mightyfastpig ([info]mightyfastpig) wrote in [info]vancouver,
2009-08-17 19:29:00
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Canada Line first impressions

A friend and I took the opportunity to ride on the Canada Line, starting at Broadway-Cambie, going out to Richmond-Brighouse and then back to Waterfront station.

First, they were definitely doing their best to promote it, but I'm not sure their plan was well conceived. There was a promotional draw you could enter if you got your passport stamped at each of the stations on the line. However, at at least two stations the lineups to get on were half an hour or more, so only the truly dedicated would enter.

The other thing I noticed was the high profile of the armed transit police, at least at the Broadway-Cambie station. I've said that there is no need for armed guards on Skytrain, and I'll say the same thing about Canada Line. It did not make me feel welcome.

Once we actually got down the ramp to the train platform, the trains look pretty good. The aisle between the two rows of seats are about 1.5 to 2 times the width of the aisle on Skytrain. The trains accelerate smoothly and quietly. I actually miss the three-tone acceleration sound familiar from Skytrain. The train stopped a couple of times on our trip, which is not surprising on the first day of full operation.

A big part of the Vancouver portion of the line is underground, so there's little to navigate by, and no reason to look out the window. You could easily miss your stop because you can't see any familiar land mark.

My only gripe is that the stations and trains have bland design. Instead of the strong white, blue, red of the Skytrain system, there's just gray everywhere, with some pastels to lighten them. Kind of boring and soporific. The white enamel tunnels of the Granville Skytrain station always woke me up by comparison.

My other big question is whether the Canada Line will do what it claims it will do: ferry people from the airport to downtown. If I'm arriving with a month's worth of luggage for me and my family, will I want to get on a train, or will I just bite the bullet and hire a cab? Some of the literature suggests that trains that go to the airport will have open areas where people can put their luggage, but I didn't see that on the train I boarded.

Still, it should be good for trips into Richmond.

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  • 61 comments

[info]twilight_79

August 18 2009, 03:24:45 UTC 2 years ago

I have travelled from Heathrow into London (and vice versa) at rush hour, with a full sized suitcase plus carry-on luggage. It can be done. ;)

As for it being omg UNDERGROUND (this isn't directed solely at the OP - I've heard this a few times), a lot of cities have their metros solely underground, or at least mostly. Again, London comes to mind. So does NYC. And Prague. All cities where I have been able to navigate quite easily, despite not being able to see anything out the window. (And in Prague, the signs aren't even in English!! Can you imagine?!?!) Granted, I have not been on the Canada Line but I am making the assumption that the stations have their names on signs ... ?

[info]straysparrow

August 18 2009, 05:32:58 UTC 2 years ago

I've taken the train from Heathrow, too. It was easy. The Canada Line car I was on had lots of wide open spaces in it... even with a double stroller and a wheelchair there was lots of room.

I'm from Montreal, where all of the trains are underground (aka the Metro). You only miss your stop once before you learn to look up long enough at each stop to see where you are. I used to be able to sleep between stations and not miss my stop.

also, ss someone who has recently started traveling into the burbs on the skytrain, it doesn't matter if you can see the city or not if you don't know it well enough to recognize it. I've always navigated by stop name even on the skytrain. Now I'm learning the city because they have names that match the skytrain stations. So for me underground or above ground is irrelevant.

My car stopped between stations as well, and there was a sign on the wall saying which stops we were between (in case of emergency). However they will be tough to see if you're moving fast (unless you can see across the oncoming tracks to the far wall).

I thought it was great!

[info]cloud_atlas

2 years ago

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[info]laurea_anarore

August 18 2009, 06:15:09 UTC 2 years ago

I had an in for a sweet flight attendant job but because it was out of the South Terminal and shifts started in the morning before the first shuttle run I had to turn it down.

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[info]laurea_anarore

2 years ago

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[info]queerasmoi

2 years ago

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[info]cloud_atlas

August 18 2009, 08:19:50 UTC 2 years ago

Our first train arrives at the airport at 5:15 am (leaves waterfront at 4:50)... this is as per airport request...

[info]rzep

2 years ago

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[info]surrey_sucks

2 years ago

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[info]surrey_sucks

2 years ago

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[info]surrey_sucks

2 years ago

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[info]fdsf

August 18 2009, 03:32:37 UTC 2 years ago

At the connection between the two trains is a relatively large area without seats, but with stuff from the ceiling you can hold onto (IIRC).

I figure the luggage situation will be much better than, say, the 98 B-line. But the people with lots will probably continue taking taxis, and I'm okay with that.

[info]qiushuwen

August 18 2009, 04:06:05 UTC 2 years ago

HELP

My problem is that I don't know how to verbalize the Canada Line.

I'm __________ there.

Bus = busing
Skytrain = skytraining

What's the Canada Line considered? Not a subway. Not a skytrain. Some sort of hybrid of the two?

[info]wonderbadger

August 18 2009, 04:43:07 UTC 2 years ago

Re: HELP

"Canading"? :)

[info]qiushuwen

2 years ago

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[info]mightyfastpig

2 years ago

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[info]qiushuwen

2 years ago

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...and 11 more comments... from [info]ze_newie, [info]shiny_gal, [info]straysparrow… Expand

[info]shiny_gal

August 18 2009, 05:32:58 UTC 2 years ago

I am excited to try the new line. It goes close to work, but I suspect it would take me as long as busing now, or possibly even walking.

[info]tallycola

August 18 2009, 05:42:29 UTC 2 years ago Edited:  August 18 2009, 05:48:41 UTC

My question is, will I be able to take the train to the airport this Wednesday? Translink website is telling me no...at least on their trip planner. Will it not be going to the airport until September or is it just not reflected on the site yet?

[info]laurea_anarore

August 18 2009, 06:42:55 UTC 2 years ago

I checked the website to see how it would affect service to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal in September and it still gave me pre-Canada line info. Maybe they haven't updated the Trip Planner yet? I wouldn't put it past them to be so incredibly unorganized as to have not done that yet.

[info]cloud_atlas

2 years ago

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[info]cloud_atlas

August 18 2009, 08:21:46 UTC 2 years ago

Yes. The line is running business as usual as of tomorrow!

[info]surrey_sucks

August 18 2009, 06:11:33 UTC 2 years ago

The Canada Line is not going to be much use to me, except for going to the airport in February 2010 (getting away from the Olympics). However, if someone has a lot of luggage, can they get on and off the train before the doors shut? I don't know what the new trains look like, so I am imagining the current trains, and there is no way a lot of people can get on those trains, especially with luggage! (And I'm not putting my luggage in a designated spot while I am standing elsewhere!)

Also, does anyone know: if you have a U-Pass, do you have to pay extra to go to the airport, or does the U-Pass cover that?

[info]bdellovibrio

August 18 2009, 06:59:28 UTC 2 years ago

woops, my comment below was meant to be in reply to your comment :)

[info]cloud_atlas

August 18 2009, 08:22:38 UTC 2 years ago

The extra fee to the airport has been postponed until further notice.

There is, I think, quite a bit of time to get on the trians. Also, our doors are wider than the skytrain doors, so easier to get luggage on.

[info]surrey_sucks

2 years ago

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[info]sexaliciousss

2 years ago

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[info]surrey_sucks

2 years ago

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[info]sexaliciousss

2 years ago

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[info]surrey_sucks

2 years ago

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[info]bdellovibrio

August 18 2009, 06:57:45 UTC 2 years ago

I'm pretty sure Upass holders will have to pay the add fare to YVR (I think 2-2.50$), but you won't have to worry about paying to cross the zone boundaries. So as a Upass holder, getting to the airport for 2 bucks is pretty good. Apparently there will be an add fare free trial period until 2010. I think the only exemptions for the add fare will be YVR employees.

From what I saw on Global News, you don't have to put your luggage in a designated area and then leave it unattended (because of course who would want to do that!). The reporter had his two suitcases and he was able to put them under the seat without too much fuss (of course he was a large able bodied man and the suitcases were presumably empty). Because the trains are wider, in theory you should be able to find a spot to stand with your luggage.

I'm sure going to the airport with lots of luggage at peak times wouldn't be particularly easy, but with light luggage when the trains are emptier should be ok.

The price is good, but if our flight is leaving at 6 am, I might not want to deal with the extra travel time/hassell that early in the morning , compared to taking a cab.

We should definitely try it out before Feb!

[info]surrey_sucks

August 18 2009, 07:01:18 UTC 2 years ago

Yeah, I was thinking that we should go on the train once before February. I don't feel like fucking around, trying to rush to the airport!

[info]cloud_atlas

August 18 2009, 08:24:11 UTC 2 years ago

Actually, translink has cancelled the extra airport fee until further notice.

Re: early flights... the first train leaves Waterfront at 4:50, at it arrives at YVR at 5:15. The trains will be empty, and no fuss, so why take a cab then?

[info]cloud_atlas

2 years ago

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[info]tallycola

2 years ago

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[info]scratch_bc

2 years ago

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[info]cloud_atlas

2 years ago

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[info]bdellovibrio

2 years ago

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[info]bdellovibrio

2 years ago

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[info]nilmandra

August 19 2009, 20:23:20 UTC 2 years ago

I am slightly bemused by all the concern regarding fitting luggage on trains (from a few comments in this post). Having made the journey from London Heathrow into central London numerous times on the Tube (almost 1 hour journey, depending on your stop) often with one large and heavy suitcase, a heavy laptop bag and carry-on luugage, on crowded trains and with a number of passengers carrying similar amounts (I often end up standing for at least 1/2 or 3/4 of the journey), I can't imagine the Canada Line would be too challenging in comparison! At least from hearing descriptions about the width of the aisle and space for luggage etc. But then people on the Tube do put up with it given the prohibitive cost of taking a London cab from Heathrow to Central London - around £45 (CAD$83) the last time I checked. I have yet to take the line, perhaps this weekend :)

For people with a lot of luggage, a taxi into downtown would certainly be most convenient. But I would think people with manageable luggage would welcome the option of a metro line into downtown at such a good price (without the hassle of changing buses at Airport station and the perpetually overcrowded 98-B with almost no room for luggage).

[info]bdellovibrio

2 years ago

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[info]rzep

August 18 2009, 15:35:10 UTC 2 years ago

Yes to public art! That's great. It's a whole new blank canvas to work on.

[info]surrey_sucks

2 years ago

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[info]jdquintette

August 18 2009, 13:44:35 UTC 2 years ago

I'm absolutely delighted about this, since a cab ride into Vancouver can easily run you $40 including tip. Do that into the city and back out to the airport, that's nearly 100 bucks, a very big bite out of a jazzfest-gig-fee.

As for the luggage issue, anything beyond one bag and a carryon is an extra fee (and a lot of airlines are now charging $25 and up for even that) so I'm assuming people packing multiple steamer trunks of crap are comfortable financially and will opt for the convenience of a cab. I travel as light as possible myself, even on long tours. I'm not going to have much sympathy for rich cheapskates packing six bags apiece onto the train, and in any case I'm assuming they'll be thin on the grond anyway.

Regarding "is it a train, is it a subway," when I lived in Vancouver I always just called it the train. "Skytrain" sounded silly and contrived to me.

[info]surrey_sucks

August 18 2009, 16:34:46 UTC 2 years ago

When I travelled last year, and will do so again, I will have to check in one piece of luggage. However, that does not mean that I can afford a cab, just because I have one piece of checked luggage! If possible, I will take transit and not a cab, because I can't afford a cab.

[info]jdquintette

2 years ago

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[info]sexaliciousss

2 years ago

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[info]surrey_sucks

2 years ago

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[info]kisai

August 18 2009, 18:15:14 UTC 2 years ago

I'd still call it the Skytrain if referring to Vancouver Metro system, but otherwise would refer to it as the Canada line if giving someone directions. (Just like referring to Expo Line or Millennium Line for stops past Columbia.

What I noticed in the Global news segment is that the reporter put his luggage under the seat (this isn't possible in the ART I or II skytrains (as they are both bolted to the floor)), the first comment was "ew your luggage is going to be covered in grime"

Are they going to clean the floors of the Canada Line's trains more often than they do on the Millenium line?

[info]aubieturtle

August 19 2009, 01:41:57 UTC 2 years ago

I used the Canada Line this morning to get to the airport. It worked perfectly. Plenty of room for luggage and it was very fast (much faster than the trains were running on opening day). The experience was 100 times better than taking the bus to airport station and then switching buses like I did last week when arriving in town. Overall I give it a big thumbs up. My only complaint is that it didn't open a few days sooner for use on the SkyTrain pub Crawl (though we had a blast anyway).
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