Canada Line | Completed

[G-Man]

Went over to Vancouver for a couple of days and took an opportunity to ride the train to visit a friend south of false creek. Anyways very nice line (at least the 4 stations I saw. One complaint though, not enough ticket machines at Vancouver Centre, the line up was about 8 deep for each of them.

[vansky]

Originally Posted by Vancity

Amen! haha

hk and tw are all chinese!!

[nova9]

I think concession stands only make sense in large stations - on our system, it would have to be the same size as broadway/commercial or else it jsut gets in the way and you can't guarantee enough foot traffic.

however, I would not object to small kiosks at the entrances. not anywhere else though.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by officedweller

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

It would make too much sense to have high density development near a station, so probably not.

[CLC]

Originally Posted by agrant

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

It is not easy to find accurate info of different airport link all around the world, I am not intended to waste my time to find just one counterexample to prove his bold statement that no airport link "has ever come close to meeting its projected ridership" is wrong.

Looking at the map, Canada Line stations are within very walkable distance to a total of over 30+ hotels around Downtown, Boardway-Cambie, and those Richmond stations. I haven't even included hostels, those backpackers surely don't mind bus to stations. I am quite optimistic that YVR link here will fare much better than average airport link.

For those with bus pass, particular $4x annual pass for seniors, I do think the $2.5 add-fare each way may defer them to visit YVR as a gathering place

[johnjimbc]

Well, it's been around for a while so maybe the old projections are now outdated - far surpassing I'm sure the original ones over 20 years ago - but the metro line to Reagan National Airport in the DC metro area is incredibly popular and has been for years.

As the entire system has been an overwhelming success, I have no doubt the original ridership projections for that airport connection have been exceeded, perhaps many times over.

It has proven so successful that the current expansion of the metro system is an extended line that will eventually connect to one of the other 2 major airports in the metro area - Dulles Airport. Considering all the extensions that compete for dollars, it is somewhat telling that the line moving forward is another airport connection.

The third major airport in the area - which is the Baltimore-Washington Airport is already connected to DC (and Baltimore) via commuter rail.

It does appear to me that he's making a blanket statement that cannot possibly be factual with even a cursory reading - EVERY airport connection doesn't meet its expectations. Really? I doubt it. I'm sure it is why he chose the specific airports he did, though I can't help but wonder if even the data on those cities matches his statement.

[arashi_1987]

Some observations after riding the Canada Line 4 times in the last 2 days:

1) Many commuters during rush hour with many people getting off the trains at Bridgeport but also Lansdowne and Brighouse.

2) My friend claims that the trains were already very crowded at Lansdowne during the morning rush.

3) The speed is super slow especially between Broadway to 41st.

*4) The 99B eastbound seemed at 4:30pm seemed to be quite congested. Many people got off at Cambie&B'way but about just as many got on too. I can feel the congestion will worsen once summer is over.

5) The station announcements are loud and clear. Although I saw some people react to it (maybe it was too loud and scared them).

6) The drop in frequency of trains after 6pm is way too early.

At Lansdowne Station Aug 18th just after 6pm the sign read:

Waterfront 10
Bridgeport 13 (<--however this magically changed to Waterfront a few minutes later, i wonder if Waterfront was overflowing with people so they decided not to take it out of service so early).
Waterfront 22

[Metro-One]

No sympathy coming from me for the taxi drivers. Honestly, they provide terrible service and they keep their vehicles in terrible shape. The game has changed for them, guess they need to improve on their services to compete!

Also I am amazed how many complaints can be made about such a good thing. The station announcements, really??? I hope they don't turn them down to the point where you cant hear the darn things in the station! Also I hate the idea of any sound barricades, if made of concrete those are simply graffiti magnets.

the trains are actually quite quiet, I was in Richmond today, needed an excuse to ride the line again (love it). So i don't know what people are complaining about (only the houses near the entrance of the portal near Marine have a valid complaint) and I hope they do not slow the trains down anywhere.

Honestly, something bad needs to happen to this country to remind people how good we have it here and to show them what a real issue to complain about is.

[NewfBC]

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.

Um, maybe HK is MUCH larger in size?

Ron.

[Waders]

Originally Posted by squeezied

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

According to the Buzzer blog http://buzzer.translink.ca/, you can still get the passport stamps before Aug. 23 from locations listed in the link http://buzzer.translink.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/passportstampslocations.pdf.

[vansky]

i think now that this line has been completed, we can move on and take it as granted...and focus on the future projects...the highways, the hotels all deserve some attention

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by Waders

According to the Buzzer blog http://buzzer.translink.ca/, you can still get the passport stamps before Aug. 23 from locations listed in the link http://buzzer.translink.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/passportstampslocations.pdf.

Thank you for posting that. I have some free time tomorrow so I had hoped to get the stamps on my passport.

[mr.x]

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.

"Canada Line" solely in Chinese could be confusing, there needs to be some sort of reference that it's a train..."line" doesn't exactly do it.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by djmk

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.

The federal government is spending $450-million on the Evergreen Line, which is going to cost considerably less than the Canada Line at $1.4-billion. You don't see the federal government holding us ransom on naming rights for that project.....it was a retarded excuse to name the line in the first place, with that kind of reasoning a lot of things the federal government (partially) funds would be named "Canada _____".

It really should've been named the "Olympic Line". Understandingly they didn't....you have people thinking Olympic Village Station was built for the Olympics just because of the first two words, nevermind an entire transit line.

[Canadian Mind]

nah, gotta reach page 300...

[lightrail]

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.”

Where's the bullsh*t meter when you need it? Where does this guy get these "facts"?

So let me see - London Heathrow's subway (underground) connection was so well underused, they built an express line. That was so well under used, they added a stopping service. So London Heathrow has a subway line, an express line and a stopping line, with around 20 trains a hour providing service to five stations at the airport. Sounds like it's not well used to me. It's so badly used, that they've decided to include Heathrow in the $13 billion pound (about CDN $30 billion) crossrail project so, providing a second deep tube link from London to Heathrow running under central London.

Also - Rees' statements are surprising. So what do you want Bill? Everybody to drive? Isn't the train a way of reducing our ecological footprint? So why are you reported as so negative to this?

Please - if you make wild statements like this - back them up with data.

[mr.x]

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

Hopefully the station announcements haven't been turned down too much. I absolutely love how loud they are, it really alerts you for the train arrivals and destinations.

And hopefully, condo owners aren't appeased by having trains slowed down to reduce noise like at Main Street Station. That section is absolutely retarded.

[mr.x]

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.

If they weren't willing to spend millions more for longer platforms, you're going to expect them to build larger stations for more amenities?

I think not.

Regardless, there isn't sufficient demand/passenger flow to make numerous shops feasible. It might work to have one or two at the busier stations, like what is being planned for most Vancouver stations with Jugo Juice shops.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by mrjauk

Maybe they should call it "Canada's Line."

lol, Toronto might be jealous.

[CLC]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Regardless, there isn't sufficient demand/passenger flow to make numerous shops feasible. It might work to have one or two at the busier stations, like what
is being planned for most Vancouver stations with Jugo Juice shops.

Hong kong MTR does not always do things right. Their relatively new West Rail line has huge stations all the way, but because of questionable station locations nearly half of them are so deserted, with no sufficient demand/passenger flow to support the many mall-style shops inside the station. One particular bad example is the Austin Road station, none of the 30+ shops has been rented out due to very few passengers

link to Austin Station (HK West Rail) pictures at Wiki:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...stin_Station_Level_G_Concourse_View1.jpg
shopping mall style entrance
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...K_Austin_Station_Concourse_Escalator.jpg
concourse
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co..._Station_Level_1_Vacant_Shops_200908.jpg
empty shop spaces on concourse