SkyTrain Station Renovations

[vanman]

Broadway-Commercial reno from curbed:
http://m.vancouver.curbed.com/archives/2013/12/04/commercialbroadway-station-getting-50m-facelife.php

[Genauso]

http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac11/genauso/IMG_20131204_113214_zps32e6d0ce.jpg (http://s881.photobucket.com/user/genauso/media/IMG_20131204_113214_zps32e6d0ce.jpg.html)

source: self

[casper]

Broadway-Commercial reno from curbed:
http://m.vancouver.curbed.com/archives/2013/12/04/commercialbroadway-station-getting-50m-facelife.php

Looking at the side cutaway rendering for the Grandview-cut it almost looks like there is a basement level under the current platform that is inline with the BNSF/CN railline. Could that be a future platform or is that fill?

[MIPS]

Looking at the side cutaway rendering for the Grandview-cut it almost looks like there is a basement level under the current platform that is inline with the BNSF/CN railline. Could that be a future platform or is that fill?

There's offices and a rectifier station under the platform. They are usually accessed using the elevator and a key.

[WBC]

Here they are embedded for convenience:

http://www.fastepp.com/media/djmediatools/cache/750x500-crop-90-images_slideshows_metrotownskytrainrenovations_1s_metrotownstationrenderings_creditvia.jpg



The more look at this the less I like it...

1) We continue to isolate the station from the rest of Metrotown instead of integrating it with the neighborhood. If the buses go to the south side of the line that will be very ugly and noisy for the new neighborhood being formed along the Beresford street (sort of like concrete desolation north of Joice station, but much longer and bigger). All those parked buses will be cutting the station away from the south. On the north side they will be marginalizing the pedestrian overpass by making people go up and down the stairs with what looks like no weather protection (yes I know, we like to pretend we live in California). I would like to see more and better integration with the mall to the north (doubling of overpasses) and smoother integration with the south.

2) That station is incredibly valuable piece of real estate. Instead of making it stand out like sore thumb in the void between the mall and the south side of Metrotown, why not sell/lease air space above the track and let somebody build a commercial building on the top of it and then integrate the building with the mall? Sort of like what has been done in New West and sort of what happens everywhere else in the world (Japan, Hong Kong, etc). They could do the same with almost every station on the old Expo line...

3) The way I understand this, some buses (trolleys) will still be using Metrotown mall station. So now we will have a split bus station for years if not decades to come? How is that an improvement?

4) Why are all our sky train stations extremely poorly integrated with their surrounding? Typically in Tokyo every station has at the minimum 6-8 exits that allow you to connect to various points in the neighborhood sometimes hundreds of meters away. Instead we love to build these glass elephants that sit in the middle of nothing, offer no weather protection, and at best marginal retail integration. I know we are much smaller city than Tokyo or Hong Kong, but still...How about integrating Burrard station with east side of Burrard street, Metrotown with Station Square, Stadium station with guess what - Rogers arena to start with...

[MIPS]

I don't know if it's the city, TransLink or the provincial suits who are paranoid about building under, over or around the station. Just look at the VanCity building. Not one part of the station touches the building and no attempt was made to integrate it into the lobby. So far only New West has actually integrated their stations with anything.

[Meraki]

4) Why are all our sky train stations extremely poorly integrated with their surrounding? Typically in Tokyo every station has at the minimum 6-8 exits that allow you to connect to various points in the neighborhood sometimes hundreds of meters away. Instead we love to build these glass elephants that sit in the middle of nothing, offer no weather protection, and at best marginal retail integration. I know we are much smaller city than Tokyo or Hong Kong, but still...How about integrating Burrard station with east side of Burrard street, Metrotown with Station Square, Stadium station with guess what - Rogers arena to start with...

For a large part of the Expo line the SkyTrain came first, the development second. It was whoever developed property around it that didn't integrate.

The Expo line was a bunch of stations surrounded by emptiness. Metrotown station was nothing but a bus loop when the station was built. Rogers Arena (then GM place) wasn't built until 1995, 10 years after Stadium station. Burrard Station does have entrances into the Bentall centre it's next to so I'm not sure what you mean about that.

Integration was made where there were buildings at the time, such as Waterfront, Burrard and Granville.

http://i.imgur.com/F2rn1eM.jpg

[rsxstock]

i agree and i think integration should be part of the renovation plans. it also makes sense to have lots of covered area with all the rain here

[trofirhen]

For a large part of the Expo line the SkyTrain came first, the development second. It was whoever developed property around it that didn't integrate.

The Expo line was a bunch of stations surrounded by emptiness. Metrotown station was nothing but a bus loop when the station was built. Rogers Arena (then GM place) wasn't built until 1995, 10 years after Stadium station. Burrard Station does have entrances into the Bentall centre it's next to so I'm not sure what you mean about that.

Integration was made where there were buildings at the time, such as Waterfront, Burrard and Granville.

http://i.imgur.com/F2rn1eM.jpg

I didn't know Skytrain had a stop in Frostbite Falls. Where precisely is that, anyway? When was it taken?

[WBC]

For a large part of the Expo line the SkyTrain came first, the development second. It was whoever developed property around it that didn't integrate.

The Expo line was a bunch of stations surrounded by emptiness. Metrotown station was nothing but a bus loop when the station was built. Rogers Arena (then GM place) wasn't built until 1995, 10 years after Stadium station. Burrard Station does have entrances into the Bentall centre it's next to so I'm not sure what you mean about that.

Integration was made where there were buildings at the time, such as Waterfront, Burrard and Granville.

http://i.imgur.com/F2rn1eM.jpg

I understand that SkyTrain came first in may areas, but it has been almost 30 years. In the case of Metrotown, it appears that we are in fact removing existing integration rather then enhancing at.

As for Burrard, I am referring to the fact that Burrard station does not have underground access from the east side of Burrard street where a number of large office buildings reside. In fact, 666 Burrard building has an underground retail in its base (two levels, if I am not mistaken), but no connection to the station. I think there is some sort of plan to build this connection, but when?

[dpogue]

I didn't know Skytrain had a stop in Frostbite Falls. Where precisely is that, anyway? When was it taken?

That's Metrotown Station, circa 1986. (source (http://twitpic.com/wo63g))

[Phalonx]

I didn't know Skytrain had a stop in Frostbite Falls. Where precisely is that, anyway? When was it taken?

That is Metrotown station, in 1986 :P

Edit: Derp ninja'd... Never mind...

[trofirhen]

That's Metrotown Station, circa 1986. (source (http://twitpic.com/wo63g))

That is Metrotown station, in 1986 :P

Edit: Derp ninja'd... Never mind...

Like, uh, wheeeew ...:stunned:

[rxp]

I agree with the integration... it is common in London, paris etc as well.

One example is Canary Wharf Station in London... it is in the heart of the banking capital and, yet it has direct links to several adjoining buildings... heck even Westminster Station has a direct link to the UK Parl...

Only thing we have is Waterfront... It is linked with Sinclair centre, Waterfront centre and Canada Place... more can be done with this, esp with Evergreen Line and Canada line...

[MIPS]

As for Burrard, I am referring to the fact that Burrard station does not have underground access from the east side of Burrard street where a number of large office buildings reside. In fact, 666 Burrard building has an underground retail in its base (two levels, if I am not mistaken), but no connection to the station. I think there is some sort of plan to build this connection, but when?

In the initial planning stage a path under the road was proposed to Park Place but was never dug.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l91agsaQdq1qc7pjjo1_500.jpg (http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/illustratedvancouver/1554008941/1/tumblr_l91agsaQdq1qc7pjj)
Image courtesy of Illustrated Vancouver (http://illustratedvancouver.ca/post/1554008941/skytrain-cutaway-of-burrard-station-by-ronald-j)

On the other hand, Stadium DOES have a path under Beatty Street. The proposal was for the west entrance to be incorporated into the lobby of a new building however that never happened so they filled and covered over the entrance with sand and expanded the Lost and Found into the tunnel.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/SkyTrain/IMG_6724.jpg
Image courtesy of MIPS
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/SkyTrain/Beattystwest-1.jpg
Image courtesy of MIPS

[deasine]

I didn't know about Stadium; thanks for that!

[hollywoodnorth]

I didn't know about Stadium; thanks for that!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadium%E2%80%93Chinatown_Station

The station was originally constructed with a passageway under Beatty Street to the west in anticipation of future development. When the Amec Building built across Beatty Street did not link to the underground passage, the passage was closed and is currently occupied by the Lost Property Office. The staircase on the west side of Beatty was filled with sand and topped with a concrete sidewalk, so that the passage could be reopened in the future.

Until 1988, the Expo Boulevard/Abbott Street entrance was originally just an open-stair emergency exit. However, with the closing of the entrance tunnel under Beatty Street as well as poor accessibility to Stadium Station from False Creek, the emergency exit was redesigned and enclosed, opening up in 1989 as the second point of entrance/exit point to and from the station.

[officedweller]

Pic by me of Main Steet Station Sunday
(looks like they installed some panelling since Genauso's pic the day before):

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/5976/0u5v.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/809/0u5v.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

With 4-car MKI train;

http://imageshack.us/a/img707/8238/frn4.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/frn4.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[officedweller]

BIV article relevant to the integration discussion:

http://www.biv.com/article/20131209/BIV0118/312109896/translink-seeks-innovative-ways-to-generate-non-fare-revenue

[Prometheus]

Thanks for the update.

[officedweller]

Article on the bus loop removal at Metrotown.
City wants buses on north side of Central Blvd (and is pissed off TransLink isn't defering to the City).
TransLink user committee wants them on south side on Beresford for easier access.

Proposed Metrotown bus move spurs debate

Stefania Seccia / Burnaby Now
December 5, 2013 12:03 PM

...

TransLink has proposed two options so far: one would have buses located across the street from the station, along the north side of Central Boulevard; the second option involves buses going to the south side of Central Boulevard, between the station and Beresford Street.

...

However, according to the TransLink access transit users' advisory committee the south side location at Beresford Street is the right option.

...

The committee is not alone in supporting the buses moving to Beresford Street.

Graeme Silvera, vice-president of retail development for the Western Region for Ivanhoe Cambridge, says he's been working with TransLink consistently over the last three months and would like to see the buses move to the south side location of Beresford, as well.

"Ultimately, in the future we'd like a solution to also route trolley buses away from that area," Silvera told the NOW. "Ultimately, that would be the preference for Ivanhoe Cambridge. It would be a future site of Metrotower IV one day."

...

At the Dec. 2 meeting, Coun. Colleen Jordan brought up a letter to council from VIA Architecture, which is redesigning the Metrotown SkyTrain station. It had leaked two designs of the station that were not yet ready for the public.

Alan Hart, of VIA, wrote the apologetic letter about releasing the images of the two options on its website, which have since been taken down.

"We deeply regret that VIA's enthusiasm for assisting Burnaby and TransLink to create the long-term benefit of resolving an integrated transit exchange has inadvertently triggered this counterproductive controversy," Hart states in the letter.

...

Mayor Derek Corrigan questioned the merit of the consultation process over the SkyTrain redevelopment TransLink promised, and called it frustrating.

"I think they got a pretty clear view from council that, in fact, one of the options they were proposing didn't fit well with our plans for Beresford Street and we sent them back with instructions to look at other options and ... for some reason it pops out on a website from the architecture company and gets given to an advisory group ... so they can make a decision," he said. "I'm not going to infer bad motives but I'll let others draw their own conclusions."

TransLink spokesperson Jiana Ling said it's regular protocol to show its advisory group all materials, including preliminary renderings of the different options proposed for the SkyTrain redevelopment.
...

http://www.burnabynow.com/proposed-metrotown-bus-move-spurs-debate-1.724839

[AMTDGT]

Pic by me of Main Steet Station Sunday
(looks like they installed some panelling since Genauso's pic the day before):

With 4-car MKI train;

http://imageshack.us/a/img707/8238/frn4.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/frn4.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

I know the answer is somewhere in the these 50 some odd pages but..

We regularly use the Canada Line but today I used the expo for a short trip. It was a 4 car MKII train to the station under the Bay. It got me thinking.
I see from driving around that at least Main and Broadway stations, probably Metro town are being expanded. I believe with the E line they will begin running 6 car MK II trains on the E line or at least 2 pairs of 3 car sets. Clearly a 6 car MK II train will not work at waterfront, unless they extend the station or maybe close the doors of the front & back car.
Are they going to extend all the stations on the E line, including the one under the Bay....and if so whats the schedule

thx

[red-paladin]

Metrotower IV <^_^>

[Meraki]

I know the answer is somewhere in the these 50 some odd pages but..

We regularly use the Canada Line but today I used the expo for a short trip. It was a 4 car MKII train to the station under the Bay. It got me thinking.
I see from driving around that at least Main and Broadway stations, probably Metro town are being expanded. I believe with the E line they will begin running 6 car MK II trains on the E line or at least 2 pairs of 3 car sets. Clearly a 6 car MK II train will not work at waterfront, unless they extend the station or maybe close the doors of the front & back car.
Are they going to extend all the stations on the E line, including the one under the Bay....and if so whats the schedule

thx

The most that can be reasonably supported is a 5 car Mk II train. It would consist of a normal Mk II pair we have today, plus a new 3 car A-B-A trainset. It was determined 6 car Mk II would cost an exorbitant amount of money to retrofit.

[Mac Write]

Too bad they couldn't go A-C-C-C-C-B or A-C-C-C-B or A-C-C-B wouldn't that be the best solution and more economical to retrofit?

[WarrenC12]

I see a lot of 6 car MKI trains on the Expo Line... this is the first I'm hearing that they don't fit at waterfront.

[jlousa]

6 car MKI certainly fit at Waterfront. I've seen them there multiple times. I have noticed the system using them less lately though and going back to the 4 car MKI trainsets. Also haven't seen a 2car Mk2 trainset in a while now that I think about it.

[DKaz]

He mentioned a 6-car MKII won't fit at Waterfront, or anywhere for that matter. Most stations have an 80m platform currently, Gateway has a 90m platform. Everything can be extended, but until we've lengthened all MKIs to 6-car trains and then lengthened all MKII sets to 5-cars, I don't believe we have to go there yet.

At Main St., there will be an escalator butted against the outbound guideway in the east station house so that's unusable platform right there, they would have to expand the outbound platform under Vancity.

[Xrayal]

At Main St., there will be an escalator butted against the outbound guideway in the east station house so that's unusable platform right there.
True. But they are increasing the length of the platform. I'm not sure by how much, it just say: "New extended platform at east-side of station".Link to Translink document (www.translink.ca/~/media/Documents/plans_and_projects/station_exchange_improvements/main_street_station_upgrades/FAQ_Main%20StreetScience%20World%20Station%20Upgrades.ashx)

Anyone know what Main st. platform will be after the upgrades?

[red-paladin]

There would be room on the Van City side, if eventually needed.

[xd_1771]

Too bad they couldn't go A-C-C-C-C-B or A-C-C-C-B or A-C-C-B wouldn't that be the best solution and more economical to retrofit?

We're getting A-C-C-B in 2016 with the new Innovia Metro 300 stock ordered to supplement Evergreen Line requirements. I would think that A-C-C-C-B will be possible for our future train configs.

[Mac Write]

But we have 108 Mark II A-B cars. We should have ordered 108 Mark II sets to replace the 114 Mark I trains. Was the figure for replacement Mark II's A-B-A-B or C-C cars?

[officedweller]

They're renovating the MKIs to save money.
The only trains with "C" cars will be new trains to allow for Evergreen Line growth
(but the new trains may not be assigned to Evergreen Line).

[Mac Write]

What's the status of the "Second order of 28-cars"? to be delivered in 2018?

[Meraki]

The incoming INNOVIA metro trains are A-C-C-B.

As far as anything's been shared, if we decide to move to the extended trains we'd have three Mk II/Mk III variants.

A-B-A-B (Current 2x 2 car Mk II layout)
A-C-C-B (Incoming 4 car INNOVIA metro Mk III trains)
A-C-B-A-B (One Mk II pair coupled with a new 3 car Mk III set)

[ryanmaccdn]

True. But they are increasing the length of the platform. I'm not sure by how much, it just say: "New extended platform at east-side of station".Link to Translink document (www.translink.ca/~/media/Documents/plans_and_projects/station_exchange_improvements/main_street_station_upgrades/FAQ_Main%20StreetScience%20World%20Station%20Upgrades.ashx)

Anyone know what Main st. platform will be after the upgrades?


The extended platform is to connect to the new stairs and escalator ....not per say extra room for more trains.

it's easier for marketing purposes to say " Extended Platform" when really then mean " We are extending the platform walkway to the new stairs ,ect.


There is no current standard for extending platforms.

[easy as pie]

They're renovating the MKIs to save money.
The only trains with "C" cars will be new trains to allow for Evergreen Line growth
(but the new trains may not be assigned to Evergreen Line).

i really like the idea that multiple generations of cars will run on the system, it's a small delight but a tangible one, switching up the cars in which you ride.

[MIPS]

That just shows the technology is so well refined that it did not require any standard-breaking changes between generations. UTDC really worked hard to knit out ANY problems. The misfortune of the SRT could be swept under the rug but if their technology failed at a worlds fair and on their biggest contract, they would be screwed.

[ssiguy]

The incoming INNOVIA metro trains are A-C-C-B.

As far as anything's been shared, if we decide to move to the extended trains we'd have three Mk II/Mk III variants.

A-B-A-B (Current 2x 2 car Mk II layout)
A-C-C-B (Incoming 4 car INNOVIA metro Mk III trains)
A-C-B-A-B (One Mk II pair coupled with a new 3 car Mk III set)

Sorry but I don't exactly follow.
Any pics, I don't understand exactly how that would work?

[Meraki]

Sorry but I don't exactly follow.
Any pics, I don't understand exactly how that would work?

Here you go, I quickly whipped this up.

The three configurations I mentioned above, in order.

http://i.imgur.com/CHHwaEx.png

[red-paladin]

How long a platform is required for 5 car Mk IIs? will 80m suffice? (suppose it doesn't matter if the ends of the trains are slightly beyond the ends of the platforms as long as all the doors fit and there is enough room.)

[TransitFreak]

Current 80m would suffice. Ends would hang out leaving doors on platform. Current 4 car set up is 68m I believe, so total 5 car set up is estimated to be 85m. What I'm interested in seeing is how they phase in new trains with regards to where they assign the rolling stock, and what the length of the Innovia sets will be. You would think they would extend the length of the Innovia cars to 20m each, and the 4 car set will maximize the current 80m platform.

With the Evergreen line, it's 19 mins VCC-Clark to Lougheed, probably take another 15 mins to cover the 11km extension, so call it 34 mins - round it to 36 mins. 3 mins headways, 2-car MKII's initial set up, need 24 pairs/48 cars to run the line. Initial requirement was 28 cars, so steal that from the current line, plus another 20, which would have been assigned to the current millenium line anyways. So that's 48 Mk II's (there was 60 on the Millenium order). That means either all the 2.5's are now assigned to the Evergreen line in theory, or most of the 2.0's.

When it comes time to ramp up the trainsets on the Evergreen line, you steal another 24 pairs (or 48-cars), and replace with the option order of another 28 cars of the Innovia's. So at full capacity, we'll see the 2.0 and 2.5's used to service the Evergreen Line, and the new Innovias to service the Expo line.

That's my thoughts of how they'll phase in the new cars coming in...would be cool to see if they can optimally hold the rolling stock to those lines, more for consistency than anything. You know a 2.0 or 2.5 is Evergreen, and 1.0 and Innovia's are Expo...

[aberdeen5698]

The three configurations I mentioned above, in order.
http://i.imgur.com/CHHwaEx.pngIt looks like you have a Mark I car in the middle of your 3 + 2 set...

[Meraki]

It looks like you have a Mark I car in the middle of your 3 + 2 set...

It's a shortened MK II car. I'm not sure how long the 3rd car insert will be and it wasn't meant to be an exact model.

[officedweller]

Here you go, I quickly whipped this up.

The three configurations I mentioned above, in order.

http://i.imgur.com/CHHwaEx.png

Sweet diagram. Nicely done.

Current 80m would suffice. Ends would hang out leaving doors on platform. Current 4 car set up is 68m I believe, so total 5 car set up is estimated to be 85m. What I'm interested in seeing is how they phase in new trains with regards to where they assign the rolling stock, and what the length of the Innovia sets will be. You would think they would extend the length of the Innovia cars to 20m each, and the 4 car set will maximize the current 80m platform.


Longer cars would probably mess-up turning radius and clearance from opposing trains around curves.

[nname]

With the Evergreen line, it's 19 mins VCC-Clark to Lougheed, probably take another 15 mins to cover the 11km extension, so call it 34 mins - round it to 36 mins. 3 mins headways, 2-car MKII's initial set up, need 24 pairs/48 cars to run the line. Initial requirement was 28 cars, so steal that from the current line, plus another 20, which would have been assigned to the current millenium line anyways. So that's 48 Mk II's (there was 60 on the Millenium order). That means either all the 2.5's are now assigned to the Evergreen line in theory, or most of the 2.0's.

When it comes time to ramp up the trainsets on the Evergreen line, you steal another 24 pairs (or 48-cars), and replace with the option order of another 28 cars of the Innovia's. So at full capacity, we'll see the 2.0 and 2.5's used to service the Evergreen Line, and the new Innovias to service the Expo line.

That's my thoughts of how they'll phase in the new cars coming in...would be cool to see if they can optimally hold the rolling stock to those lines, more for consistency than anything. You know a 2.0 or 2.5 is Evergreen, and 1.0 and Innovia's are Expo...

You forgot the dwell time at VCC-Clark, Lougheed, and Lafarge Lake. From the Expo Upgrade and RTM documents, the run, recovery, and turn back time for Evergreen is 39min, so it is expected to have 26 trains running. With 8% spare, that gives a requirement of 56 cars.

This is what is expected if the current 2:1 assignment between Expo and Millennium is unchanged:

Expo: 32 trains
Millennium: 14 trains (down from 23)
Evergreen: 26 trains

[Mac Write]

If it's a 2:1 ratio for Millennium line, could they single track from Braid Pocket track to Lougheed? What would be the travel time?

[city-dweller]

Main Street Station Upgrade
photos taken yesterday

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3701/12000026404_6cf3ab3e1e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60969551@N05/12000026404/)
Main ST Station renovation 20140116 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60969551@N05/12000026404/) by city-dweller Vancouver (http://www.flickr.com/people/60969551@N05/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/11999965163_301359b1bc_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60969551@N05/11999965163/)
Main ST Station upgrade 5 20140116 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60969551@N05/11999965163/) by city-dweller Vancouver (http://www.flickr.com/people/60969551@N05/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/12000023414_2a9cfd5e90_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60969551@N05/12000023414/)
Main ST Station upgrade 4 20140116 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60969551@N05/12000023414/) by city-dweller Vancouver (http://www.flickr.com/people/60969551@N05/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2859/11999964373_cfb2203cee_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60969551@N05/11999964373/)
Main ST Station upgrade 3 20140116 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60969551@N05/11999964373/) by city-dweller Vancouver (http://www.flickr.com/people/60969551@N05/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7340/12000476586_49fdf10d21_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60969551@N05/12000476586/)
Main ST Station upgrade 2 20140116 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60969551@N05/12000476586/) by city-dweller Vancouver (http://www.flickr.com/people/60969551@N05/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/12000021684_44c64266f3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60969551@N05/12000021684/)
Main ST Station upgrade 20140116 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60969551@N05/12000021684/) by city-dweller Vancouver (http://www.flickr.com/people/60969551@N05/), on Flickr

[Prometheus]

Thanks for all the awesome updates, city-dweller.

[city-dweller]

Sunny day + cabin fever = photos.

I think they are actually ahead of schedule or maybe just on time. The escalator racks? were inside being assembled. One was done but I couldn't get a good photo. I could also see the rough-in for the wiring was done.

[Pinion]

Main street looked pretty spiffy at sunset tonight. I hadn't seen it since it got so close to completion

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5523/12244383606_bcab4a91c2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/byjohann/12244383606/)
Main street skytrain renovation (http://www.flickr.com/photos/byjohann/12244383606/) by chrisjohann (http://www.flickr.com/people/byjohann/), on Flickr

[Prometheus]

Thanks for the update.

[EastVanMark]

Wow. That station redo looks very sharp. Much more bright and inviting. That intersection has huge potential.

[rsxstock]

i wish they made the platform fully covered or is that later?

[spm2013]

Looks like it's pretty covered except for maybe over the trains/tracks.

[CBeats]

Wow, that glass is really a stunner. Can't wait for Metrotown to get off the ground.

[Mac Write]

When will the "East Station House" open.

Second will Metrotown station close at all for the renovations as previously suggested?

[logan5]

Main St. station does look way better, but it would have been way cool if they used the same light effect glass that they used for BC Place.

[dreambrother808]

That's not glass on BC Place.

[hollywoodnorth]

Train2Main: SkyTrain service changes to Main Street-Science World Station

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2014/03/train2main-main-street-science-world-skytrain/

Renovations on the station, which serves upwards of 25,000 passengers per day, first began in spring 2013 with a rebuild of the east station house and entrance. Renovations on the eastern side of the station is nearing completion and will soon allow contractors to move on to the next and most service disruptive construction phase.

Construction will move on into the western half of the station which necessitates the closure of the west side (Science World side) of the station.
Service Changes: Train2Main – the new “Pink Line”

Limited train service will run through the station beginning on Sunday, March 30, 2014 to fall 2014 when SkyTrain will operate a limited Main Street-Science World shuttle train service.

As only a portion of the platform will be operational, the Train2Main shuttle will only run between Waterfront and Commercial-Broadway and can be boarded at any of the following stations:

Waterfront Station
Burrard Station
Granville Station
Stadium-Chinatown Station
Commercial-Broadway Station

Train2Main will be the only train that can be boarded at Main Street-Science World Station for a period of approximately 6 months. Regular 4-car Expo and Millennium Line trains will not stop at the station.

Westbound passengers traveling to Main Street-Science World Station must transfer at Commercial-Broadway to the Train2Main shuttle. Those traveling eastbound to the station from downtown Vancouver must board the Train2Main shuttle at either Waterfront, Burrard, Granville or Stadium-Chinatown.

The shuttle will run at a frequency of every 10 to 12 minutes. TransLink is asking passengers using the Train2Main to plan accordingly and allow up to 10 minutes of extra travel time.

http://assets.vancitybuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-13-at-11.52.37-AM-373x600.png

[Mac Write]

I heard from a Skytrain attendant that the East station house won't be finished until end of April. Can anyone confirm this? And how many shuttle trains will be running?

[Meraki]

And how many shuttle trains will be running?

One Train2Main every 12 minutes.

[Genauso]

Looks almost as good as a millennium class station

http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac11/genauso/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140331_102427_zpsgzbtrr5b.jpg (http://s881.photobucket.com/user/genauso/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140331_102427_zpsgzbtrr5b.jpg.html)

source: me, earlier this week

[Millennium2002]

Is it just me, or are they running the shuttle trains more often on the weekdays?

[TransitFreak]

Is it just me, or are they running the shuttle trains more often on the weekdays?

When measured against their 10-12 min interval, yes. My guess was that was the interval for those short turn trains in the AM...real case application was probably more than anticipated..

[DKaz]

The east station house will be open in April but then the west station house will be an even bigger animal. Thus, Train2Main will be around for at least a year or more, just that the train dwelling location will shift east.

[MIPS]

Part of me itches for them to run a 2-car Mk. I so I can get photographs but that would probably a really poor idea given how crowded the shuttle is going to be. It would pay homage though to Main being the first station to open and this time around, the first station to see pretty much a complete rebuild.

[aberdeen5698]

Part of me itches for them to run a 2-car Mk. ... It would pay homage though to Main being the first station to open......and to the fact that the first train to run at Main was a 2-car demonstration train.

[WarrenC12]

If the shuttle service was simply set up as Commercial-Main-Stadium instead of going all the way to Waterfront, they could have made use of the dusty 3rd platform at Stadium...

They could still make use of it for extra trains after an event at Rogers/BC Place, but I suppose it needs some accessibility from the east side to make it a little more convenient.

[lightrail]

If the shuttle service was simply set up as Commercial-Main-Stadium instead of going all the way to Waterfront, they could have made use of the dusty 3rd platform at Stadium...

They could still make use of it for extra trains after an event at Rogers/BC Place, but I suppose it needs some accessibility from the east side to make it a little more convenient.

There is no step-free access to the third platform, which is one main reason it isn't used in regular service.

The train is already in a path between regular trains, and it is automated so not paying any drivers, so it might as well go all the way to Waterfront and reverse there along with the regular trains, rather than crossing over before Stadium, running wrong-road for several metres to access the third platform at Stadium.

[cleowin]

The third platform at Stadium, I know there is a locked access door at street level, but what about the north end? I was told it's just a brick wall up the steps, is that true?

[deasine]

The third platform at Stadium, I know there is a locked access door at street level, but what about the north end? I was told it's just a brick wall up the steps, is that true?

No, there's access to the main concourse.

[Mac Write]

The platform is used for training and train storage.

[AverageJoe]

No there's access to the main concourse.

I'm pretty sure there is. Some time last year my train stopped at the 3rd platform and everyone had to get out (can't remember the reason). Attendants opened normally-locked gates to the concourse.

[jlousa]

I thought there were doors behind the Waves as well but it's been a while since I looked and things could've changed.

[MIPS]

There are still a set of double doors hidden in the corner beside Waves. When they renovated the concourse they added a second set of doors to eliminate public access to the alcove.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/ballsandy/SkyTrain/platform3.jpg
Image courtesy of Vision Vancouver

[deasine]

I'm pretty sure there is. Some time last year my train stopped at the 3rd platform and everyone had to get out (can't remember the reason). Attendants opened normally-locked gates to the concourse.

Amazing how I forgot one important punctuation can lead to a difference in message. It should have read "no, there is access..."

[WarrenC12]

Seems like it might be a good option to open that side up and have extra trains after games/concerts/etc, especially when BC Place and Rogers both have events.

Might cause too much confusion among the public though...

[dpogue]

Seems like it might be a good option to open that side up and have extra trains after games/concerts/etc, especially when BC Place and Rogers both have events.

Might cause too much confusion among the public though...

There was a blog post on the Buzzer (https://buzzer.translink.ca/2010/07/why-is-there-a-third-platform-at-stadium-chinatown-station/) about the 3rd platform a few years ago, and the conclusion was that it doesn't actually help too much with crowds, because now you have two trains competing for the same track space. With the added time for switch changing, there's probably no advantage, and that's without taking into account the lack of elevator access and public confusion.

[MIPS]

Knowing TransLink I put money on the real reason being they didn't want to spend the money. Driverless trains can be cheap to run but when you are modifying existing schedules you have to bring someone in to brainstorm, simulate, test and finalize changes into the computer. They'll backpedal eventually. The station just isn't suffering from capacity issues yet.

[Jimbo604]

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/2014-04-21%20Apr%20Mon/IMG_0925_zps2e388631.jpg
Source: me

[jlousa]

Lots of detailed info on the Broadway/Commercial upgrades in the following document. My recovery hit a snag this week so I won't be snipping all the juicy stuff out this time around hopefully someone else can do it. :cheers:

http://www.translink.ca/~/media/documents/about_translink/doing_business_with_translink/bidding_opportunities/q14%20038/rfp%20q14038%20commercial%20broadway%20%20construction%20management.ashx

[Jebby]

Will the curved glass extend all the way to the west side of the station?

[officedweller]

Yup - construction is ongoing.

Don't think there's anything new in the RFP document - and there aren't any drawings (must be requested under confidnetiality obligations)

[Mac Write]

Went to Mainstreet on Friday to goto my bank found out end of May for the "End of the original stations" piece of history entrance to close. Also noticed the roof's ceiling side is completely gone (and the LED signs).

Will we get new LED display? One can dream.

[GlassCity]

Went to Mainstreet on Friday to goto my bank found out end of May for the "End of the original stations" piece of history entrance to close. Also noticed the roof's ceiling side is completely gone (and the LED signs).

Will we get new LED display? One can dream.

I sure hope so. Having been taking the Canada Line for quite a while before ever taking the Expo Line, the LED arrival information is the most glaring problem on the older Skytrain. It always takes me a while to figure out where I should be standing and what train to get on.

[AverageJoe]

I sure hope so. Having been taking the Canada Line for quite a while before ever taking the Expo Line, the LED arrival information is the most glaring problem on the older Skytrain. It always takes me a while to figure out where I should be standing and what train to get on.

With the different lengths of trains that we have it would be pretty cool to have little images of the trains programmed on our future LED signs with its destination. People would know where to stand rather than in a jumble, everywhere. They do this in Hong Kong's LRT system quite effectively and it greatly increases efficiency of boarding/alighting.

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t665/AaverageJoe/LRTsign_zpsdeb2157e.jpg

Photo courtesy: https://www.flickr.com/photos/joybot/

[Mac Write]

It did used to say "2-car train" "4-care train" in the days when Mark I's ran as 2 and 4 car trains.

[MIPS]

Doesn't it now say either

MILLENIUM LINE TO
VCC/CLARK

or

EXPO LINE TO
KING GEORGE

The only issue I had was it only displays it just before the train arrives. Mind you on the SkyTrain you aren't waiting forever between trains so I don't think it hurts that much to miss a train.

[Mac Write]

What will the Evergreen line LED's be? same as Millennium line ones?

[dpogue]

What will the Evergreen line LED's be? same as Millennium line ones?

I'd imagine:
EVERGREEN LINE
TO VCC-CLARK

and
EVERGREEN LINE
TO DOUGLAS-LAFARGE LAKE
(gonna be fun fitting that on the LEDs :P)

Lougheed M-Line turnback platform will probably say
MILLENNIUM LINE
TO WATERFRONT


Right now actually, Millennium line trains from VCC don't say Millennium Line, they say something like "Eastbound to Brentwood, Lougheed, Columbia, Waterfront" and eventually change to "Waterfront via Columbia".
I think it would be better to always be consistent and use the line name, except for the Expo/Millennium inbound overlap ("Train to Waterfront" is sufficient there).

[GlassCity]

Doesn't it now say either

MILLENIUM LINE TO
VCC/CLARK

or

EXPO LINE TO
KING GEORGE

The only issue I had was it only displays it just before the train arrives. Mind you on the SkyTrain you aren't waiting forever between trains so I don't think it hurts that much to miss a train.

Yeah, it's like you said it shows up basically as soon as the train is arriving, instead of having the next three trains displayed and their ETA.

I was just at Waterfront last week. And on the inbound platform it said that the train was to Waterfront, but I knew there weren't any more stops after and people were still getting on. I still don't know what that was all about. Little quirks like this are all over the older Skytrain lines and they confuse the hell out of me. Short turns, etc...

[Mac Write]

I mean which display units will they use? same as M-line or newer designs?

[aberdeen5698]

I was just at Waterfront last week. And on the inbound platform it said that the train was to Waterfront, but I knew there weren't any more stops after and people were still getting on. I still don't know what that was all about.Why wait for the train to pull out of the station onto the tail track, reverse direction, and then pull back into the station before getting on? Lots of people don't care where the train is going because they'll get off by Columbia.

[Mac Write]

I tried to board the "Out of Service" aka Mainstreet train on the outbound at Broadway and was told I couldn't for "Security reasons" even though I knew it was reversing and coming back into Broadway. what BS "security"

[GlassCity]

Why wait for the train to pull out of the station onto the tail track, reverse direction, and then pull back into the station before getting on? Lots of people don't care where the train is going because they'll get off by Columbia.

Well I just didn't even know where it goes after that. So it goes into a tail end and reverses back into the outbound platform?

[Jebby]

I mean which display units will they use? same as M-line or newer designs?

I don't think anyone here will be able to answer that.

[Metro-One]

Upgrading all of the LED signs to Canada Line standards should have been part of the Evergreen Line project.

[WarrenC12]

Upgrading all of the LED signs to Canada Line standards should have been part of the Evergreen Line project.

Or at least the station upgrades. Has anybody noticed new LEDs at Main St?

[Jebby]

Upgrading all of the LED signs to Canada Line standards should have been part of the Evergreen Line project.

What's the point? All trains running on the new Millennium Line will have just one destination, either VCC or Douglas.