort of high convenience, low cognitive demand transit is really important for getting people onto transit and building cities based around it.

I also like the way in which ultra-low wait times lend themselves to integration with bus networks. I think many people would be very unlikely to take a trip that was a bus, then a train and then a bus if the wait for the train is potentially 20 minutes. However, if that wait for a train is 3 minutes or less, a very impractical sounding journey becomes much less hassle.

[SpectreMk]

Sydney metros is Alstom, which got its first true experience in automatic train control with the SACEM system of RER A in Paris developed with the help of Matra/Siemens. Meanwhile, Matra/Siemens knowledge on automatic train control came from the VAL system which is the true precursor of many automated metros, with the notable standardization of platform screen-doors, which are missing on the Skytrain and the DLR. Now I know that some metros in Russia had platform screen-doors before VAL (and probably elsewhere), and that Morgantown PRT system also had a great deal of automation before VAL, but you must give credit for Matra/Siemens for coming up with an integrated system which is still state-of-art today despite its 40 years of existence. All the VAL systems built so far have incredible ridership especially considering they are based in relatively small cites (at least in Europe) and are all very reliable. That being said I don't want to sound too critical, your video are great and I'm a frequent viewer of your channel as well :)

[SoraTheKey]

I think it would be cool to hear a critique from you on Atlanta's MARTA network as well as suggestions on how to improve it.

[xaninator]

I saw the gondola in London and thought it would be really cool if you did a full video about the Burnaby Mountain gondola. You have mentioned it in other videos, but one dedicated to the history and planning of it would be interesting. It could be paired with another video once/if it is built.

[qolspony]

I agree with you on the light rail argument! The DRL should be the bases for future light rail. It is elevated and not street running, which means less delays. I love your commentary.

[muhammadhafiz_h]

Here in Malaysia we have a line that uses the same technology and trains like the SkyTrain (Kelana Jaya Line). It's the most used line in the country, but it also have had a lot of issues in recent years

[TPhype-Discovery]

The fact that DLR doesn't even cover much area and people still bombard it just goes to show how good of a transit it is.


By the way, what editing software do you use for your videos and Thumbnails?