Canada Line | Completed - Page 399

twoNeurons · #**7961** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 9:06 PM**

I bet King Edward Station is relatively dead.

SpongeG · #**7962** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 9:10 PM**

live reports on CBC newsworld - first coverage after 1 pm

SpongeG · #**7963** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 9:16 PM**

Thousands flock to Canada Line for opening day

By Matthew Hoekstra - Richmond Review

Hundreds attended the opening of the Richmond-Brighouse Canada Line Station Monday afternoon.
Martin van den Hemel photo

Thousands of people waited under the hot sun at Canada Line stations Monday afternoon to be among the first passengers of the region's newest rapid transit system.

Lineups snaked around local stations and extended into mall parking lots.

At the line's final Lulu Island station, Richmond-Brighouse, a crush of people pushed inside the station as gates lifted following a speech and ribbon-cutting by the city's mayor.

"This is your line, this is for you to ride," said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. "So congratulations to everyone involved...and enjoy the Canada Line."

Some who waited hours in line protested to transit police as others pushed past them, and security quickly restored order. The first train left the station at 1:05 p.m.

Lansdowne and Aberdeen stations also had long lines of people eager to try the new line for free until 9 p.m.

The 19-kilometre line links Richmond with downtown Vancouver and YVR.

Regular service begins Tuesday. Trains run from Richmond-Brighouse to downtown Vancouver from 5:05 a.m. to 12:48 a.m.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/53495332.html

SpongeG · #**7964** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 9:18 PM**

CANADA LINE RAPID TRANSIT FINALLY IN BUSINESS

Aug 17, 2009

OPPOSITION LEADER CAROLE JAMES WELCOMES THE OPENING OF THE NEW SKYTRAIN LINE IN GREATER VANCOUVER...ALTHOUGH SHE STILL SAYS THEY PUT IT IN THE WRONG PLACE...

"Oh I think more rapid transait is a very good thing, and putting more money into transit is a very good thing. But, you know, the Evergreen Line really should have been built first. It's where the bulk of people were in the lower mainland, but I'm glad to see money spent on transit. We could certainly use some on Vancouver Island. I'd like to see some dollars headed our way"

JAMES APPEARED LIVE ON THE C-FAX1070 NOON SHOW TODAY.

THE CANADA LINE EXTENSION OPENED TODAY, OFFERING FREE RIDES FOR COMMUTERS BETWEEN DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER AND THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. TOMORROW, THEY START CHARGING REGULAR FARES FOR THE SERVICE.

http://www.cfax1070.com/newsstory.php?newsId=10206

SpongeG · #**7965** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 9:19 PM**

West coast connection: Canada Line rooted in British Columbia

The Kasian designed YVR-Airport rapid transit station offers the world a
window to the spectacular natural beauty of British Columbia.

VANCOUVER, Aug. 17 /CNW/ - As the starting point of the new Canada Line
rapid transit route, the YVR-Airport Station features the largest green wall
in North America, sweeping west coast views, and a direct connection to the
city of Vancouver.
"The YVR-Airport Station is all about connections," says Don Kasian,
principal at Kasian Architecture, Design and Planning. "This will be one of
the first impressions visitors get of British Columbia and Canada. Through
architecture and design Kasian takes every opportunity to not only get people
to and from Vancouver quickly and safely, but to connect them emotionally to
the city and the entire province."
Wrapped in structural glass, the station platform reinforces visual
connections between the land, sea, and sky of B.C. - the key elements that
make up the Vancouver Airport Authority's (YVR) thematic master plan. The
$25-million YVR-Airport Station sits 18m off the ground straddling Grant
McConachie Way, the main roadway in and out of YVR. From the platform visitors
can see across the main airport runways to the North Shore Mountains.
On the north side of the building, connected to Chester Johnson Park, a
17m high and 12m wide green wall offers a living gateway for passengers
entering the YVR-Airport Station. Designed by renowned landscape architect
Randy Sharp, the wall is composed entirely of local flora, including bergenia,
fern, common nana and white and green euonymus.
"The green wall helps YVR-Airport Station tell a story that is entirely
unique to the region," says Kasian. "When the local plants in the wall bloom
it will be an absolutely spectacular sight. Combined with views of the North
Shore Mountains, the station reflects of the incredible natural beauty of
B.C."
Bookending the YVR-Airport Station are the airport's main control tower
and the "Link" International Terminal expansion building, another of the many
Kasian designed pieces of YVR. Completed in 2007, the $125 million,
six-storey, all-glass building connects Canada Line passengers to the
airport's Main Terminal. It includes a 40' Haida totem pole created by
celebrated First Nations artist Don Yeoman, visual references to the northern
lights, and a waterfall flowing over natural stonework.
"Everywhere you look YVR tries to create references to the breathtaking
natural beauty and cultural history of the province," says Kasian. "The
YVR-Airport Station adds another remarkable chapter to that story. As a firm
with deep roots at YVR and all across the region, it's a project Kasian
couldn't be more proud to be a part of."

About Kasian

Kasian is a global architecture, interior design and planning firm with
nearly 350 staff across eight offices in Canada, Asia, and the Middle East.
Kasian provides award winning design solutions for transportation
infrastructure, education, recreational, public and health care facilities,
corporate offices, and hospitality and retail environments. Our unique
approach brings clients and end users directly into the design development
process to ensure solutions are relevant and timely. Kasian designs include
the Vancouver International Airport Link Building, the BCIT Aerospace
Technology Campus, the University of British Columbia Thunderbird Arena, the
Calgary Courts Centre, the Edmonton Epcor tower, the MacEwan Robbins Health
Learning Centre, and the Alberta Children's Hospital. For more information,
visit www.kasian.com.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2009/17/c5355.html

Coldrsx · #**7966** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 9:23 PM**

looking forward to taking it this weekend

officedweller · #**7967** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 9:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denscity

I also wonder if the Pacific Centre entrance is open.

The Pacific Centre entrance hoarding has been removed - but is guarded by 2 security guards to make sure that it is used as an exit only. A sign directs passengers to the main street level entrance - with massive line-up.

The passage is surprisingly short - about half as long as the previous link to Vancouver Centre Mall - probably because the ticketing vestibule (base of the escalators from street) is on Pacific Centre property.

Denscity · #**7968** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 9:32 PM**

Thanks for the info. Can't wait to fly back to Vancity and take the new train!!

Gordon · #**7969** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 9:36 PM**

It will be ineresting to see what affect the opening of The Canada line has on the 98B Line seeing as they both run along 3 Road and have the same Richmond terminus.

officedweller · #**7970** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 9:48 PM**

Update: 2:45 pm
Someone in our office said the line-up extends down Granville St., rounds the corner onto Robson St. and rounds the next corner onto Howe St.!!

SpongeG · #**7971** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 9:53 PM**

crazy

I wonder how it will be tonight

Stingray2004 · #**7972** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 9:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

OPPOSITION LEADER CAROLE JAMES ....... STILL SAYS THEY PUT IT IN THE WRONG PLACE...

Yeah, right.

BTW, here's another video of the entire route of the Canada Line from 4 days ago:

• Video Link

Cypherus · #**7973** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 10:10 PM**

I'm looking forward to some Youtube videos featuring the whole line, start to finish.

Edit: ^LOL perfect timing.

phesto · #**7974** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 10:17 PM**

The line at Waterfront is ridiculous. I can't tell how far it goes but it snakes around a few times goes down Cordova along Granville to Hastings and beyond. Looks like well over two hours wait now…

It's a shame they didn't open it earlier than 1pm today.

Yume-sama · #**7975** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 10:20 PM**

I wonder how many are Japanese tourists who are just lining up because everyone else is. Seriously. Companies in Japan pay people to stand outside a store because Japanese people love to lineup, and will then lineup because other people are... even if they have no idea what the line is for.

flight_from_kamakura · #**7976** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 10:56 PM**

wow, didn't realize that there were remote flight check-in at the stations!

also, on that video, the canada line guide said that the primary intended airport ridership is the employees... which uh, would uh, explain uh, the $2.50 surcharge... right?

phesto · #**7977** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 11:42 PM**

The Sun has a photo gallery up: http://www.vancouversun.com/Gallery+Canada+Line+opening+celebrations/1902037/story.html

Here's the line at Waterfront Station snaking around up Granville (from the top of Granville Square):

djmk · #**7978** Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 11:58 PM**

WTF.

the canada line is cool and what not, but no line up is worth that..... wow

Yume-sama · #**7979** Posted **Aug 18, 2009, 12:07 AM**

Went by Downtown Station about an hour ago. Lined up down Granville as far as I could see

Big police presence at the station entrance, too.

Pinion · #**7980** Posted **Aug 18, 2009, 12:17 AM**

My brother's been in the waterfront line-up for two and a half hours now. Crazy. I care more about the Canada line than him and have been following its development since day one, but people just love free shit.