Canada Line | Completed - Page 411

Yume-sama · #**8201** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 3:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

Congratulations on your first SkyTrain ride!

I'm serious. I think that the Canada Line is fulfilling a hugely important role as many people's first experience with rapid transit. When the time comes to debate and fight and pay for more of it the positive impression that was left on tens of thousands of people who tried the line will be important, especially if they are not regular transit users.

I'll definitely be using it more.

Probably still not to go to the actual airport, though.

mr.x · #**8202** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 3:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allen

those passports, I waited 2.5hrs in line for them and they ran out...

We had plenty left at YVR.

squeezied · #**8203** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 3:52 AM**

does anyone know which stations are still continuing with the passport stamps? i've only got about a half from opening day

raggedy13 · #**8204** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 4:11 AM**

I finally rode the Canada Line a few hours ago. I went from VCC, to Waterfront, to Yaletown where I got off momentarily, then to Broadway where I had some Pho and then went back to VCC. Overall I'm quite impressed and excited about our new line. It's a great addition to the transit system and, to me, makes Vancouver feel a little more "big city" being able to zip between and pop up from below into some of the denser core neighbourhoods.

My impressions tend to follow some of the others I've seen here... the ride was very smooth, the cars spacious, the announcements sounded great, etc. I didn't mind the platform lengths either. When I went it was between ~7-8:30pm and the trains were fairly full (standing room only both north and south, except when heading north one station from VCC to Waterfront). Broadway station seemed to be the busiest station I saw at this time of day in terms of the number of people getting off, heading northbound at least (I didn't see any stations south of Broadway just yet however). Anywho, I'll post some photos a bit later to show how relatively busy it was during this time.

SpongeG · #**8205** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 4:23 AM**

every station i was at had ticket checkers

lightrail · #**8206** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 4:25 AM**

Well, I went for a ride on Canada Line on Tuesday and was quite impressed. Some pictures as I go.

I arrived from Victoria on the ferry, only to find after many years that, as of this month, Translink has discontinued selling day passes on the ferry and at the ferry terminal. Translink - Way to go you morons! Wonderful way to welcome the world to Vancouver. So I had to pay a fare to get to Skytrain to buy a daypass. I don;t understand the decision. I also don't understand why day passes cannot be sold on the buses - surely the machines can be programmed to print a $9 daypass?

Anyway - I rode the 620 to Airport Station and then navigated around the flying motorway junction and walked across the moon to get to Templeton Station - the only metro station I know in the world where you need a 4-wheel drive to reach.

A very friendly, and probably lonely, Canada Line attendant (in green shirt) said she watched me walk across the moonscape to the station. Then I boarded the identity crisis line. I say this because it is coloured blue on the map, the attendants wear green shirts, the trains are dark blue and green on the ends and Canada's flag colours are red and white. So I'm lost as to the colour choices.

I'm happy to see that they replaced some glass at templeton with patterned glass in Translink logos - ery nice and much safer.

Templeton was the quietest station I visited - not surprising given the high density development around it and carefully planned pedestrian and cycling routes.

Next I stopped at Sea Island Centre Station. It seems that this station, today at least, is used by employees going to the airport for lunch. Another quiet stop on the line.

I really like the next train displays - it's great because I know I can go for a walk outside the station and not have to run.

I found the "inbound" and "outbound" references in the announcements a bit odd. The platforms are not identified as "inbound" or "outbound" so I'm actually left wondering which platform they're referring to. Why not "eastbound, westbound, etc like on Skytrain? In some ways I kind of like "outbound" and "inbound" as it reminds me of the English "up" and "down" trains and platforms (still in use over there).

YVR station was really busy - and a lot were travelers with luggage, not just sightseers like me - really good to see. Nice station, very airy and a great space. Nice way to introduce people to Vancouver and BC. And it looks and feels really big

This makes it look like a toy train - but it gives you the scale of the superstructure on which the train sits. Amazing actually.

I treated myself to a full ride into downtown - right to Waterfront, then back to Vancouver City Centre. I walked through Vancouver Centre and the Bay to Granville and rode a Mark I train to Waterfront for contrast. It felt really small - but, the acceleration and the way the older Skytrains charge into turns feels much faster and more aggressive than Canada Line. Canada Line slows and feels a bit tentative in taking the turns. That might be a function of the Mark 1 and Mark II skytrain cars having a smaller aspect and lower centre's of gravity. But on the old Skytrain, you can feel yourself being thrown to one side in the turn - where as on Canada Line you don't.

I then rode down to Richmond - stopping at all stations, then back to the airport, then Templeton then home.

I liked it - a really nice system. Feels slower than the old Skytrain. The tunnel smell (wet concrete) took me back to Edmonton in 1978 when the LRT opened under Jasper Avenue (burning metal on metal reminds me of the deep tubes on the London Underground). The rush of wind from the oncoming trains is quite powerful (especially at 41st) - and that reminds me a lot of the deep tubes in London too.

I noticed that three trains are stored - one at each end of the system. One is in Waterfront Station, one is on the cross-over track before the track goes to single just before VYR and Richmond. Also impressed with the quick turn around at Waterfront, less than a minute from entering to leaving. Timing is obviously done at YVR and Richmond.

Some more pics

End of the line in Richmond.

Richmond Brighouse is a nice big airy station - it's going to be a busy one.

The bridge

The tunnel portal

Favourite stations:
- YVR Airport
- Broadway City Hall
- Waterfront

Likes:
- big wide trains (they look a lot bigger when you're in them)
- soft suspension
- LED next train displays
- station and train annoucements

Don't like:
- In-train maps - still look amateurish
- pocket doors - outside doors would have allowed bigger windows
- size of windows

Overall - excellent.

Few more pics:

Broadway - City Hall

King Edward

Doesn't look finished to me - maybe when they sell the air-rights and build on top, it will get a finish.

SpongeG · #**8207** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 4:32 AM**

nice

when the ads start showing up? it looks so empty

the tV's were all blank well had some name on them - only one i passed had something going on

SFUVancouver · #**8208** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 4:35 AM**

Thanks for taking the trip and for putting in the time to post your comments and photos!

amor de cosmos · #**8209** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 5:07 AM**

1st official day numbers:

Quote:

It’s Canada Line’s first official service day!

So far, we’ve had 9,000 trips between 5 to 9:30 a.m., then up to 23,000 by 12:40 p.m. and 33,000 by 2:15 p.m. Our media relations guy Drew Snider says a lot of tourists and families were on board today. He also mentioned that we finished yesterday at just under 100,000 trips, according to ProTransBC public affairs manager Jason Chan!

http://buzzer.translink.ca/index.php/200...lus-how-to-work-the-new-ticket-machines/

lightrail · #**8210** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 5:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravman

methinks that there would be a way to build a second track and build an overhead bridge.... and to avoid the single tracking annoyance.... something that could happen with a NEWer and more DEMOCRATIC GOVT!

I don't think it will ever be needed, except to keep trains running during maintenance. Even if the main line ran 90 second headways, 3 minutes on the branch, there's till enough time to turn the train around - that's the nice thing about automated trains. Watch it at Waterfront - the turn around is amazing. They're running 4 minute headway and only using one platform at Waterfront.

Yume-sama · #**8211** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 5:15 AM**

When will they use both trains / platforms at Waterfront? Rush hour? Whenever they feel like it?

Chikinlittle · #**8212** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 5:33 AM**

Rode one of the first trains this morning as I had a 6am flight to catch. Although it would have been faster for my hubby to drive from home to YVR at that time of the day, I wanted to ride the line, and also do my part to not drive where possible and still be convenient (which the Canada Line now provides). During the day, time savings would definitely be possible, but at 530am, there is little road traffic to compete with. Sure, if you were actually to abide by the 50km/h speed limit on Granville Street, it might take as long, but find me a single person that drives that slowly...

Overall I love the line. Yes, the trains feel hesitant in terms of speed. Perhaps that's why the travel time has now crept up to 26 minutes from Waterfront to YVR from the original 22 or 24 minutes initially indicated. If I am not mistaken, when the other SkyTrain lines were first opened, they were a lot more 'cautious' in their accelerations and speeds and cornering then they are now. May the same thing be possible with the Canada Line? Perhaps settings will be changed moving forward as Operations gets more comfortable to the new system and increase speeds? The fastest section of track seemed to be from Oakridge-41st to Langara-49th and from there to Marine Drive as well. It seemed exceptionally slow along the curves between King Edward and Oakridge and seemed that it would be easily capable for the train to travel at a higher speed. Maybe that's just my ignorance, but it just felt like it was underperforming.

The one thing I don't like about the line (and no, it's not the platform lenghts - a complete non-issue for me), is actually the lower frequency of trains on the Richmond and YVR branches of the line. That is one of the greatest advantages of the other SkyTrain lines - minimal wait times. People hate waiting! Knowing that you can walk into a station and be on a train in 90 seconds or less in most instances is a huge advantage. Every 6 minutes on the combined line is reasonable, but up to 12 minutes on the separate branches starts to be a bit much for my liking. Yes, I realize that's off-peak, but still makes the line less useable in my opinion.

As a note, I got on at Vancouver City Centre station this morning. (I still hate that station name - makes Vancouver seem small - how many other cities name stations 'City Centre'? And is the location of Burrard Station any less City Centre? or Granville? From my opinion, all the stations on the line downtown are all part of Vancouver's City Centre, especially Waterfront and perhaps a bit less in respect to Yaletown. Maybe Georgia would have been a better station name?) There were many many people with luggage getting on at almost ALL stations up to and including Bridgeport. There wasn't a single station that didn't board passengers which I thought was impressive at that hour of the morning on the first day of revenue service. This line will prove to be a significant asset to our city (regardless of any just or unjust opinions about what could have/should have been done differently).

agrant · #**8213** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 5:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by amor de cosmos

1st official day numbers:

http://buzzer.translink.ca/index.php/200...lus-how-to-work-the-new-ticket-machines/

Just under 100 thousand trips in 8 hours yesterday, eh? So then logically it could yield way beyond the designed numbers for a full day (100,000). I don't get it.

SpongeG · #**8214** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 5:41 AM**

i got to broadway just as the doors closed and had to wait a whole 3 minutes - it wasn't that bad - a number of people i noticed never tried to run when they saw the train there they just went to the platform wand waited

vango · #**8215** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 6:30 AM**

Agree with lightrail's comment about the announcements referring to "inbound" and "outbound" trains - confusing. Would have been nice to see the airplane symbol used more for YVR, such as on the electronic displays. Getting off at Waterfront is there clear signage for the two different exits? Didn't notice any but the platform was very crowded. Hope the slowdown and squealing wheels going around QE Park can be reduced. Overall though I was very impressed.

satishreddy · #**8216** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 6:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Is Vancouver's shiny, new Canada Line worth the price?

Brian Hutchinson, National Post
Published: Tuesday, August 18, 2009

...
No one is thrilled with the huge price tag, the majority of which will be paid by taxpayers, at municipal, provincial and federal levels. The line's designer, builder, and operator - a private joint venture company that contributed $720-million to the construction - will receive an undisclosed amount of subsidy, funded by taxpayers, should ridership not meet projections.
...

[email protected]

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1906149

I really wish reporters would give a clearer explanation of the "subsidy" or at least put it in context.

In general, Translink and most transit agencies for that matter, don't cover operating costs with transit revenues. I think for Translink, fares cover about 50 - 60% of operating costs. If one does the analysis for different pieces of the system, then the proportion recovered from fares varies. For example, I believe that for Expo line the fare revenue more than covers the operating expenses. Some bus routes, such as 99 or 98 may cover their operating expenses, I believe. In general, however, every time someone gets on a bus, property taxes, gas taxes or some other non fare revenue source is paying for part of the operating cost. None of the commentators that complain about Canada Line subsidies mentions this fact.

deasine · #**8217** Posted **Aug 19, 2009, 6:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightrail

I found the "inbound" and "outbound" references in the announcements a bit odd. The platforms are not identified as "inbound" or "outbound" so I'm actually left wondering which platform they're referring to. Why not "eastbound, westbound, etc like on Skytrain? In some ways I kind of like "outbound" and "inbound" as it reminds me of the English "up" and "down" trains and platforms (still in use over there).

Inbound and outbound are more technical terms, but is used quite a lot around the world. The Millennium Line actually uses/used "outbound" and "inbound" if you look at the displays. Personally, if you were asking me, inbound and outbound makes more sense, especially if the system doesn't just go west/east/north/south. What would you call the Millennium Line platforms then: Westbound? But hey they were just going Eastbound earlier. Inbound at least means the trains are entering the downtown outbound out of downtown.

But yes, they should've at least indicated which platform is which.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vango

Agree with lightrail's comment about the announcements referring to "inbound" and "outbound" trains - confusing. Would have been nice to see the airplane symbol used more for YVR, such as on the electronic displays. Getting off at Waterfront is there clear signage for the two different exits? Didn't notice any but the platform was very crowded. Hope the slowdown and squealing wheels going around QE Park can be reduced. Overall though I was very impressed.

No there is a lack of specific signage at Waterfront, pretty much around the entire system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightrail

Don't like:
- In-train maps - still look amateurish
- pocket doors - outside doors would have allowed bigger windows
- size of windows

Pretty much agree on all of your points. The in-train maps could've been LED ones: ROTEM develops LED maps for the MTR and some Korean Commuter Trains. Pocket doors are a little slow and loud. The two small windows could've been one large window...

Langara - 49th Avenue
Like I said earlier, the announcer says "Langara-49th" instead of the full station name and the display does the same. These inconsistencies are really bothering me for some reason.