Canada Line | Completed

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Most impressive underground stations:
1) Broadway-City Hall
2) Waterfront
3) Vancouver City Centre
4) Yaletown
5) Oakridge-41st
6) Olympic Village
7) King Edward
8) Langara-49th

Olympic Village may be nicer than you think - some of the pics showed a shaft of light reaching the mezzanine level - probably nicer than Oakridge.
Yaletown is suposed to have a similar concept with light reaching the mezzanine level.

[phesto]

It’s 11:00am and there are already close to 200 people lined up at Granville Square to enter at Waterfront Station.

I was hoping to take a ride during the lunch hour but it looks like it will be ridiculously busy.

[shaners]

work sure gets in the way of these life changing events (working 1-10p, its like they knew). was hoping to take a ride on lunch, but i knowwww it'll be wayyyy to crazy... maybe tmrw.

[SpongeG]

200 nerds? or 200 people? hehe

[CLC]

(Pic from News1130.com)
Even the train for dignitaries this morning is so packed!
Doesn't look too good, need to re-think about my plan for later today

[go_leafs_go02]

I'll ride it next week sometime.

have to pick up a friend at YVR around noon and be in downtown vancouver around 9-10 AM for a doctors appointment..

think i'll just park at YVR in the early AM..take the canada line up to downtown, and make it back in order to pick my friend up on time

[NetMapel]

I wonder if the passports will all be gone by 2pm...

[SpongeG]

First Canada Line train pulls out

By Damian Inwood, The ProvinceAugust 17, 2009 11:01 AM


The first Canada Line train pulled out of YVR station Monday morning with VIPs and media on board. The public will get a free trial of the new route starting at 1 p.m.Photograph by: Wayne Leidenfrost file, The Province

All aboard!

The first $2-billion Canada Line train left the station at Vancouver International Airport, packed with VIPs and media.

"Welcome to planes, trains and 2010," read the banner at YVR.

"Okay, we're ready for the first train," said Premier Gordon Campbell, on the platform at YVR.

About 300 people jammed the first train, which left the airport at 10:15 a.m. Campbell and Minister of International Trade and the Asia-Pacific Gateway Stockwell Day rode the first train, with Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie joining at Bridgeport Station and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson getting on Broadway-City Hall.

Vancouver 2010 CEO John Furlong caught a ride at Olympic Village station.

The 19-kilometre line opened ahead of schedule.

It was originally slated to start running in November.

"Is eveybody on board?" asked Campbell before the horn sounded at the train pulled out.

He said the Canada Line will serve the region for 100 years.

http://www.theprovince.com/First+Canada+Line+train+pulls/1901724/story.html

[mrjauk]

Originally Posted by phesto

It’s 11:00am and there are already close to 200 people lined up at Granville Square to enter at Waterfront Station.

I was hoping to take a ride during the lunch hour but it looks like it will be ridiculously busy.

I just walked past there and only saw a few people milling around.

[SpongeG]

some comments from this story

Your Comments
robert
August 17, 2009 - 11:35 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
Is there going to a special welcome centre in Richmond for druggies and other kritters?

Porshe Courier
August 17, 2009 - 11:33 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
There was very minimal traffic on the oak st bridge this morning. Lovin it...

Steve
August 17, 2009 - 11:07 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
To Jim:

I do not really know how much you know about Richmond if you dont even know that Richmond is an Island, You cant make it a subway!!! It's bassically dirt and soil dragged down from the fraser river. Thats all we are on. You cant tunnel in that.

And I must admit, Richmond has done a farely decent job in making that concrete beast look as good as possible with all the landscaping.

Lawson
August 17, 2009 - 10:59 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
Free, you better tell the members of the critical mass that, they would think it is free all the time. Message to Critical Mass members: Keep Off The Canada Line, is was not built for you. Use the bicycle bridge!

calgary/van resident
August 17, 2009 - 10:45 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
The Canada line (1.4 billion orginal budget)we are told will ultimately do 100,000 passenger per day and make a profit for the 2 billion invested plus law suits pending.. Living part of the year in Calgary and using the Calgary South LRT Line I make the following comment. The Calgary South Line is about 20 km long has 14 stations and parks 10,000. The line comes through all residential areas , serives major business along Macleod Trail, the NHL Ring, Stampede Grounds and runs the total length of a much larger down town in terms of office workers. The Calgary South line does an average of 75,000 passenger and heavily used week days. It was also built prior to the Olympics and has worked well for around 25 years. Comparing the route to the Canada line for potenal passengers and what it services one would guess that it The Canadain Line may see 40,000 people per day tops not 100,000. Calgary does 290,000 passenger rides per day for the total system built for what the City claims is 600 million over the years. The Canada Line is yet another example of a huge tax payer lay out to support 2010 that will benifits very few citizens It will likely need tax payer help for decades to get the volume needed to turn profit. I am sure day by day the citzens of Calgary are greatfull those envolved in the 1988 process were a lot better tecnically qualfied and the brighter then the 3 stooges (Furlong,Cambell,Sulivan) and friends that head the ''2010 Tax Payers Olympics" here. Every day a new claim to be on budget and every day a need for more money to go forward. Imagine what a better place old Vancouver would be taking the 10 billion plus needed for the Olympic Promises and funding projets needed bt the majority of the population paying for 2010.

Chris Van Ihinger
August 17, 2009 - 10:44 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
We all deplore the decision to abandon the existing bus transit services from Richmond, White Rock and other southern routes into and out of downtown Vancouver. We clearly remember the original purpose of the Canada Line was to get people out of their cars and into public transit. Filling the Canada Line with existing bus riders will not encourage people to leave their cars in the garage. Quite the contrary, it will tip many erstwhile bus riders back into their motor cars.

We understand that part of the reasoning for cancelling the bus routes is to ensure high ridership numbers on the Canada line, but somehow we suspect that this has more to do with avoiding any penalty fees Translink (i.e. we taxpayers) would have to pay to the private-for-profit Canada line operator for failing to meet our contractually guaranteed ridership quotas.

Here's a suggestion fro "Back to driving" and " Busrider": Take your bicycle on the Canada line, then cycle the remaining distance. According to the advertising and news media, the Canada Line welcomes cycles at all times, in both directions, with no rush-hour restrictions. Saves gas, saves time.

BCK
August 17, 2009 - 10:29 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
for the @Jim respondants

"Besides Jim, we don't want whites or others in Richmond. That's why we have malls that speak our language for us only"

where the hell did this come from??? He said that the line shoul have been underground and that that busses shouldn't have been cancelled...and you come back with a racist comment like this? yikes.

Ibitz
August 17, 2009 - 10:25 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
@Jim, you are a complete and utter racist but you're entitled to your bigoted views!

Damm
August 17, 2009 - 10:25 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
Canada Line is a short train!!!!! What the ....?!???! Stupidity epitomized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Visitor from Toronto
August 17, 2009 - 10:23 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
I'll be arriving at Vcr. airport on Friday and plan on taking the Canada Line down to Waterfront to meet my friend, then head out to her place from there. Beats her having to travel to the airport to pick me up! Can't wait to ride the new line.

Ed
August 17, 2009 - 10:10 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
I'm glad to hear the new transit line is open, I just wish I was there to protest the HST when Campbells around!

@Jim
August 17, 2009 - 10:03 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
Besides Jim, we don't want whites or others in Richmond. That's why we have malls that speak our language for us only.

BusRider
August 17, 2009 - 9:57 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
The Canadaline is good but I do not think that discontinuing the express buses and the B-line is a good decision. I take ONE 40 minute bus ride to work with bus stops just steps away. Starting September, It will take 2 buses and a train and more than SIX blocks of walking to get to work and back. The discontinuing of express buses makes commuting from Richmond-Vancouver inconvenient. Also wondering what the alternative is for this route should the Canadaline have technical problems.

Mike
August 17, 2009 - 9:55 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
Finally! I can't wait to ride the Canada Line. Vancouver is now well on its way to being a world leader in transit. Congratulations TransLink and Gov't of BC.

Aloha
August 17, 2009 - 9:55 AMFlag this as Inappropriate
Arriving from Maui tomorrow. After years of paying taxes, look forward to the ride.

[Vancity]

was thinking about riding the train today, but I'm not sure after hearing how packed it'll be today. I'll pass by and see, and if it's too packed I'll pass on riding until either later this week, or next week.

Hope you guys all have fun!

[SpongeG]

Vancouver's Canada Line opens with free rides

some of the comments - over 10 pages of them - some are just stupid and ignorant

Story comments (55)
Sort: Most recent | First to last | Agreed
WayneMcQueen wrote: Posted 2009/08/17
at 2:40 PM ETSo what do you Canada Line opponents want us to do? with the closure of the Airporter aside from expensive taxis how do you all propose we get to the airport? $35.00 for a taxi vs $3.75 for the Canada Line, it's a no-brainer.000Agree 0DisagreePolicy Report abuse

jeyanthan wrote: Posted 2009/08/17
at 2:40 PM ETThanks to Trnaslink this is the only think that translink did beter then Toronto transit . if you need get out of Toronto airport you need to take bus then take Subway to go to Down town any way i can't wait to take Canada line000Agree 0DisagreePolicy Report abuse

EdmundBurke wrote: Posted 2009/08/17
at 2:36 PM ET"I don't support the Olympics and am quite happy to not ride the Canada Line."

==================

I hope I've got it wrong. Please don't tell me you think this new line was solely built for the purpose of the Olympics?

Sometimes I really think the $100,000 we spend as taxpayers on our citizen's education K-12 is really a waste of money on some people. Then again I suppose you have to work on percentages. Even if only one out of ten works out well then it's money well spent. That's the excuse I tell myself anyway...505Agree 0DisagreePolicy Report abuse

Rickrazor wrote: Posted 2009/08/17
at 2:29 PM ETlainkirk:

"So how about extending the bit that ends at King George station out towards Langley, like it was always supposed to be....."

According to Campbell and Translink, this will happen around 2015 after the evergreen line is completed.

But since everybody now wants Campbell out because of the HST thing, don't count on it. NDP could not finish the Millenium line on time or on budget. Vote them in and say goodbye to the Skytrain extension in Surrey.303Agree 0DisagreePolicy Report abuse

JDubVancouver wrote: Posted 2009/08/17
at 2:29 PM ETJust wondering if anyone has Taken the Gatwick Express from Gatwick to Vic station in London. A ticket on the GW is 18 pounds (roughly $36) to get you from that airport to downtown london.

[SpongeG]

i wonder when people will realize this is run by intransit?

[officedweller]

Good set of pics here from the family and friends event:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8826906@N06/sets/72157622048658692/

[Pinion]

nm

[Distill3d]

Got sidetracked with some flooding issues in my apartment. I'll be on my way down to there in about 45 minutes. I'm totally excited about this, finally I'm just this much closer to the Maserati dealer in Aberdeen Center

[Pinion]

Crap, I just saw the Granville square crowd and now I'm worried about how I get home. I just wanna get through to the seabus.

Those people on the south end of waterfront are brilliant. Still only about 10 people. I thought that was a big line haha.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Pinion

It's 12:15pm and there's already a lineup at the south entrance for Waterfront.

(all senior citizens)

Hmmm - they're supposed to be giving away Pacific Centre goodie bags with gift cards at City Centre Station...

Update - 12:30pm - big line on Granville St. for City Centre Station - from the tents to past the Sears rotunda...

[Pinion]

Actually if I can read body language correctly (viewing all this from a surveillance camera above Granville) the guy is telling everyone to go to the north side now. The line-up has dispersed.

[SpongeG]

will the mall entrances (pac and van centres) be opened today? or are they gonna try have some control and only allow the street entrance?