Canada Line | Completed

[GeeCee]

Why do the platform entrances at YVR have those metal poles, anyway? Seems kinda silly to me. Sure, there's the handicap entrance, but what if you're carrying luggage with you?

[mr.x]

u being a critic... u have been a supporter..... i have been the one who has been criticizing this project and i have been the one who have said from the getgo that a P3 was a wrong move.... I always wanted something that was integrated with the expoline with 80mtr platforms and non-cut and cover tunnelling and no ridership guarantee.

You might as well paraphrase what I said years ago.

I've been criticizing this line for the past 5 years, while you've been here in this forum for how long? A year?

I'm quite sure you wouldn't even know of these issues if it weren't for me making noise about it.

There's a difference between criticizing for the sake of a better line, and then criticizing just for political kicks - which you have been doing everyday.

I've been around here a lot longer than you have. I was very supportive of it being built years ago when Translink was voting for it, and I still am. There's a difference between being supportive and being critical. You can be supportive and also be critical at the same time...the word you're looking for is opposing, which is clearly not the case.

There is nothing wrong with the P3 funding model. Perhaps we could've gone with a different type of P3 model for the Canada Line, but the main problem was that (1) RAVCO did not specify enough on what should be built and (2) RAVCO grossly underestimated ridership.

I concur with the diagram

and yes there are none... reason: P3

It has nothing to do with a P3, it's because RAVCO didn't specify it.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Hopefully, this isn't the A/C's max.

I recall for the original MKIIs that the A/C only takes the temperature down to ambient temperature - i.e. outside temperature.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Waders

Ridership pattern has changed because of the addition of this new line.
Take me as an example. I seldem went to Richmond because it would take more than 1 hour by bus. Since the line opened on Tuesday, I have already travelled to Richmond 3 times as a true pessenger. This new line has allow me to go to malls to shop and places to eat in Richmond so much easier and quicker.
Increased transportation network connectivity can generate additional ridership demand.

Thus, ridership projections were grossly underestimated. I believe for the 100,000 figure, they had only estimated that new ridership would make up 30,000.

I saw quite a few pessengers with luggages stood near the train door, slowed down pessengers getting in/out the train. The luggage also become an obstacle on the narrow platform.

Ugh. *headaches*

[deasine]

Originally Posted by GeeCee

Why do the platform entrances at YVR have those metal poles, anyway? Seems kinda silly to me. Sure, there's the handicap entrance, but what if you're carrying luggage with you?

The metal poles are to prevent people from bringing YVR's luggage carts onto the station platform.

Originally Posted by officedweller

I recall for the original MKIIs that the A/C only takes the temperature down to ambient temperature - i.e. outside temperature.

That makes sense. Elevated to train, trains feel cooler but underground to train, trains feel hotter.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by lightrail

They need more signs like this one and signs in the arrivals area pointing towards the Canada Line. It's a bit blurry - but it says "Canada Line. Public Rail transit to downtown Vancouver.

"Public rail transit"??

"SkyTrain to downtown Vancouver" would provide sufficient information.
It contains "train" - and isn't as dumbed down.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

Don't forget Carol James' only comments on the day it opened was that she felt it was built in the wrong place.

Had it been built it along the Arbutus Corridor some time next decade we wouldn't have to worry about crowded trains today. Our loss.

To be fair, she was referring to the fact the Evergreen Line was supposed to have been built first, not Arbutus vs. Cambie.

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by deasine

The metal poles are to prevent people from bringing YVR's luggage carts onto the station platform.

Aha.. never thought about that. I hope they don't fit through the wheelchair door otherwise we might start to see them popping up in stations soon.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by lightrail

They need more signs like this one and signs in the arrivals area pointing towards the Canada Line. It's a bit blurry - but it says "Canada Line. Public Rail transit to downtown Vancouver.

I think YVR could have done a lot better with the Link building design, this is the main entrance to the train but it doesn't seem "grand" enough in my opinion....at least with regards to the escalators/staircase.

Hmmmm..."Public transit rail to Downtown Vancouver" would make more sense.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by deasine

Photography by Deasine - Hosted on Picasa Web Albums - Creative Commons Protected

There's still space in that standing area, but there's no point in having that area if you don't have enough handles/poles/bars to hold onto. Dumb. You could fit in quite a few more people in that picture with more to hold onto.


Unbelievable how YVR Station was so crowded today....I know, still a lot of transit tourists but I think when they're all gone there will only be a marginal decrease in ridership along that section. Anyhow, with that kind of ridership, Translink should rethink about scrapping the silly surcharge or at least reduce it to a zone 3.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by lightrail

They need more signs like this one and signs in the arrivals area pointing towards the Canada Line. It's a bit blurry - but it says "Canada Line. Public Rail transit to downtown Vancouver.

A big SkyTrain logo on that glass wall on the right would work well. Or even the round yellow symbol with the train - size large - 4 ft across.

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by deasine

When I was in my early teens I used the 601 fastbus (nice coach seats) from Tsawwassen to downtown Vancouver/Granville St./theatre row and it was fast, comfortable and convenient. Now that line, among others will stop at the Bridgeport Station.

The only time that I've utilized Skytrain was as a kid trying out the Expo test line along Terminal Ave. circa 1985.

That's about my only experience with public transit. Don't get me wrong, I'm as much as a booster for rapid transit infrastructure as you guys!

And for the first time, I was looking forward to trying out the Canada Line. But looking at the foregoing pic on a Saturday, it looks as if everyone is packed in like sardines. Yikes!

Will it be even reasonably possible to grab a seat if I do decide to take the Canada Line for a test run???!!

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

I'm willing to admit my experience today probably won't be "typical", but I do think they've underestimated ridership quite seriously.

It is also my belief that they have somehow succeeded in making the ticketing machines "too complicated" and they shouldn't have to have 2 people being paid to stand by each machine telling people how to use it, like how to swipe your card in the proper way, wait for yellow light, and quickly pull. Some written instructions would have been helpful. Also, zones aren't easily explained.

I also think they underestimated how much space ginormous backpacks (you know the kind that all of those white people backpack with that you could stuff a child in) and luggage sets take up.

Each car may have a certain capacity of "people", but the baggage can cut that in half or more.

I'm definitely with you on underestimating ridership.

As for the ticket machines, that's how the new credit/debit card readers are now. They have a smart card chip that ensure it's not a counterfeit. I've noticed a lot of merchants and restaurants have switched to the new devices where you are required to put the card slot in and then type your pin number, which is basically the same thing that the new ticket vending machines have.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

And for the first time, I was looking forward to trying out the Canada Line. But looking at the foregoing pic on a Saturday, it looks as if everyone is packed in like sardines. Yikes!

Will it be even reasonably possible to grab a seat if I do decide to take the Canada Line for a test run???!!

Weekend frequencies + transit sightseers don't make the best combination. Like I said, give it more time. And yes, it is possible to grab a seat.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by officedweller

A big SkyTrain logo on that glass wall on the right would work well. Or even the round yellow symbol with the train - size large - 4 ft across.

It was a missed opportunity to not have implemented the giant "T" symbols in time for the Canada Line opening. It would have been great for advertising the new universal transit symbol in this region.

As for the terminal, right on the terminal concourse outside of the escalator in that picture, they should have a large sign across the width of that concourse with a large sign that points to the Canada Line entrance.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by deasine

Anyways, with proper synchronization of buses and trains, I can't see Bridgeport being a problem in the short term. In the long run... it's a different story. TransLink really needs to make sure buses are synced in time with trains, and not all suburban buses arrive at once: I would say maximum two at a time.

We might be able to synchronize the trains, but don't count on the buses being synchronized. Sure, they will be a lot more reliable and on time than how they were before but every secound counts before a train departs and I certainly don't count on the buses being on time by the minute.

Bridgeport will be a problem from day 1 during most hours of the day. There really is very little space on the platform to wait for the train, it's very narrow as you said so yourself.....and with all those buses now terminating at Bridgeport AND with what's left of the 98 B-Line ridership now taking the train on No.3 Road it won't be pretty at all.

Problems with public infrastructure are bound to happen. I'm surprised there wasn't any major breakdown during the opening day. It's been less than a week since InTransitBC has opened the line for the public and already, some of us have painted a doomsday picture for the Canada Line.

I think the real test for the Canada Line isn't Sept 7; the real test is during the winter, when there is snow.

I don't recall many systems having so many problems and crowding issues this early....days even....of course, there are some special cases like the new line in Taipei, but that's a different scenario.

September 7th won't be a joy ride at all.

[crazyjoeda]

I think the graphic identity of this line and way finding needs to be redone. Does anyone know why they decided to use a different symbol for Canada Line vs the standard symbol used for the other lines and at YVR? The Canada Line train symbol looks like a bus.

[agrant]

Originally Posted by mr.x

September 7th won't be a joy ride at all.

I can definitely see it being a gong show. God I love my car.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by agrant

I can definitely see it being a gong show. God I love my car.

The planets and stars are aligning for September 7th. There's absolutely no way the system can handle the additional bus passengers, especially with current train frequencies.

They better think about using 19 of the 20 trains for at least peak hour service, screw the initial and service plan schedules in the contract. You're going to be pissing off a lot of people who may have otherwise stayed with transit if it weren't for lineups, crowded platforms, and sardine trains. We could potentially lose transit riders to cars on that day.

Does anyone know why the TVM's are breaking so easily?

[CLC]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Will it be even reasonably possible to grab a seat if I do decide to take the Canada Line for a test run???!!

Ride to the end of line to one of terminus, and don't leave the train. You can take a favourite seat easily.

9:30am-11:30am is usually lighter load if you don't want sardine situation.