Canada Line | Completed

[hollywoodnorth]

Seattle

Area
- City 142.5 sq mi (369.2 km2)
- Land 83.87 sq mi (217.2 km2)
- Water 58.67 sq mi (152 km2)
- Metro 8,186 sq mi (21,202 km2)
Elevation 0–520 ft (0–158 m)
Population (April 1, 2009)[1][2][3]
- City 602,000 (US: 25th)
- Density 7,179.4/sq mi (2,772/km2)
- Urban 2,712,205
- Metro 3,344,813 (US: 15th)
- Demonym Seattleite


Vancouver

Area
- City 114.67 km2 (44.3 sq mi)
- Metro 2,878.52 km2 (1,111.4 sq mi)
Elevation 2 m (7 ft)
Population (2006 Census)[1][2]
- City 578,041(Ranked 8th)
- Density 5,335/km2 (13,817.6/sq mi)
- Metro 2,116,581 (Ranked 3rd)
- Demonym Vancouverite



GAME.........SET.........MATCH.........VANCOUVER.........6-Love, 6-Love, 6-Love

[raggedy13]

I had my first late-night experience with the Canada Line tonight. I went from Broadway-City Hall to Yaletown. I caught the ~1:05am northbound train. As I was entering the station about a half-dozen people were walking out (I assume they came from a southbound train that arrived just before as I didn't see one arrive between then and the arrival of my northbound train). While waiting at the station the electronic sign frequently flashed the time that the last train was departing Richmond-Brighouse.

There was only myself and another guy waiting to catch the train to downtown. There were about 6 people waiting to catch the train south. When my northbound train arrived, there were 6 people on it altogether, four of whom got off there at Broadway. There was zero passenger movement at Olympic Village. Myself and another person got off at Yaletown and one or two people got on. Normally I wouldn't get off at Yaletown at that hour but I was craving poutine from Fritz (unfortunately Mondays are the one day of the week they're closed).

Anyways, one thing that was quite noticeable at that hour compared to the other lines is that there was at least one very prominent attendant at both Broadway and Yaletown stations. At Broadway the attendant was even picking up scraps of garbage for a bit and then was surveying the platforms from the mezzanine level above. At Yaletown the attendant was standing attentively facing the incoming train on the platform. They definitely give an enhanced sense of safety to the stations.

[twoNeurons]

Thanks to the diagram lightrail did, it makes it easy to calculate the difference between SkyTrain and Canada Line.

I know some others have said that the reason the Canada Line is slow is because of station spacing. While this is partly true, I'm convinced that it also has to do with the trains themselves.

Expo Line: 29th Ave - Metrotown : Two stops between, 3775m (5 minutes)
Canada Line: Bridgeport - Langara : ONE stop between, 3770m (5 minutes)
Canada Line: Broadway City Hall - Langara : Two stops between, 4150m ( 7 minutes )

I'm sure there are other comparisons, but I chose the first one because it's among the faster parts of the line. The second one is as close as I could come to matching distance and stop count.

This should be pretty clear that the Canada Line just isn't capable of the performance that we get out of a LIM system.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Rusty Gull

The site is called Skyscraperpage.com. Hong Kong is probably the most beautiful skyscraper city in the world.

Deal with it.

As for Japan, the cities of Tokyo and Osaka represent the global gold standard for mega-city public transportation networks.

Would you prefer the forumers here aspire to Cleveland?

wholly can you relax. i was just making an observation. Anyway, saying how great hong kong/japan are doesnt do anything to explain why vancouver more than other city forums talk about asia so much.

And I really could careless what other ppl aspire to.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

Seattle

Area
- City 142.5 sq mi (369.2 km2)
- Land 83.87 sq mi (217.2 km2)
- Water 58.67 sq mi (152 km2)
- Metro 8,186 sq mi (21,202 km2)
Elevation 0–520 ft (0–158 m)
Population (April 1, 2009)[1][2][3]
- City 602,000 (US: 25th)
- Density 7,179.4/sq mi (2,772/km2)
- Urban 2,712,205
- Metro 3,344,813 (US: 15th)
- Demonym Seattleite


Vancouver

Area
- City 114.67 km2 (44.3 sq mi)
- Metro 2,878.52 km2 (1,111.4 sq mi)
Elevation 2 m (7 ft)
Population (2006 Census)[1][2]
- City 578,041(Ranked 8th)
- Density 5,335/km2 (13,817.6/sq mi)
- Metro 2,116,581 (Ranked 3rd)
- Demonym Vancouverite



GAME.........SET.........MATCH.........VANCOUVER.........6-Love, 6-Love, 6-Love

is it just me or is it SHOCKING that

1) Metro Seattle is 8 larger area wise than Metro Vancouver

2) With 8 times more area they only manage to have 50% more people than Vancouver does........thats just CRAZY

3) if Seattle was build up to Vancouver Standards it would have a population of what 17 million people?

4) if you do the math the other way if Vancouver was build up (or build OUT) like Seattle is our population would be what....a Metro of 425,000 people!


crazy or CRAZY!?!?

[metroXpress]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I wouldn't call Seattle's line a metro by any means. Simply because it has street level portions in traffic! To me, a metro has to be completely grade separated from traffic (such as our skytrain network).

Also I do believe Vancouver proper is now larger than Seattle Proper. And while Metro-Seattle has a larger population then Metro-Vancouver, Seattle's Metro area includes regions far away from Seattle that we would not count as part of the metro in Canada. Essentially, it would be akin to Vancouver including Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Hope, Squamish and maybe even Greater Victoria and Nanaimo in the Metro-Vancouver area.

Besides that their stations are so far apart...ex.Rainer Beach to Tukwila-International Blvd is about 7 mins apart.

[Holden West]

Originally Posted by ozonemania

...some of the stations seemed to stop in the middle of mostly nothing. Quite the contrast. In walking around outside these stations I tried to visualize the development that could develop around these. It's a neat idea if it comes to fruition. I mean, it will definitely have a big impact on the urban fabric within the City of Vancouver outside of the downtown peninsula.

I thought of this when thinking about the Bridgeport station. I hope Richmond has a long-term plan for creating a dense little urban village centre around there.

I agree about the need for public art. And advertising. The stations need more "stuff". But the signage needs to be bold enough to stand above it all.

[metroXpress]

Originally Posted by Holden West

I thought of this when thinking about the Bridgeport station. I hope Richmond has a long-term plan for creating a dense little urban village centre around there.

They do have long term plans for a dense village around the No. 3 rd /Canada Line stations....check page 2 of this thread.

I agree about the need for public art. And advertising. The stations need more "stuff". But the signage needs to be bold enough to stand above it all.

definitely....

So far, there are some big ads at YVR and River Rock (Bridgeport stn.)

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by Allen

Besides that their stations are so far apart...ex.Rainer Beach to Tukwila-International Blvd is about 7 mins apart.

To be fair, the rest of their system has only 2/3 minutes between stations. Rainier Beach to Tukwila, however is 9 minutes ( according to Wiki ) and travels alonside the interstate.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

This should be pretty clear that the Canada Line just isn't capable of the performance that we get out of a LIM system.

Like I said, it's slower for a variety of reasons:
1) Future Stn at 57th
2) It needs to make sure it gets to the destination in 25/26 minutes (terminus depending. I'm 100% sure the trains themselves are more than capable of getting there earlier, so it just doesn't speed up as much.
3) There are a lot more "hills" from Langara-49th to Bridgeport than 29th to Metrotown. I have to give it to you here that if LIM and Conventional Rail were put to the test in the exact conditions, LIM would win. Anyways, 29th to Metrotown are gradual hills vs the ones on the Canada Line.

[flight_from_kamakura]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

is it just me or is it SHOCKING that

1) Metro Seattle is 8 larger area wise than Metro Vancouver

2) With 8 times more area they only manage to have 50% more people than Vancouver does........thats just CRAZY

3) if Seattle was build up to Vancouver Standards it would have a population of what 17 million people?

4) if you do the math the other way if Vancouver was build up (or build OUT) like Seattle is our population would be what....a Metro of 425,000 people!
crazy or CRAZY!?!?

my guess is that the single biggest contributing factor for the discrepancy is the freeways.

[Metro-One]

Also it has to do with the fact they include far off towns and cities, with vast stretches of rural land between them, that really should not be considered part of their metro area. Poor zoning and land management would also be a major factor. Culture as well. And the fact the just opened their first true piece of mass transit this year! (and I will gladly take the Canada line's grade separated design, automation & ability to run trains at very frequently intervals over Seattle's larger stations).

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Allen

Besides that their stations are so far apart...ex.Rainer Beach to Tukwila-International Blvd is about 7 mins apart.

There's a future station in there for Boeing Field.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by officedweller

See the videos at the same link? Click the videos tab.

Vancouver Sun Reporter Kelly Sinoski puts debit card in - but obviously with magnetic stripe on the wrong side (or does Scotiabank for some bizarre reason have its magnetic stripe along the bottom of the card?) - gets invalid reading.
Tries again (after spinning the card around) and it works - after showing the world her PIN number...
Was that a "set-up" for sensationalization of the problem??


http://www.vancouversun.com/Commuters+ticket+ride+Vancouver+Canada+Line/1925623/story.html

I gave the ticket machines a go last week and they were horrible.

First, there are no prompts at all on the screen at eye level (the one you look at). It just sits there like it is waiting for you to put your card in, so you put it in, but it does nothing. The old machines would tell you to remove the card when you need to, even GAS PUMPS do that. The new machine says nothing. Just some blinking lights on the card reader... and the blinking lights make it look like it's busy thinking (like a computer), not telling you to do something.

And it goes against chip card usage. On any reader I've used a chip card on, you are supposed to put in your card, leave it in, put in your pin, and pull it out when you are done. This goes against that standard.

The machines are absolute garbage. I'm amazed anyone actually used them and said "yeah, that makes total sense, put them in the stations". It's like there is no Quality Control in Translink.

The screen should be linked with the card reader and a big giant message should pop up saying "REMOVE CARD NOW OR I'LL FREAK OUT!" or "LOOK AT THAT TINNY LITTLE PIN PAD WAY DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW, MORON!"

I was buying the tickets, for my parents, at Bridgeport, where there are 5 machines. Over half the people who came up to the other machines while we were there put a card in the machine and got the same "invalid card" message and then put in cash, I don't think anyone, out of about 15 people that tried, successfully used their cards.

They should have gone with some of the nicer card readers they have at some parking lots. It would be better if you put your card in, and the machine held it (no need to quickly remove your card at the right time) while you completed your transaction.

Other than the machines my parents loved the Canada Line. They said it was a better ride than the Underground or Paris Metro. They really liked the smooth, yet fast ride, and the announcements and signs on the trains and platforms. They were a bit worried about capacity of the trains and stations as it was quite busy when we rode.

Remove card on the blinking light. What idiot thought that up and thought it was a better idea than following the established convention.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by BCPhil

... and the blinking lights make it look like it's busy thinking (like a computer), not telling you to do something.

Good point - like a hard drive spinning...

[mr.x]

lol, i'm quite thankful i have a U-Pass. I haven't had to carry change around to buy a fare ticket in years.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Good point - like a hard drive spinning...

That's what I thought the first time I used it. I put the card it and it clicked, so I though it was an in place reader (like an ABM) and the light started blinking. The screen didn't change so I thought the blinking light meant it was reading the card and thinking. Then the screen says "Invalid Card". SO I though it couldn't read my card. So I did it again. Nowhere on the display does it say what to do or what you did wrong.

All the machine needs to do is flash a giant message on the screen to remove the card when it wants you to remove the card. Or even an error message that says "Please remove card when the yellow light flashes". Problem solved. Then it would work like every other card reading machine in the world.

[metroXpress]

Originally Posted by mr.x

lol, i'm quite thankful i have a U-Pass. I haven't had to carry change around to buy a fare ticket in years.

In a few years, you would be using smart cards

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Allen

In a few years, you would be using smart cards

lol, i'll be long gone from UBC then.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by BCPhil

I gave the ticket machines a go last week and they were horrible.

First, there are no prompts at all on the screen at eye level (the one you look at). It just sits there like it is waiting for you to put your card in, so you put it in, but it does nothing. The old machines would tell you to remove the card when you need to, even GAS PUMPS do that. The new machine says nothing. Just some blinking lights on the card reader... and the blinking lights make it look like it's busy thinking (like a computer), not telling you to do something.

And it goes against chip card usage. On any reader I've used a chip card on, you are supposed to put in your card, leave it in, put in your pin, and pull it out when you are done. This goes against that standard.

The machines are absolute garbage. I'm amazed anyone actually used them and said "yeah, that makes total sense, put them in the stations". It's like there is no Quality Control in Translink.

The screen should be linked with the card reader and a big giant message should pop up saying "REMOVE CARD NOW OR I'LL FREAK OUT!" or "LOOK AT THAT TINNY LITTLE PIN PAD WAY DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW, MORON!"

I was buying the tickets, for my parents, at Bridgeport, where there are 5 machines. Over half the people who came up to the other machines while we were there put a card in the machine and got the same "invalid card" message and then put in cash, I don't think anyone, out of about 15 people that tried, successfully used their cards.

They should have gone with some of the nicer card readers they have at some parking lots. It would be better if you put your card in, and the machine held it (no need to quickly remove your card at the right time) while you completed your transaction.

Other than the machines my parents loved the Canada Line. They said it was a better ride than the Underground or Paris Metro. They really liked the smooth, yet fast ride, and the announcements and signs on the trains and platforms. They were a bit worried about capacity of the trains and stations as it was quite busy when we rode.

Remove card on the blinking light. What idiot thought that up and thought it was a better idea than following the established convention.

there is also no cash button - only buttons for debit or credit show up

on the old machines it gave 3 options - took me a while to figure that you just put in your cash - lol - which of course holds up the line - i noticed people beside me were having problems too