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With the local/express operating pattern, the average resident is within 45 minutes of 2700 more jobs People benefit if they live near an all-stop station or a more-distant local-only station Trips are longer for people living near local-only stops like Nanaimo, 29th Ave, Edmonds, Renfrew, Holdom

A map showing the change in number of jobs within 45 minutes for a local/express stopping pattern vs the existing local-only stopping pattern on SkyTrain

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Keikyu runs a still more complex pattern on its airport branch, with trains that run from Haneda direct to Kamata and on to Shinagawa and trains that run all stop to Kamata then reverse to Kawasaki and trains on other patterns This is alongside the various stopping patterns on the Keikyu Main Line

A sign on a column at Haneda airport showing that trains go to Shinagawa and Yokohama and an Express train at the platform that reverses at Kamata to go through Yokohama to Zushi

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

With the increasing length of the Expo Line, people often bring up the idea of making the SkyTrain faster by adding skip stop or local/express service patterns In short, local & express services should be possible with additional platforms at 4 stations This thread explores one way to do that

A map depicting Vancouver's SkyTrain network showing all lines with some form of local & express stopping pattern, also showing connecting RapidBus, planned RapidBus, B-Line, SeaBus, and SFU Gondola

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Reposted by Mike F

Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

22nd Street and Scott Road could be removed from the express to speed it up a bit In that case, the express would also pass the local again at Surrey Central (or the local would turn around) This saves about 5 minutes from today's all stop trip time

A string diagram showing an express and local service on the Expo Line with passing stations at Metrotown and Surrey Central and with all stop stations at Joyce and Columbia

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

The Expo Line could run 4-minute headways on both a local and express with just a second set of platforms at Metrotown All stops west from Commercial, express only at Joyce, Metrotown, 22nd, Columbia, Scott Road, and Surrey (Let's assume there's a separate Millennium Line platform at Columbia)

A string diagram showing local and express services on the Expo Line between Commercial and Surrey, with a passing station at Metrotown

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

To run 6-minute headways on both a local and express, the Millennium Line would only need a second set of platforms at Brentwood Trains would have even headways entering and leaving at both ends All stops west from Mount Pleasant, express only at Commercial, Brentwood, and Lougheed, then all stops

A string diagram showing that expresses would pass locals at Brentwood and have even headways at Mount Pleasant and Lougheed

Of course, all this would break down at any other headway

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Clearing for the new path connecting the bridge and paths below

Fencing around cleared trees and bushes with towers in the background

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Mark V trains are generally much better but they somehow kept the unintelligible announcements from SkyTrain control

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The park's unusually busy tonight I didn't see any events, and even the interior trails had bikers and runners

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Have we considered adding platforms at Brentwood so that most Millennium Line trains can run express through the wilds of Burnaby?

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

House foundations with details on the plan

Foundations under construction with a sign stating the use, height, timeline, etc.

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Saturday morning in Jiyugaoka

A train crosses a small street at grade in a city

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

It's a good day for a bike ride

The bike path along the Tonegawa looking at Kawasaki in the distance with playing fields at left and buildings at right

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

A Tokyo arterial from a pedestrian bridge The priorities and design choices make little sense to me

A wide arterial with few cars and a bike lane that ends

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

A multipurpose watering hole, this place turns into Oktoberfest

Setting up for a festival with little shops in a modern plaza

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

A touristy cross-platform and same-platform transfer

A train station platform with trains at left and right and a shop in the middle

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Proof that platform screen doors can be retrofitted in anywhere

People entering a cable car on a sloped station through a platform screen door with bars that lift up

Platform screen doors with bars in the down position blocking entrance

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Expo Line trains take about 40 minutes between Waterfront and King George The model predicts 32 minutes, and I don't think I believe it Default settings except max speed 80 km/h and dwell 15 seconds Reducing resampling interval and min curve arc length (to 1 and 5 m) brings it up to 36 minutes

Map of Expo LIne speed with default settings except max 80 km/h

Map of Expo Line speed with reduced resampling interval and minimum curve arc length

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Keisei train on the Keikyu line

A train at a platform with edge gates and a diagram of services on a pillar

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Keikyu normal (all-stop) trains take about 40 minutes over the same route (plus up to maybe 12 minutes waiting for rapid trains to pass) The script estimates 44 minutes (33 minutes with a more typical 30 second dwell) Default settings except max 120 km/h

A map of the Keikyuu line showing all stops between Shinagawa and Yokohama against a background of other train lines

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

The patios are decently full despite the quality It's relaxed and almost pleasant

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

When did Google Maps starting using colours for commuter lines around Tokyo? I feel like this started pretty recently (and I can see a bunch are still missing, like the Keikyu mainline) The JR lines aren't clear either in that e.g. the Shonan-Shinjuku line doesn't have a colour

Google Maps view of metro and commuter lines around Tokyo

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Mike F @mikefeaver.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

In cab view videos, the Keikyu rapid service from Shinagawa to Yokohama takes about 18 minutes (less with stops cut out) The script estimates 15 minutes, but in practice the train slows often because of conflicts with local trains and trains branching to Haneda Default settings except max 120 km/h