Or better, dig up the Canada Line and extend the platforms.
See I wonder if that's even possible now. Unlike the situation with the downtown section of the expo line is relatively even (not too many huge ups and downs) where they can simply [no i don't mean simple] mine out and extend the platforms.
But then with the Canada Line, at parts of the line, such as between King Edward and Broadway - City Hall, the line is pretty steep and I'm not sure if one can simply extend a platform. There might be a need to close the Canada Line and rebuild the tunnels.
See I wonder if that's even possible now. Unlike the situation with the downtown section of the expo line is relatively even (not too many huge ups and downs) where they can simply [no i don't mean simple] mine out and extend the platforms.
But then with the Canada Line, at parts of the line, such as between King Edward and Broadway - City Hall, the line is pretty steep and I'm not sure if one can simply extend a platform. There might be a need to close the Canada Line and rebuild the tunnels.
The whole line would have to be closed down for 2 years.
Stations like King Ed, Oakridge, and Langara have shallow tunnels....we would simply re-do the cut and cover process all over again. At other stations, a combination of mining and cut and cover.
Here's a crazy thought... When the Canada Line is maxed out several decades from now, and the stations have already been extended to 50 metres and we're running three-car trains a minute apart, and the price tag for any further upgrades look as prohibitive as a whole new system, why not consider the following?
Build a pair of parallel express tracks from Broadway-City Hall to Marine Drive stn on the opposite side of the Cambie Blvd. Spend the money to extend the elevated platforms of Richmond and the Airport and Waterfront to 80 metres. Build a new express 80 metre platform stn south of Broadway-City Hall and connect it with moving sidewalk sto this station and the Millennium Line. Thread the new lines in the main track just prior to these stations would allow the creation of 4-car express trains from the Airport and Richmond to the Metro Core while bypassing the stations in between with platforms too short to accomodate the express trains. It would be very much a stop-gap measure but a rather affordable one compared to upgrading all of the stations or building a parallel system. It would only push back the inevitable but it would help.
Or better, dig up the Canada Line and extend the platforms.
I think that will eventually happen. For the next 20 years or so the Canada Line should be fine with its current platforms if they increase frequency as it is needed. The cost to extend the platforms will obviously be much, much, much cheaper than building a new express line.
Here's a crazy thought... When the Canada Line is maxed out several decades from now, and the stations have already been extended to 50 metres and we're running three-car trains a minute apart, and the price tag for any further upgrades look as prohibitive as a whole new system, why not consider the following?
Build a pair of parallel express tracks from Broadway-City Hall to Marine Drive stn on the opposite side of the Cambie Blvd. Spend the money to extend the elevated platforms of Richmond and the Airport and Waterfront to 80 metres. Build a new express 80 metre platform stn south of Broadway-City Hall and connect it with moving sidewalk sto this station and the Millennium Line. Thread the new lines in the main track just prior to these stations would allow the creation of 4-car express trains from the Airport and Richmond to the Metro Core while bypassing the stations in between with platforms too short to accomodate the express trains. It would be very much a stop-gap measure but a rather affordable one compared to upgrading all of the stations or building a parallel system. It would only push back the inevitable but it would help.
After seeing the Canada Line trains so many times, I'm actually fine with the blue/green/gray design. I wouldn't mind the skytrains be repainted into a blue/yellow/gray =D
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