Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[urbancanadian]

I agree that it should be feasible to run 24-hour service over the weekend. You could definitely get away with longer headways, but you wouldn't want them to be too long. Given how well-used the night bus routes are, and how many people there are downtown late at night on the weekends, the trains would still be relatively busy. Like if the they only ran every half hour I suspect the trains would be pretty packed.

It could actually be a bit of a boon to nightlife downtown. Right now the price of a cab fare to just about anywhere is ridiculous. It totally limits the amount of times most can actually afford to spend a night out. People are also forced leave really early too. Not to sound like a snob, but people are already leaving soon after the time I prefer to show up. I think this is actually a symptom of poor late-night transit service - and not that people in Vancouver are lame or something.

But you certainly couldn't run 24-hour service all week. Those maintenance hours are crucial. From my experience in New York, the service is fairly unreliable in the middle of the night. I've spent more than once waiting on a platform for close to an hour only to give up and take a cab to my hotel...

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by nname

And you're just picking one of the few stations that are not directly served by nightbus. Every other ones beside Braid, Sapperton, and maybe 29th Ave are within 10min walk from the closest nightbus stop.

Edmonds is a 15 minute walk. When you add that to the bus taking over double the time the train does, it becomes painful to have to take the night bus.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by ryanmaccdn

Taking the N19 is like cancer... its the worst thing ever.

If I take the Skytrain from 22nd station its 24 mins to downtown.

The N19 and walking home takes 1 hour and 30 mins... shoot me in the face

Its either $2.75 for the late night bus or $70+ for a cab home to the burbs.

Sometimes you've spent too much on the good times pub crawl, and have to atone by using the LateNiteBus (which is all you can afford).

and the walk home from the bus stop starts the sobering-up process.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

Its either $2.75 for the late night bus or $70+ for a cab home to the burbs.

Sometimes you've spent too much on the good times pub crawl, and have to atone by using the LateNiteBus (which is all you can afford).

and the walk home from the bus stop starts the sobering-up process.

I think it's reasonable to instate an additional fee in those late hours similar to taking the train to the airport to offset the cost of late night service. I'd rather pay $10 for a late night train ride than a $70 taxi.

[Express691]

Especially on weekends, more so Sunday schedule where ive been hearing that the first SkyTrain out of King George is already packed by the time it gets to Scott Road. The source ive been hearing from has been mentioning that that first train is almost always a mark 1.

Translink sure has a thing for keeping surrey people from going Downtown at 3 or 4am.

News1130 recently put out an article discussing why SkyTrain cannot run 24 hour service

http://www.news1130.com/2016/08/23/this-is-why-vancouver-doesnt-have-24-hours-skytrain-service/

I even heard of London instating something called "Night Tube" just this past weekend actually, so Translink's argument on London not running nighttime trains was invalid from the start. However, we do need to keep in mind that Vancouver and London have a huge gap in terms of population and density.

https://youtu.be/b-5oNLoSOeI

[Metro-One]

It has been at least a month since I last posted on this website, but for the last three weeks I was in Vancouver, and indeed all over western Canada. I took 700 photos and many videos while around so I will be very active over the next couple weeks as I get the mall edited.

I also finally bought a GoPro camera. My first test playing with it was taking the Canada Line from Waterfront to Richmond.

So, for fun, here is a time lapse I made of riding the Canada Line:

• Video Link

[ryanmaccdn]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

Its either $2.75 for the late night bus or $70+ for a cab home to the burbs.

Sometimes you've spent too much on the good times pub crawl, and have to atone by using the LateNiteBus (which is all you can afford).

and the walk home from the bus stop starts the sobering-up process.

Last I checked we wanted to encourage business and culture downtown and this is not a solution to that.

Also I took that bus twice a week for 6 months working night shifts.

I was puked on twice, I was threatened with a knife once, the bus driver abandon his bus after people were fighting, also walking thru the forest at Edmonds is fun... and rapey at 2am....

I don't understand peoples hate on people either living outside of Vancouver proper(which is insanely small) or people trying to enjoy culture and nightlife ..

After moving to Melbourne I end up going out and being pubs/wine bars at 2 - 3 am... most of the people are 30+ above and having a responsible time. So this stigma that it's just the "Granville Street Hooligans" that people conj our up when going out on a Saturday is insane..

When living in Vancouver I'm sorry I don't want to netflix and chill every single night. Fauck.

[nname]

I took the N9 a few times, and each time there's a transit police on board or in a car following the bus until lougheed station

[WarrenC12]

N9 sounds nasty. But it stands to reason any 24-hour Skytrain would have the same issues (and require the same level of transit police, per train).

[s211]

Originally Posted by ryanmaccdn

I was puked on twice, I was threatened with a knife once, the bus driver abandon his bus after people were fighting, also walking thru the forest at Edmonds is fun... and rapey at 2am....

I don't understand peoples hate on people either living outside of Vancouver proper(which is insanely small) or people trying to enjoy culture and nightlife ..

I might be missing your point, but aren't these somewhat contradictory statements?

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

N9 sounds nasty. But it stands to reason any 24-hour Skytrain would have the same issues (and require the same level of transit police, per train).

You'd probably need to increase policing, at least 1 officer per train. I used to be for the idea of a 24 hour service but you realize it would lead to a whole number of issues due to the number of morons and homeless people in this City.

[ConventionalMan]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

N9 sounds nasty. But it stands to reason any 24-hour Skytrain would have the same issues (and require the same level of transit police, per train).

True, the "problem" routes will very often have accompanying security. I regularly do various nightbuses. Majority of the time they will ride along on N19, N20, N9, sometimes N35 but others too, one security person on the bus, one following along in the car behind. Sometimes as much as every other trip, sometimes the full trip, other times just the "trouble" portion and they're not too far away if something needs attention on a bus with no security. On the other hand, I never once saw them on the N22, N17 or N16. Also, if it looks like it's going to be a particularly rowdy trip, we can call and have supervisors and/or security show as a preventative measure. It's funny how many people walk away when they see the security folks standing in the front of the bus.

[ssiguy]

I asked a question ages ago but I can't find it so I'll ask again.......

The Canada Line will finally be getting it's much needed "C" car but also Translink is going to increase frequency which is great news. However, right now Translink already has the option of increased frequency as the trains run slower than potential but Translink can't afford it so how is Translink going to afford it when the "C" sections come? I know Christy did a big news conference on the improvements but I don't recall her giving any extra money to run the trains and Translink already is suffering from lack of funds and falling ridership.

[Metro-One]

mixing up two different issues. The speeds will increase when new stations are added to the line in order to keep end to end travel the same time. It is not for increasing capacity. More trains and C cars are for increasing capacity.

Seeing how much everyone loved my video here are some pics I took of the new MK3 cars near Metrotown. Sadly, I left Van days before they were open for ridding.

MK3 Skytrain by Ian, on Flickr

MK3 Through Metrotown by Ian, on Flickr

Skytrain Through Metrotown by Ian, on Flickr

Pics are my own of course.

[red-paladin]

Great video and pics!

[Waders]

Thanks for the great pics!

Has anyone actually ride in a Mk3 train yet after the train is added to normal service?

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by Waders

Thanks for the great pics!

Has anyone actually ride in a Mk3 train yet after the train is added to normal service?

I rode 408 from Granville outbound to King George yesterday and back to New West. There was an STA sitting with the control panel open at the end of the train, watching the speedometer and the LEDs on the train status panel. He said that they had to be attended for the first two weeks of revenue service (although I thought I heard someone say today that the first two were good and no longer needed an STA on board).

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by ryanmaccdn

Last I checked we wanted to encourage business and culture downtown and this is not a solution to that.

Also I took that bus twice a week for 6 months working night shifts.

I was puked on twice, I was threatened with a knife once, the bus driver abandon his bus after people were fighting, also walking thru the forest at Edmonds is fun... and rapey at 2am....

I don't understand peoples hate on people either living outside of Vancouver proper(which is insanely small) or people trying to enjoy culture and nightlife ..

After moving to Melbourne I end up going out and being pubs/wine bars at 2 - 3 am... most of the people are 30+ above and having a responsible time. So this stigma that it's just the "Granville Street Hooligans" that people conj our up when going out on a Saturday is insane..

When living in Vancouver I'm sorry I don't want to netflix and chill every single night. Fauck.

There is a difference between encouraging something, and having the taxpayer subsidize the binge drinking habits of a small portion of our society.

Is the cost of running Skytrain all night made up for with contributions to society by patrons of pubs?

I've cut short a fun night many a times to make the last Skytrain to Surrey. Fact of life. I don't see why peoples taxes should go up to support my leisure life.

[Waders]

An interesting British research: For A Faster Commute, Stand (Don't Walk) On The Escalator, Research Suggests

[Klazu]

I don't ride Skytrain often but got a chance ride on a new Mark III this evening to see the UFC fight in Downtown and almost caught the same train on my way! It's nice but I doubt many will be able to differenciate it from Mark II. A little but quieter, but not by much. I like the seating, though.