Millennium Line - Evergreen Extension | Completed

[twoNeurons]

agreed od,

The m-Line should still be capable of running through to New West.

It adds flexibility if something happens on the EG Line.

[TransitFreak]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

agreed od,

The m-Line should still be capable of running through to New West.

It adds flexibility if something happens on the EG Line.

The proposed 'Coquitlam' platform (unfinished north platform) has this in mind. Current VCC-bound trains will still use that inbound track, it will be fed by the transversed train from North Road, and when needed, by the current alignment from Braid.

For Douglas and/or Braid bound trains, it is still served with existing alignment. For Douglas, it'll level cross (both the VCC track and into the side platform track) at the switches in place. Should it continue to Braid, it'll maintain the current alignment.

That brings, in my mind, two points. 1st, the current alignment requires a double switch of the trains to shunt properly at the platform (I believe OD illustrated this waaaay back in the thread). A new switch should be installed to eliminate this double switching.

2nd, passengers waiting on the 'Millenium' platform will have to be aware of the trains coming from both directions - the usual one from Braid, and in certain situations, coming from Production Way.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by crazyjoeda

The Canada Line branding doesn't fit. The colour scheme, typography, symbols and information design don't conform to Trans-Links standards. I understand Canada Line is operated by a separate company but it's still part of Trans-link and the look and feel should seamlessly integrate with the rest of the system. The Canada Line has a very conservative and bland look.

Not to mention the stations were built to minimum standards. All stations look identical, but the real issue is the platforms are too short to accommodate future expansion and most stations only have up escalators, which is a pain especially for airport travellers with luggage.

At the end of the day the line is functional and as a regular user I'm very happy with it for the most part, but some aspects could be better.

Every C-Line station has elevators between the street level and the mezzanine, and between the mezzanine and the platforms.

There's no excuse for people to *clunk* clunk *clunk* their over-stuffed heavy suitcases down the stairs, or clog up the escalators so nobody can get past them.

[Mininari]

2016? Wow.
I'd love to get a shirt made with all of the various 'promised' completion dates for this skytrain line...

[SpongeG]

global reported things will start going summer 2012, ie when we will finally see some actual work starting

[crazyjoeda]

I wasn't criticizing the functionality of the Canada Line, only the inconsistant branding, short platforms and lack of escalators. I don't get the small being holy in Vancouver reference, but I don't agree that an extra Canada Line car will meet growing demand long term I think the short platforms were short sighted. My experience having lived in Europe is that bland stations is not the norm, I appreciate how the Millenium Line stations integrate well with the neighbourboods. I hope the Evergreen Line looks and feels more like the Millenium Line than the Canada Line.

[red-paladin]

Separate tenders will be issued in the near future for advance works such as road widening,
building removal, moving utilities such as electrical and natural gas lines and the relocation of
CP Rail tracks. In preparation for construction, advance works are expected to start in early
2012.

Sounds encouraging!

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by TransitFreak

The proposed 'Coquitlam' platform (unfinished north platform) has this in mind. Current VCC-bound trains will still use that inbound track, it will be fed by the transversed train from North Road, and when needed, by the current alignment from Braid.

For Douglas and/or Braid bound trains, it is still served with existing alignment. For Douglas, it'll level cross (both the VCC track and into the side platform track) at the switches in place. Should it continue to Braid, it'll maintain the current alignment.

That brings, in my mind, two points. 1st, the current alignment requires a double switch of the trains to shunt properly at the platform (I believe OD illustrated this waaaay back in the thread). A new switch should be installed to eliminate this double switching.

2nd, passengers waiting on the 'Millenium' platform will have to be aware of the trains coming from both directions - the usual one from Braid, and in certain situations, coming from Production Way.

I think all the switches are in place (other than the basketweave or level cross-over "up North Road"). The only "new" switch to implement LeftCoaster's suggested single track between two island platforms would be the shfting of the already installed switch on the 'Coquitlam' platform (unfinished north platform).

I think with LeftCoaster's suggested layout, the original layout of Coquitlam platform, Vancouver platform and New West platform could still be accommodated (with reassignment of the platforms) to allow through trains from both directions. In that case, the tracks would be Coquitlam track (north), Vancouver track (middle) and New West track (south) (with the Vancouver track being accessible for both sides). I think that would still require the installation of the basklet weave or level cross-over "up North Road").

[deasine]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Sorry if it has already been discussed but I don't remember seeing anything about it.

Actually, I remember proposing this exactly before, and I really hope they use this layout. It just makes much more sense. Platform-to-platform transfers work around different places in the world: San Francisco, Hong Kong (used in a large scale), Singapore, and I'm sure there are much more. If trains arrive at the same time, it's even better!

Originally Posted by Mac Write

Canada line all over again? Bombier looses since there bid is higher even though they will give big discounts but aren't allowed to include in the bid. Sigh. Canada Line just feels so corporate and non Vancouver.

Originally Posted by s211

Umm, why exactly?

Because it doesn't run on elf tears and unicorn farts?

Originally Posted by s211

The short stations are un-Vancouver? The city where small is somehow holy? Say it isn't so!

Originally Posted by crazyjoeda

I wasn't criticizing the functionality of the Canada Line, only the inconsistant branding, short platforms and lack of escalators. I don't get the small being holy in Vancouver reference, but I don't agree that an extra Canada Line car will meet growing demand long term I think the short platforms were short sighted. My experience having loved in Europe is that bland stations is not the norm, I appreciate how the Millenium Line stations integrate well with the neighbourboods. I hope the Evergreen Line looks and feels more like the Millenium Line than the Canada Line.

s211, while I see the fundamentals of your point, I expect to see a much more constructive effort to respond to something like this. Your first post was completely unnecessary and may be considered as rude and offensive. I hope to not see any more of this.

Macwrite, I think you should elaborate on this "un-Vancouver" feeling of the Canada Line. I agree, the inconsistent branding really differentiates the Canada Line from the rest of the system, but I disagree on how that makes it "un-Vancouver." In fact, brand inconsistency seems to be more Vancouver than anything. But as for brand consistency/inconsistency, I can pretty much guarantee you that TransLink will work towards making the Evergreen Line consistent with their branding as they have recognized the problem with the Canada Line.

But then, even if you say the Canada Line is "un-Vancouver," what's wrong with introducing "un-Vancouver" concepts to Vancouver? In fact, I would appreciate it if our transit system is planned, ran, organized, and operated with policies and elements that model the more efficient methods transit agencies around the world.

[tybuilding]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Any reason why they wouldn't construct the station with the millennium spur ending in the middle allowing passengers to disembark from either side of the train to go into Coquitlam or Vancouver?

In this sort of configuration:



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Sorry if it has already been discussed but I don't remember seeing anything about it.

I guess it depends if they want people to cut through the trains to get to other platforms. I think this would be a no.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Any reason why they wouldn't construct the station with the millennium spur ending in the middle allowing passengers to disembark from either side of the train to go into Coquitlam or Vancouver?

In this sort of configuration:



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Sorry if it has already been discussed but I don't remember seeing anything about it.

I don't recall that graphic. What you have looks totally logical and commonsense to me.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by tybuilding

I guess it depends if they want people to cut through the trains to get to other platforms. I think this would be a no.

The only people cutting through a train (middle track) would be those making a U-turn and heading back in the direction they came from. All other transfers are on the same platform.

[GeeCee]

I agree with MacWrite's comments on the Canada Line - at least the stations in Vancouver. The stations in particular are cold and inorganic when compared to the Expo and Millennium Line. Maybe they just seem so sterile because they're all underground and brand new, but I don't like em.

[Mac Write]

The Bombardier SkyTrain system is the signature of Vancouver. It makes us unique and different. But the Canada Line feels plain, boring and not very disabled accessible (as in very few down escalators). The SkyTrain is our signature and we should have continued with that when we built the Canada Line instead of doing this bidding system which has now made for a poorly implemented Subway line.

[ckkelley]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

The Bombardier SkyTrain system is the signature of Vancouver. It makes us unique and different. But the Canada Line feels plain, boring and not very disabled accessible (as in very few down escalators). The SkyTrain is our signature and we should have continued with that when we built the Canada Line instead of doing this bidding system which has now made for a poorly implemented Subway line.

How do you feel about the P3 business model employed for Canada Line?

I actually think that Canada Line is our 'signature' transit line. It's among a visitor's first experiences of Vancouver and I think its awesome that travellers can zip from YVR to downtown in 25 minutes. Dude, that's world class! I think Canada Line is very Vancouver.

[Mac Write]

The line is good, the technology isn't compatible with our current system. If we had gone bombardier we would have an extremely seamless system. Need more capacity on Canada Line? send some more Mark II trains from the Edmonds yard. But now we are stuck with two incompatible systems.

[Xrayal]

OK so excuse my sad Paint drawing, but i hopes it makes explaining my idea easier. First you fill in the existing unused guide way and make it a platform. Second you build a new guide way along the outside of the existing unused platform. Boo ya!

Lougheed Station by Mullux2, on Flickr

[deasine]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

Canada Line instead of doing this bidding system which has now made for a poorly implemented Subway line.

How is it poorly implemented?

To me, it seems that you dislike the Canada Line because it's not by Bombardier and about the choices made with technology. But does technology, in this sense, affect the level of service? Does it change the quality of the service? Does it affect the reliability of the service?

Given the fact that the Canada Line was planned to be a P3 model, even if Bombardier was chosen and that all the specifications were built to match the existing SkyTrain network, trains from the Expo/Millennium Lines will not be shared with the Canada Line because they are managed and operated by two different companies. In the case of special events that may be planned in advance (i.e. Olympics), special arrangements may be made, but I think the Canada Line performed pretty well during the Olympics. So really, the issue of difference of technology and seamlessness don't seem to be relevant.

As I've pointed out time and time again, many major metro networks around the world deploy different technologies/trainsets for different lines: Paris, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, etc.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Xrayal

OK so excuse my sad Paint drawing, but i hopes it makes explaining my idea easier. First you fill in the existing unused guide way and make it a platform. Second you build a new guide way along the outside of the existing unused platform. Boo ya!

Lougheed Station by Mullux2, on Flickr

Interesting idea, but with all the problems just raising the funds to build the Evergreen line, I can't see any of the short-listed bidders wanting to spend extra millions on rebuilding the north platform at Lougheed Station.

Everything is there (except power rails, tracks and LIM) for the connection to Coquitlam, so whoever gets the contract will just finish what was already started when Millennium was built.

[Mac Write]

Canada Line is slow in allot of areas and when track maintenance is done, well we get really bad service levels due to lack of switches. Some people think that if it had been LIM and had banked corners the 25 minutes would be more like 20 minutes or something.