SkyTrain Station Renovations

[Millennium2002]

I've often noticed the interesting tile colour mismatch when I pass by Gateway station, but always thought it was for a future entrance yet to be built, not a former entrance that had since been demolished.

I wonder what other secrets are hidden in the structures of the Expo Line... I already know of the following:

- The ROW was formerly a interurban line
- Stadium-Chinatown had an entrance that was closed and then converted to the lost and found
- The story of Waterfront, Stadium-Chinatown, and the Expo 1986 shuttle
- The SkyTrain tunnels are double-decked through an old railway tunnel
- New Westminster once had a wider platform
- Main Street opened early as the system/technology demonstrator
- Columbia Station had a pocket track turned into a portal for the Millennium Line
- Structure gauge is meant to accommodate wider trains which have since arrived (Mark IIs)

And there are probably a few that I've heard of but missed when recounting them...

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by allan_kuan

I've often noticed the interesting tile colour mismatch when I pass by Gateway station, but always thought it was for a future entrance yet to be built, not a former entrance that had since been demolished.

I wonder what other secrets are hidden in the structures of the Expo Line... I already know of the following:

- The ROW was formerly a interurban line
- Stadium-Chinatown had an entrance that was closed and then converted to the lost and found
- The story of Waterfront, Stadium-Chinatown, and the Expo 1986 shuttle
- The SkyTrain tunnels are double-decked through an old railway tunnel
- New Westminster once had a wider platform
- Main Street opened early as the system/technology demonstrator
- Columbia Station had a pocket track turned into a portal for the Millennium Line
- Structure gauge is meant to accommodate wider trains which have since arrived (Mark IIs)

And there are probably a few that I've heard of but missed when recounting them...

There was also a plan for a station just after the tunnel between Columbia and Sapperton in the Victoria Hills / Woodlands neighbourhood of New Westminster. There's a flat straight section of track where it was supposed to be. Sadly the page that had more information about this is offline, but luckily there's an archive of it. And apparently Woodlands even had a station announcement recorded!

[MIPS]

There are secrets aplenty, even hidden in the corners.


Image courtesy of MIPS


Image courtesy of MIPS


Original photographer unknown

I warn ya. Spending too much time looking for secrets can be addictive!

[hollywoodnorth]

the last photo of the crane hoisting a car .... is from Detroit not Vancouver

notice the 1 way guideway and the Ren Cen >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Center

[officedweller]

616 area code on the crane phone number is also Michigan - but not in Detroit.

Originally Posted by allan_kuan

- Columbia Station had a pocket track turned into a portal for the Millennium Line

The two switches under the approach to SkyBridge were installed specifically for the Millennium Line - they were not built in advance.

Surrey had to endure single track service during the construction.

I think the City of New Westminster just dropped the ball on the future Woodlands Station and didn't collect CACs from the adjacent Victoria Hill development.

There's a level section of track on the Expo Line near the Telus "boot" building for a potential station.

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

the last photo of the crane hoisting a car .... is from Detroit not Vancouver

notice the 1 way guideway and the Ren Cen >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Center

But for a short period while the DPM was being built they had Vancouver's mock-up sitting on the guideway. I know that's not Vancouver.
(actually, it looks like a half-finished train. Were they using our cars as display pieces before we got them??)

The two switches under the approach to SkyBridge were installed specifically for the Millennium Line - they were not built in advance.

Way the heck back in the 90's there was a lone pocket track under the bridge ramp. They expanded that one and added a second switch when the Millenium Line was built, no?


Image courtesy of Alan M

[officedweller]

I thought there were 2 phases to the one track shutdowns (based on memory) - but I could be wrong.
That pic does look to predate M-Line construction.

[MIPS]

According to TransLink it was take around 1990-1993.

[officedweller]

Cool, thanks.

[hollywoodnorth]

now I would love to see a photo of the 2nd gateway entrance while in use ..... anyone? must be on a city of surrey website ... opening day photos or something. anyone?

[Kisai]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Original photographer unknown

I warn ya. Spending too much time looking for secrets can be addictive!

My guess is that IS a BC Transit car, because that is the original BC Transit paint-job. However the photo is credited to Detroit. Which makes me think one of two situations:

a) That actually is a Mark I with BC Transit livery, but was not sent to BC (or the "BC Transit" part was photoshopped out. And maybe later repainted)
b) That's not a functioning train.

There are only 12 trains.

Some quick clue-checking in the photo proves it's Detroit, because the 616 area code is Michigan. Which then makes me go... okay what about the train number? The number begins with a 2, and looks like it could be a 221 or 226 or something.

http://www.barp.ca/bus/bctransit/vancouver/skytrainroster.html

All the original Mark I's begin with 0 or 1. The Mark II's begin with 2. The DPM only has 12 cars, so it wouldn't have numbers that high either.

[MIPS]

UTDC and BC Transit had several mock-ups that floated around.


Image courtesy of ???

It could be anything from a temporary use for one of our under construction trains, or just a recycled mock-up. I can't help you here.

now I would love to see a photo of the 2nd gateway entrance while in use ..... anyone? must be on a city of surrey website ... opening day photos or something. anyone?

I got next to nothing in my archives for Surrey in the 90's. By then I guess the hype around the SkyTrain had ended.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by MIPS

UTDC and BC Transit had several mock-ups that floated around.

It could be anything from a temporary use for one of our under construction trains, or just a recycled mock-up. I can't help you here.

Speaking of cool mock-up/prototype trains, here's an image from TransLink's instagram account last week showing a singular prototype 6-door Mark 1: http://instagram.com/p/yvID08Qn3i/

[MIPS]

I already mentioned it in the Transit Fantasies thread.


So going back on topic, when should we expect work to begin on the north end of Broadway station?

[madog222]

I caught a short glimpse of a message on the SkyTrain lcd information screens saying that the bus shuttle service to Metrotown Station starts March 28th (not exact on the date).

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by madog222

I caught a short glimpse of a message on the SkyTrain lcd information screens saying that the bus shuttle service to Metrotown Station starts March 28th (not exact on the date).

Starting Feb. 26, 2015 and continuing until early 2016, the elevator at Metrotown Station is out of service while we build three new elevators.

Followed by hours for a HandyDART shuttle between Metrotown and Patterson stations.

http://www.translink.ca/en/Plans-and-Projects/OnTrack.aspx

[Millennium2002]

Hmm... I don't think that will be enough handicapped/disabled/stroller service for such a busy station like Metrotown. I mean, the elevator is pretty heavily used and packed at most times to the point there are long lineups on both levels at peak hours. This reduction of service is basically asking for a silly and unnecessary PR disaster at the wrong time.

The duration of the construction screams for a frequent and dedicated shuttle bus between Patterson and Metrotown, using normal or specially equipped buses that:
- have minimal seating on the lower level
- have extra partitions for multiple wheelchairs or strollers at the same time
- come and go every 5 to 10 minutes

And these buses don't really have to be new ones either - they can re-purpose and re-configure some of the older, about-to-retire-but-still-operable 40' buses for this purpose and dispose of them once it is all over. (aka graceful retirement assignment)

I just hope TransLink has the foresight to see this before they actually act...

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

Pano of Main Street station renos. Still a good deal of work to be completed.

Source: me

Here are some updated views of Main Street / Science World station since Jimbo604's post about a month ago.


Feb.19 '15, my pic, looking west.



Feb.19 '15, my pic, looking east.



Feb.19 '15, my pic, same angle as above pic but looking over the fence.



Feb.19 '15, my pic, looking west over the fence from the sidewalk on Main Street. It think this is where a Starbucks used to be.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Just rounding up work for the end of the year.

Main Street has all its new ceiling panels and lighting installed. The original LED signs have remained and suspiciously, there's now a microphone fixed to the ceiling.
Construction the West Concourse meanwhile has progressed. The concrete foundation is poured and one escalator has already been installed. Framing for the walls has arrived and is being assembled and installed.



The old elevator shaft is still there. I'm starting to wonder if it actually supports the west end of the platform and can't be easily removed.

Here's a similar angle since MIPS post on Dec.24 '14.

Feb.19 '15, my pic

[Millennium2002]

Somehow, I think that the "crookedness" of the wall paneling is actually because the station might be sitting on a slight slope, and someone had the brilliant idea of keeping all the panels flat relative to the ground vs slanting them slightly to create a clean and straight-looking surface.