Metro Vancouver Transit Discussion

[scryer]

I think we are jumping a little all over the place....

Bringing it back, I read someone say that Translink is bringing more trains to the Millennium line? Is it more 2-car trains or are we finally getting the 4-car trains back?

[Mac Write]

4 2-car trains were part of the 28 4-car expansion, I don't now if the second 28 4-car trains are for the millennium line as 2 car trains

[Waders]

Touch-screen kiosk at the newly renovated Joyce-Collingwood skytrain station west station house.


Read time digital signs at platform

Source

[Mac Write]

Any more photos showing the interior other then the officia ones and these ones, like looking towards the elevator and other angels not covered?

[flipper316]

One must wonder why they went with new floor tiles here at Joyce but Metrotown still has the old tiles. Also, Broadway, the original platform has the old tiles when they could've matched the new platform. I guess its blatant cost-cutting.

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by flipper316

One must wonder why they went with new floor tiles here at Joyce but Metrotown still has the old tiles. Also, Broadway, the original platform has the old tiles when they could've matched the new platform. I guess its blatant cost-cutting.

Broadway's main platform still has the original tiles because replacing the tiles would involve closing the platform for periods of time and that's not really an option at Broadway.
You may recall that they were doing "skip stop" service at Joyce on the weekends for several months, to accommodate the tile replacement.

I definitely think they should replace the tiles at Metrotown, but I imagine it's fairly low priority given other maintenance tasks and the impact to passengers.

[Klazu]

I am not sure if I have asked this before, but is there any reason for the third rail and platform at Stadium/Chinatown station? Has it ever been used to board passengers and if so, how were trains arranged to serve all the platforms? Or does it only exist to store a train overnight?

In addition, i have to wonder how the eastern entrance to this station has been so poorly designed? Every single time there is an event at Rogers Arena, everyone has to go through only two gates and a ridiculous number of people pack to the machines to buy tickets. Like, there must have been a better way to add gates on this station or is this an intentional congestion point to avoid overcrowding on the platform itself?

It just feels so inefficient for the location.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Klazu

I am not sure if I have asked this before, but is there any reason for the third rail and platform at Stadium/Chinatown station? Has it ever been used to board passengers and if so, how were trains arranged to serve all the platforms? Or does it only exist to store a train overnight?

During Expo 86 they ran trains straight from this platform to Waterfront to connect with the events and activities at Canada Place.

[MIPS]

Platform 3 was mainly for shuttle service between Stadium and Waterfront during Expo 86 so that attendees could travel to Canada Place without exiting the fairgrounds. The rest of the time now it's mainly used as parking during the off-peak hours and on rare occasion an extra platform for loading/unloading when the regular outbound platform cannot be used or is extremely overloaded.
It can't be used for more regular service due to a complete lack of an escalator or elevator, so it's not compliant with accessibility standards.
Likewise the East entrance was originally an emergency exit. Due to complaints about having to walk up the hill to get into the station from Beatty Street (the stairs and side entrance at the Plaza did not yet exist so you had to walk around the block) it was later converted into an extra entrance, then renovated again to make room for the Compass faregates.


Original photographer unknown

The platform is a bit of a time capsule if you ask me. Signage, seating, lighting...it's virtually unchanged since 1985.


MIPS

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Platform 3 was mainly for shuttle service between Stadium and Waterfront during Expo 86 so that attendees could travel to Canada Place without exiting the fairgrounds. The rest of the time now it's mainly used as parking during the off-peak hours and on rare occasion an extra platform for loading/unloading when the regular outbound platform cannot be used or is extremely overloaded.

Interesting. Was the third platform built for that purpose only and there was never an intention for additional service or a second line to cross through there? Very interesting to hear that it may still be used, as it seems very impractical to run every second train through that side to solve an overcrowding problem. Maybe the lack of fare gates is exactly for that reason, to prevent overcrowding on the main platform?



Is the platform that people are walking on leading straight to the fairground and was it dismantled right after Expo? I have never thought that there would be enough height and space for a walkway bridge above the street, yet under the viaduct. Were there stairs down on the ground just outside of the picture or did it extend much beyond the picture?

[dpogue]

Originally Posted by MIPS

The platform is a bit of a time capsule if you ask me. Signage, seating, lighting...it's virtually unchanged since 1985.

Yet now sporting one of the brand new upcoming train display screens

it was used for passenger service recently when they were single-tracking in the evenings between Broadway and Waterfront. They would have two shuttle trains on the outbound track, and they'd use Stadium side-track as a siding/passing track.

[MIPS]

Yet now sporting one of the brand new upcoming train display screens

Well shoot! What a way to ruin a pristine piece.

Is the platform that people are walking on leading straight to the fairground and was it dismantled right after Expo? I have never thought that there would be enough height and space for a walkway bridge above the street, yet under the viaduct. Were there stairs down on the ground just outside of the picture or did it extend much beyond the picture?

I looked through my archives and could not find any direct photos of the walkway but I know it hung around unused until 1988 as seen in this video.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Platform 3 was mainly for shuttle service between Stadium and Waterfront during Expo 86 so that attendees could travel to Canada Place without exiting the fairgrounds. The rest of the time now it's mainly used as parking during the off-peak hours and on rare occasion an extra platform for loading/unloading when the regular outbound platform cannot be used or is extremely overloaded.
It can't be used for more regular service due to a complete lack of an escalator or elevator, so it's not compliant with accessibility standards.
Likewise the East entrance was originally an emergency exit. Due to complaints about having to walk up the hill to get into the station from Beatty Street (the stairs and side entrance at the Plaza did not yet exist so you had to walk around the block) it was later converted into an extra entrance, then renovated again to make room for the Compass faregates.

The platform is a bit of a time capsule if you ask me. Signage, seating, lighting...it's virtually unchanged since 1985.

After they retire the Mark 1 trains they should park a couple of them there, particularly the Princess Diana / Prince Charles one and the one with the Dutch Royals plaque there and turn the platform into a little SkyTrain history museum. Restore the trains to their original condition, with the door open buttons on the poles and carpet on the floors.

[MIPS]

The system needs that pocket track for rush hour. We can't close it off like that.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by MIPS

The system needs that pocket track for rush hour. We can't close it off like that.

I would like an express track. It would also have an additional purpose by allowing 24/7 service.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Is the platform that people are walking on leading straight to the fairground and was it dismantled right after Expo? I have never thought that there would be enough height and space for a walkway bridge above the street, yet under the viaduct. Were there stairs down on the ground just outside of the picture or did it extend much beyond the picture?

Yes, the ramp lead from the big Canadian flag and hockey stick plaza (entrance to the Canada Pavillion (via SkyTrain)).
Note that Pacific Blvd and Expo Blvd had a different alignment back then.


https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news...wooed-the-world-30-photos-30-years-later

There was also a cross-platform (at least adjacent) transfer from the Expo Monorail station
which was south of the third platform under the Dunsmuir Viaduct.


https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...GCDnU4ZBAzKEUwRXoECAEQRw&iact=mrc&uact=8


https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...-_PiAhUFBHwKHVzLAY4QMwhzKCQwJA..i&w=2516

The Expo trains headed east to the switches near the dip, then reversed to the westbound track and were inter-lined between revenue services trains to Waterfront Station (ATC at work!). When the trains arrived from Waterfront, they just veered right to the third platform.

[ilikeredheads]

Originally Posted by cganuelas1995

I would like an express track. It would also have an additional purpose by allowing 24/7 service.

There's not enough track for that. It literally ends just before and after the station. And we don't need 24/7 service.

[cganuelas1995]

Originally Posted by ilikeredheads

There's not enough track for that. It literally ends just before and after the station. And we don't need 24/7 service.

24/7 service will allow nightbus resources to be reallocated to providing more frequent service on some routes or making new routes. 24 hour service on the Expo line with a nightbus from White Rock to Langley via Surrey Central and Guildford would be a start, as well as shortened N17 and maybe an hourly service to PoCo and maybe even Maple Ridge.

But I'll save this for the fantasy thread.

[scryer]

I know that it would be needless but they could shift the platform over and do another Spanish solution for outbound trains? That way the space, isn't a complete waste...

[Dengler Avenue]

White Rock to Langley via Surrey Central is a very circuitous route though. I would rather have N19 (new) between Surrey Central and Langley, then N21 between Surrey Central and White Rock, separately.

I meant to reply to #20040.