Canada Line | Completed - Page 358

mr.x · #**7141** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 12:09 AM**

It's definitely much more cost effective to build more space efficient cars, increase train lengths, and increase train frequency. SkyTrain has plenty of capacity left before we have to do something so drastic. Even then, increasing the platform lengths would come before that.

SFUVancouver · #**7142** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 12:10 AM**

^ Thanks for that Xerx.

The more I learn the more I realize that the first two SkyTrain lines were very well thought out.

The_Henry_Man · #**7143** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 1:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mezzanine

-the C-line cars are larger in real-life. (my firsrt time seeing it in real-life!). The little metal loop that i think will be for bikes is useless. expect fights for that space for luggage and standees versus the bikers. sorely missed will be an overhead rack for small carry-on bags.

-the station chairs are as uncomfortable as they look

C-Line cars should've used this type of bike racks:
(picture taken from http://biketrain.blogspot.com/)

When I was in Phoenix two months ago (where this pic from taken), quite a few commuters took good advantage of it.

I think the station chairs are designed so that hobos or other people wouldn't sleep on it.

officedweller · #**7144** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 1:38 AM**

Thanks for all the pics!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tGill

ah thanks! now that i think about the location of the ground entrance it makes sense, hopefully they'll put some sort of pacific center sign next to the entrance

Yeah,, surprising that Cadillac Fairview hasn't gotten its act together and installed signage yet - but then again, Vancouver Centre Mall needs the traffic more than Pacific Centre does. The old passage between the two has been closed for some time now and the new passage will be very busy!

BTW - good eye on the stair/escalator signage Deasine!

officedweller · #**7145** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 1:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by alta-bc

Will someone in a wheelchair be able to transfer from Vancouver City Centre station to Granville station without going to street level?

The transfer point is at Waterfront Station.

deasine · #**7146** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 1:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

^ Actually that would have been one of the newest Bombardier MKII SkyTrain cars. The Canada Line is not in service yet.

Read his question wrong.

SpongeG · #**7147** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 3:50 AM**

lol i was thinking - um those trains don't fit on the old lines

SpongeG · #**7148** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 3:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by deasine

Beautiful photos... However, I see one rather weird problem. Clearly, the person installing the signs did it incorrectly:

The first closest sign has an escalator icon on it, the sign behind it doesn't. They were installed the wrong way.

lol good catch

NetMapel · #**7149** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 4:17 AM**

These MKII cars look plenty big to me (due to its width).

lightrail · #**7150** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 4:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Overall, compared to other North American cities of the same size, Vancouver is developing a modern and comprehensive rapid rail system. Just compare it to Seattle, which has nearly 1,000,000 more people than Vancouver. They have some elegant downtown stations, but their system is only light-rail. San Diego metro is about the size of Vancouver, and has a comparable system is size, except that theirs is entirely ABOVE-GROUND, making for a less aesthetic, and more awkward interchange downtown.

...... Now, as to that question: Whereas the trains on the Canada line (although only two cars long) are reasonably wide, as in most subway systems, the trains on the Expo and Millenium Lines - and here I am referring to the original Mk II trains - are, to be honest, almost like toys. They're on the scale of something you would see at a large world's fair to get you around the site, or perhaps on a tram line using only Light Rail .....
..... SO: does the track width on the EXPO and Millenium lines allow for the eventual replacement of the small trains we have now with larger, wider, "second-generation" trains one would find in a city like Montreal or Washington DC?

Let's hope so, because after spending over a billion dollars on the track lines, it would be pitiful if it could carry trains no wider (or longer) than it does now.

In 20 years, give or take, the town centres and their respective populations will have grown to the point where more train capacity will be needed. Will this be achieved simply by making our small trains longer, OR by phasing them out and replacing them with standard-size, wider-bodied trains such as those on the Canada Line?

Anybody know anything abouth this? If yes, tell me please.

No - the trains can't be any wider - the guideway is designed for the width of trains we have. They're not that narrow - they're about the same width as the London Underground deep level tube trains. The trains can be made longer, provided the platforms are extended (which is planned). A six-car MKII train will be about the same length as a London tube train (for comparison).

deasine · #**7151** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 4:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetMapel

These MKII cars look plenty big to me (due to its width).

These aren't MK II. They don't even look at all like a MK II. Even the shades of grey are different. We have three different type cars on the SkyTrain network:

1) MK I by ICTC/Bombardier
2) MK II - first and second generations by Bombardier
3) C-Line by ROTEM

raggedy13 · #**7152** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 8:33 AM**

I know more pics from Saturday's open house might be overkill but what else am I supposed to do with the pics I took?

At the very least, perhaps a forumer or two will be able to see themselves in one of my photos. Now wouldn't that be fun?

I also tried these seats and I agree they're as uncomfortable as they look

I wanted to get some photos of other photographers in the off chance they were forumers...

It was pretty busy when I went at ~2:30

This video was just terrible

raggedy13 · #**7153** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 8:43 AM**

Lots of advertising space behind the trains

Very similar to one of The_Henry_Man's pics with the reflection and all

I thought it was neat how there was daylight shining through this grate. When I went back up onto Granville Street I looked down and could see the tracks below through the grate

Quite spacious in parts

I found it interesting how the map had estimated walking times to other important transportation services

metroXpress · #**7154** Posted **Jul 27, 2009, 2:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by alta-bc

Will someone in a wheelchair be able to transfer from Vancouver City Centre station to Granville station without going to street level?

Yes, it is actually possible if you go through the Vancouver Centre connection path. At the entrance, it says: "Vancouver Centre- Connect to Expo Line, The Bay, etc."

I have a picture...wait until I get it uploaded.

Oh yes, raggedy has a pic:

And my pic too: