Canada Line | Completed

[Whalleyboy]

i gotta say the glass behind the seats. Its nice cause it kind privatizes the seating area

[metroXpress]

I like their seating configuration and the nice handles.

[Metro-One]

I actually like ours better, i dont know why but those cars (judging by the pic) seem to feel much more crowded and clunky. Our center bars are much more useful as well (with the multiple handles).

Maybe Mr. X just likes the look of the greek letters on the LED display?

[clooless]

I give that glass about five minutes before some 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 scratches it to 🞵🞵🞵🞵. It's a nice privacy feature, but definitely a bulls eye for vandals.

I also prefer the seating arrangement of the C-Line cars, but I do prefer the flat finish on the bars on the Athens trains.

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Our trains are nearly identical as those built by Rotem for Athens just before the 2004 Olympics....I really wish we had their interior:

I actually like the handle bars on the trains. They won't look as dirty as the ones that are currently on the C-Line trains (too shiny, in my opinion). But it does look a little bit cramped, and dark. I honestly like our trains better than these ones. With a few more modifications, and it would be even better - I love the MTR trains. Those trains in HK are similar to ours here, except, they are well....better, and longer

(I especially like the MTR's train maps...they are awesome - hope that we can get something similar!)

[agrant]

Privacy in a public transportation system? Thats just wierd. Probably a good thing to have yellow bars in the centre, being more visible and all...

[mr.x]

The main reason why i posted the picture of the Greek train is (1) the dull looking bars (as suppose the the C-Line's retro looking 70's shiny bars) and (2) the seating covers (much more vandal and dirt resistant compared to C-Line).

I'm not really a fan of those clear dividers either nor their seating arrangement.

[metroXpress]

The Greek letters do look nice, Metro One.

I wonder what it is displaying? The name of the next station?

[racc]

Originally Posted by Allen

The Greek letters do look nice, Metro One.

I wonder what it is displaying? The name of the next station?

I don't know, it is all greek to me

[Metro-One]

The Greek letters do look nice, Metro One.

I never said they didn't, but i don't think that is a feature that would work to well here, haha!

[CBeats]

^^This discussion *should* be moved into the other Canada Line thread for obvious reasons. But it doesn't really matter...

[red-paladin]

All those station name displays on the front, sides, insides of the cars are a bit pricey and overkill for my taste. Do we really need more than a few map decals and a voice that says 'next station is langara'? I can see the value of the sign on the front of the approaching train that says the destination. However, people get along just fine with the skytrain. Every few weeks I'm sure someone accidentally goes to Surrey and has to come back to Columbia, but really, is it worth millions of dollars extra to try to solve that?

[SpongeG]

its more so since its underground - at least when its above ground you can see where you are - underground people need more pointed out to them

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

All those station name displays on the front, sides, insides of the cars are a bit pricey and overkill for my taste. Do we really need more than a few map decals and a voice that says 'next station is langara'? I can see the value of the sign on the front of the approaching train that says the destination. However, people get along just fine with the skytrain. Every few weeks I'm sure someone accidentally goes to Surrey and has to come back to Columbia, but really, is it worth millions of dollars extra to try to solve that?

Yes, we do. It's the price to pay to make the system easy to use and convenient for locals, whether they are regular users or new users, and tourists.

[metroXpress]

^agreed. It does make a difference.

[deasine]

It's not like we are refurbishing our trains FOR THAT reason. New trains should have these features. Not having LED signs isn't going to save millions of dollars per train.

[mr.x]

At the most, it probably only added maybe ten/fifteen grand to the overall $4-million cost of each Canada Line two-car train.

[red-paladin]

I stand corrected
Yes I agree they are nice things, but you're all right, if they are standard features for those new trains, there is no point to cut them out the save costs.

[mr.x]

Countdown to a new era: all aboard Link light rail starting July 18

April 20, 2009

Free rides during opening weekend

Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels today announced a start date of Saturday, July 18 for Link light rail service — 89 days and counting!

The launch will begin a new era for public transportation in the Puget Sound region, with work underway to expand the first 15 miles of light rail service to a 55-mile regional system over the next decade and a half.

"We are counting down to a milestone. On July 18, we will make history," said Nickels. “We invite the entire community to come out and take a test ride, and enjoy a system that will grow north, south and east. Light rail will transform how we travel, how we grow and how we live."

July’s on-schedule, on-budget light rail opening will launch service between downtown Seattle and Tukwila. The line includes stops in Downtown Seattle, SODO, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley neighborhoods and Tukwila (see attached map and travel times).

Frequent bus connector service will carry light rail passengers between Tukwila and Sea-Tac International Airport starting Monday, July 20 until the opening of direct airport service in December.

Rides will be free opening weekend. Sound Transit will announce detailed opening celebration plans in the coming weeks. Information will be posted at http://www.soundtransit.org/linklaunch.

Beginning Monday, July 20, Link trains will run from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.

The maximum adult fare, to ride from Westlake Station in downtown Seattle to the airport, will be $2.50, the same as a bus ride. Youth base fares will start at $1.25 and have a maximum fare of $2.00 and Senior/disabled fares will start at $.75 and have a maximum fare of $1.25 under the adopted structure.

Construction of light rail between downtown and the University of Washington is underway, with a scheduled opening in 2016. With the passage of the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure in November 2008. light rail is scheduled to reach all the way to Lynnwood, Redmond’s Overlake area and the Star Lake/Redondo area near Federal Way by 2023.

[Metro-One]

Although this is really good for Seattle, I am really happy that Vancouver adopted a more true metro style transit system (automated, grade separate). it seems that we are the only city in this corner of the continent to have such a system. i guess San Fran is the closest city to Vancouver that has a grade separated metro. I think in the long run having the skytrain system (and by that i mean the C-line as well) as a backbone will allow Vancouver to have a much stronger and varied rail network in the future when feeder at grade LRT/trams are added.

Is Vancouver the last city in North America to build their metro grade separated? I have a feeling many of these cities deciding to go with at grade LRT for their primary network are going to have to convert them in the decades to come. this is already happening in some cities where they are burying sections near the downtown areas.