Canada Line | Completed

[zivan56]

The trains are good for carrying luggage...I see no need for a rack, as people want to have luggage within arms reach. Putting luggage on a rack away from you is asking for it to be stolen.
If you want to see a bad metro train layout, look at Munich's S-Bahn, which has 2x2 seats facing each other and very narrow aisles, forcing anybody with luggage to stand in the doorway or occupy 4 seats.

[CLC]

I don't mind Athen metro's style luggage rack, but only if our Canada line train-set is 60 meters. It is waste of standing space if the train is packed.

With the high percentage of seniors using Vancouver transit system, you also can't eliminate too much seats.

[Canadian Mind]

Originally Posted by CLC

I don't mind Athen metro's style luggage rack, but only if our Canada line train-set is 60 meters. It is waste of standing space if the train is packed.

I don't think so. if the train is packed 3 persons holding their luggage take up more space than 3 persons standing with their luggage stacked ontop of one another on the racks.

really, I'm thinking side-seating with overhead luggage racks or bins, and all seats are foldable so as to maximise standing space.

[Kitchissippi]

I visited Vancouver a few days ago and rode the Canada Line. I took some videos, here's the segment from Bridgeport to Marine drive showing some of the interesting features like the train garage (0:22) and the new bridge (0:50)

• Video Link

[deasine]

Great videos there. The Athens trains aren't very nice I have to say. I, too, don't see luggage racks necessary. Our trains serve as metro trains, not as the airport primary. Having said that, I do wish we used side seating instead, giving people more room with luggage and standing. The train windows are so small and it's underground most of the time, so side seating wouldn't really matter.

[Metro-One]

All the transit maps at Columbia Station have not been changed, they still show the B-line, hehe. Thought that would have been all taken care of long ago...

[TransitJack]

I think before we start filling the trains with bulky luggage racks an approach of educating these people who insist on taking up tons of space. The idea of the large open area is for bikes AND luggage, otherwise there is reasonable space under the seats. Remember, in January they're paying extra to get to and from the airport, maybe this is why they have add fare? a sort-of fare for luggage?

[vanman]

The one negative (albeit trivial) thing I'd like to add about the Rotem train sets is about the positioning of the windows. They are so small to begin with and if you are standing up and you're over 5'4 you can't see anything out of them at all. In a packed train it is nice to have something to look at other than ads.

[nova9]

it would be but perhaps they thought it to be a non-issue considering that the line is underground for most of the journey. but in any case, bigger windows would have made any underground journey less suffocating for some.

[cabotp]

Originally Posted by vanman

The one negative (albeit trivial) thing I'd like to add about the Rotem train sets is about the positioning of the windows. They are so small to begin with and if you are standing up and you're over 5'4 you can't see anything out of them at all. In a packed train it is nice to have something to look at other than ads.

When ever I've taken transit. I've enjoyed watching all the other people (cough idiots) While listening to my ipod. Can get quite enjoyable people watching.

[officedweller]

I agree that people with valuables in their luggage will not use luggage racks - especially on a crowded train where you can't prevent someone from stealing your bag. Maybe the bench seats near the open area should have a "people with luggage" symbol. Otherwise people with luggage should stand.

[CLC]

Originally Posted by TransitJack

I think before we start filling the trains with bulky luggage racks an approach of educating these people who insist on taking up tons of space. The idea of the large open area is for bikes AND luggage, otherwise there is reasonable space under the seats. Remember, in January they're paying extra to get to and from the airport, maybe this is why they have add fare? a sort-of fare for luggage?

I support addfare for another reason: a large proportion of "local tourists" going to airport are annual pass (e.g. seniors) and u-pass holders, addfare make them really pay a little extra, or if they decide not worth it , free up space for real travellers (and their luggage)

btw while I read some travellers' reviews on the Shangri-La Hotel, surprised (or should not be surprised?) there's a review already mentioned they used Canada Line. The myth that only budget travellers use transit link to airport is completely quashed.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserRevie...La_Hotel-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by deasine

Great videos there. The Athens trains aren't very nice I have to say. I, too, don't see luggage racks necessary. Our trains serve as metro trains, not as the airport primary. Having said that, I do wish we used side seating instead, giving people more room with luggage and standing. The train windows are so small and it's underground most of the time, so side seating wouldn't really matter.

One would think the extra fare pax to YVR will pay, and the $300 mil YVR coughed up would have bought some sensible luggage planning. The line was built with the premise it a big part of its mission was to serve the airport.

The bike space to YVR is a complete waste, how many people are going to use that?

[twoNeurons]

Can't the bike space be used for luggage space?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by mr.x

ummmm...whawhaWHAWHAT???

LOL he's ranting about capacity I think. I thought you of all people would understand...

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by whatnext

The bike space to YVR is a complete waste, how many people are going to use that?

I use it - nice trips include the middle arm dike at aberdeen and iona island park at templeton. at the very least, it provides more standing room when it is not used.

i agree that an athens-like rack will be an automatic theft magnet, unless there is a special airport car with yvr passengers segregated. An overhead rack might be nice, but the risk of having something fall and hit someone is high.

I think that they should be installing the seats centre-facing, certainly for future rolling stock.

[CLC]

Lack of Canada Line signs leave seniors standing
Young people slow to give up seats, says transit-riding senior

Cheryl Rossi, Vancouver Courier
Published: Friday, September 04, 2009

Miriam Mattila, who's 73, and her older friend rode the Canada Line to the airport last Saturday.

No one gave up their seats and they stood the entire length of the trip.

"If we had to stand all that way with a shoulder bag and our luggage it would get pretty darn uncomfortable," Mattila said. "And that Canada Line goes pretty darn fast."
Miriam Mattila believes the Canada Line should reserve seats for seniors. Signs are in the works.


The women eventually found seats on their return trip. "With the luggage and everything it's hard to get through if you see a seat half way down the car," Mattila said. "By the time you get there, somebody's got it."

Mattila, an avid transit user who says she gave up driving six years ago to "save the planet," said she routinely asks young people sitting in the front area of the bus reserved for seniors, people with disabilities and strollers if she can sit down.

"Sometimes it's not too pleasant but I do ask because I've got bad knees. I have a really hard time standing up, especially if I've got something I'm carrying on my shoulder," she said.

When Mattila took the new rapid transit line from Cambie and Broadway to Oakridge again on Tuesday, she scoured the car for signs indicating certain seats were designated for seniors. She saw none.

Jason Chan, spokesperson for the Canada Line, noted the line hit the rails three-and-a-half months early and not all of the permanent signs on the cars are in place. Small temporary signs are on some cars, he said.

Mattila wonders why Canada Line couldn't get the decals up immediately.

"Luggage first, then bicycles, then wheelchairs, but nothing for seniors," she said. "The bus drivers sometimes are really rude to seniors, too, so I just have that sense that seniors are just not being respected."

Not having a seat is nothing new to Mattila. She estimates she's offered a seat on a crowded bus only one trip out of 10. Eight times out of 10 she'll ask a rider to give up a courtesy seat.

The same yellow, triangular decals that appear on buses and SkyTrains that mark priority seats for disabled people and the elderly will be stuck near the doors to the trains. Like the decals above courtesy seats on buses and SkyTrains, those on the Canada Line will be printed only in English.

TransLink spokesperson Ken Hardie said the transit body agonized over the signs before they were introduced and approved icons it believed would translate across language groups. One icon depicts a person in a wheelchair and the other depicts a seated person with a cane.

"With so many different languages possible in the region, especially with a line to the airport now, we really have to go to icons to try and communicate as much as possible," he said.

Drew Snider, also a TransLink spokesperson, confirmed the habit of some passengers not giving way to seniors is a problem. "We're in a sad state of affairs when we have to put up a sign to tell people to do the right thing," he said.

[CLC]

Translink spokesman Drew Snider says expect "line-up" in Richmond-Brighouse and Bridgeport station by 8 am on Tuesday. Crowd control into station with the blue barriers maybe?

[paradigm4]

Originally Posted by whatnext

One would think the extra fare pax to YVR will pay, and the $300 mil YVR coughed up would have bought some sensible luggage planning. The line was built with the premise it a big part of its mission was to serve the airport.

The bike space to YVR is a complete waste, how many people are going to use that?

WTF? There's two huge areas in each train designed for both bike and luggage storage.

And for your info, riding the Line yesterday, I saw four cyclists board and disembark the train. All of them used the bike space. Which, as a regular SkyTrain rider, I find to be a huge improvement over what we've had to deal with.

On SkyTrain, if you are just a rider, you end up having cyclists trying to squish near the door, blocking people from entering or exiting. As a cyclist bringing on a bike, you're always trying to find the best space possible to not inconvenience people. Of course, none of this is possible due to the design of the older trainsets.

I for one appreciate the bike space in the Canada Line train cars and ultimately it improves the transit experience for riders and cyclists.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by CLC

Translink spokesman Drew Snider says expect "line-up" in Richmond-Brighouse and Bridgeport station by 8 am on Tuesday. Crowd control into station with the blue barriers maybe?

I hate it when I'm right about this.