Canada Line | Completed

[vansky]

interesting how they didn't plan any underground plaza for this line, (shops,resta.etc ?

[NetMapel]

Originally Posted by CLC

I know newcomers from China are most used to the term 地铁(Subway), but Translink already branded the Canada Line as part of the Skytrain system.
Recently the Chinese language press used the term 捷運 more than ever. I guess 捷運 is also the official name of taiwan metro system (which has many elevated tracks like ours)

I know 捷運 and would have been fine if they used that name. However, then you got HKers and mainland Chinese who will be confused at what that is since they may not be familiar with that name. Whatever, don't even bother putting "subway" in the translation. Just the name of the line, Canada Line, will suffice.

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by CLC

Metronews has a front page story of taxi losing business at the airport
http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/local/...tanding-still-as-riders-take-canada-line

Great news.

[djmk]

Originally Posted by vansky

ya, should've been the olympics line, makes more historical sense along with expo...

its named Canada Line because the Federal Gov't spent 450 million on it. I imagine with that kind of money they got naming rights.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by CLC

Metronews has a front page story of taxi losing business at the airport
http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/local/...tanding-still-as-riders-take-canada-line

Perhaps they could not wait at the airport by the DOZEN and actually drive around looking for a fare.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluegoose9999/3374040377/

[officedweller]

Metro said that their agreement with YVR requires them to be stationed at the airport. Probably time to re-examine that contract.

[metroXpress]

Originally Posted by CLC

I know newcomers from China are most used to the term 地铁(Subway), but Translink already branded the Canada Line as part of the Skytrain system.
Recently the Chinese language press used the term 捷運 more than ever. I guess 捷運 is also the official name of taiwan metro system (which has many elevated tracks like ours)

Yea, Taipei opened a new line, Neihu Line, which is also built by Bombardier.

I prefer this term too

[metroXpress]

Originally Posted by NetMapel

I know 捷運 and would have been fine if they used that name. However, then you got HKers and mainland Chinese who will be confused at what that is since they may not be familiar with that name. Whatever, don't even bother putting "subway" in the translation. Just the name of the line, Canada Line, will suffice.

that means you're Taiwanese

[lightrail]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Perhaps they could not wait at the airport by the DOZEN and actually drive around looking for a fare.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluegoose9999/3374040377/

Boo hoo - some of the worst drivers and worst service providers are Metro Vancouver cabs. Don't feel sorry for them at all.

[djmk]

from today's Georgia Straight

TransLink predicts Canada Line surcharge windfall
By Matthew Burrows
Publish Date: August 20, 2009

TransLink is hoping to shake tens of millions of dollars in surcharges out of Canada Line riders heading to Vancouver International Airport.

“We expect that over the 30-year concession period with [private] operating company Protrans [B.C.]—to whom we’re paying the performance payments—we would anticipate the AddFare [an airport surcharge] bringing in about $55 million,” TransLink spokesperson Ken Hardie told the Straight by phone.

Hardie said that the surcharge will be a “nonissue” until it kicks in on January 1, 2010. On top of the $3.75 two-zone peak-period cash fare, riders travelling from Vancouver to the airport will pay a $2.50 surcharge, for a total one-way fare of $6.25.

Bill Rees, a professor in UBC’s school of community and regional planning, expressed skepticism about TransLink’s $55-million projection.

“What I do know is that no airport transit line—either in Chicago or Melbourne or Sydney, or wherever they have these things—has ever come close to meeting its projected ridership,” Rees told the Straight. “So I don’t know why TransLink thinks this line is going to be any different. Perhaps it will be, but you know, most travellers who carry two or three bags aren’t going to use the damn thing.”

The Canada Line service to the airport suits a “certain type of traveller”, Hardie admitted.

“The business traveller that has one suitcase and a briefcase, that sort of thing, will find—even with the AddFare—it much more convenient to get to downtown on Canada Line than by taxi or by any other means,” he said. “The family, with everybody hauling around two great big suitcases, we think that they are more likely to drive. That segment of the market is better served by private passenger vehicles, taxis, and that sort of thing.”

Vancouver Airport Authority spokesperson Rebecca Catley told the Straight she thinks the Canada Line will lead to increased transit use.

Source URL: http://www.straight.com/article-248217/translink-predicts-surcharge-windfall

[NetMapel]

Originally Posted by Allen

that means you're Taiwanese

Haha... guess that's supposed to be a secret ? Seems like there's quite a few Asians on this board ! We love our public transit, heheh

[CLC]

Finally, media turned their attention to the noise aspects of the Canada Line

A leading Chinese-language newspaper printed a top story today regarding complaints of noise from near Marine Drive all the way to Richmond elevated sections. Complaints come from house owners (near Cambie@Marine Drive), apartment tenants along No.3, as well as some merchants there. It is not only about the noise of C-Line vehicles, but also the loud announcements on the platform. Translink responded that announcement volume has been tuned down


Chris Sears, a house owner, is not happy about the noise and losing of his view in front of his house. Translink replied him that "sound barrier" will be built (but by when?)

It turns out that the rest of Cambie NIMBYs are smart that they requested a underground section of Canada Line

[mrjauk]

Originally Posted by djmk

from today's Georgia Straight


Source URL: http://www.straight.com/article-248217/translink-predicts-surcharge-windfall

A couple of things:

Is the $55 million expected revenue calculated in current dollars? If so, then over 30 years, at $2.50 (current prices) a trip, would require 22 million one-way trips to the airport.

This amounts to 733,333 one-way trips per year, and 2009 (approrpriately enough) per day--seven days a week.

So, if the Canada Line serves 100,000 passengers daily, then it would require 2.009% of the passengers paying the add-fare. Of course, as ridership increases, the total percentage of passengers needing to pay the add-fare decreases.

Feasible? Now, on the other hand, if the $55 million in non-inflation adjusted money, then it will be no problem as an average inflation rate of 2.2% over the 30 years mean that the price of the add-on will be $5.00 by the 30th year.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by CLC

Finally, media turned their attention to the noise aspects of the Canada Line

A leading Chinese-language newspaper printed a top story today regarding complaints of noise from near Marine Drive all the way to Richmond elevated sections. Complaints come from house owners (near Cambie@Marine Drive), apartment tenants along No.3, as well as some merchants there. It is not only about the noise of C-Line vehicles, but also the loud announcements on the platform. Translink responded that announcement volume has been tuned down


Chris Sears, a house owner, is not happy about the noise and losing of his view in front of his house. Translink replied him that "sound barrier" will be built (but by when?)

It turns out that the rest of Cambie NIMBYs are smart that they requested a underground section of Canada Line

I have more sympathy for his issue than people who move in beside already existing infrastructure and then complain about it, resulting in a major highway having to have its speeds lowered as they pass. Hopefully something can be done, though I'd still assume his property values have gone down from having a train in his front yard.

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by vansky

interesting how they didn't plan any underground plaza for this line, (shops,resta.etc ?

Yeah, I kind of wondered about this too. I know in HK, the MTR stations (although, they are MUCH larger in size, those stations are), they have newsstands, sometimes they have small bakeries, etc. it makes it an interesting place to be, and people can get something without having to go back to the mall, in the station (i.e. something to drink, candy bar, newspaper, etc)

too bad it wasn't part of the plan.

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by NetMapel

Haha... guess that's supposed to be a secret ? Seems like there's quite a few Asians on this board ! We love our public transit, heheh

Amen! haha

[CLC]

from today's Georgia Straight

...
“What I do know is that no airport transit line—either in Chicago or Melbourne or Sydney, or wherever they have these things—has ever come close to meeting its projected ridership,” Rees told the Straight. “So I don’t know why TransLink thinks this line is going to be any different. Perhaps it will be, but you know, most travellers who carry two or three bags aren’t going to use the damn thing.”

Does Vancouver shares particular similarity to Chicago or or Melbourne or Sydney, why he doesn't mention some successful airport link elsewhere?

Anyway, does TransLink ever released projected ridership of the Airport leg?

[agrant]

Originally Posted by CLC

Does Vancouver shares particular similarity to Chicago or or Melbourne or Sydney, why he doesn't mention some successful airport link elsewhere?

Anyway, does TransLink ever released projected ridership of the Airport leg?

Well, he said "wherever they have these things...". So as far as he knows, no airport link has ever met ridership projections.

[vansky]

Originally Posted by Vancity

Yeah, I kind of wondered about this too. I know in HK, the MTR stations (although, they are MUCH larger in size, those stations are), they have newsstands, sometimes they have small bakeries, etc. it makes it an interesting place to be, and people can get something without having to go back to the mall, in the station (i.e. something to drink, candy bar, newspaper, etc)

too bad it wasn't part of the plan.

ha, they can always put a few vending machines inside the stations, except no food is allowed on trains. imagine a girl who just bought a piece of lame bread, and then the announcement goes" there's no food allowed on trains "( that weird accented female voice)....

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

... though I'd still assume his property values have gone down from having a train in his front yard.

Unless it was up-zoned to multiple family residences...