VANCOUVER | Public Transport

[dchengg]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=e95NI8OIajo

i found a video on the minellium line from Commercial Drive station to brentwood station, you can feel how it is to be inside a skytrain!

**Credits to the maker of that video

[greg_christine]

Originally Posted by dchengg

http://youtube.com/watch?v=e95NI8OIajo

i found a video on the minellium line from Commercial Drive station to brentwood station, you can feel how it is to be inside a skytrain!

**Credits to the maker of that video

Thank you for providing the link!

One thing that is immediately apparent from the videos is how short the headways are between trains. I watched video #10 (6 min, 48 sec) and video #9 (8 min, 37 sec). The former video features a trip that encompasses five stations during which three trains are seen passing in the opposite direction. The latter video features a trip that encompasses six stations during which four trains are seen passing in the opposite direction.

This is one of the great advantages of a totally automated system. If the trains required drivers, the transit authority would be tempted to reduce labor costs by operating longer trains at longer headways. The station platforms are long enough to accommodate trains of twice the length. Due to the system being totally automated, there is no significant cost penalty for operating short trains at very tight headways, which certainly benefits the public by reducing time spent in the stations waiting for trains.

[mrtfreak]

Originally Posted by dchengg

http://youtube.com/watch?v=e95NI8OIajo

i found a video on the minellium line from Commercial Drive station to brentwood station, you can feel how it is to be inside a skytrain!

**Credits to the maker of that video

Nice find! Thanks for the link.

Anyone have any idea why KL's MKIIs are louder than Vancouver's noise wise? Here's a link to a video.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=o7cbA4NHgpM

[dchengg]

its because its in the tunnel

and when its in the air... its because the wheels and the tracks

[mrtfreak]

Originally Posted by dchengg

its because its in the tunnel

I saw a video of the SkyTrain between Burrard and Waterfront which is also in a tunnel, KL's system sounds louder. Even on teh above ground section (the video link I posted shows two underground sections and 2 above ground stations). Oh well. Thanks again for the videos.

[zonie]

Here's one that's at least a wee bit better: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_e_WXtMd8Ig&search=skytrain

At least the camera is at the front seat.

[zivan56]

Skytrain switchback + WestCoast Express

Lots of good vids there

[spongeg]

i have skimmed through so this may be similiar info

I believe the new skytrain cars are configured the way they are with the seats is because they did a survey and they found people did not like staring at each other across the train as they do in the old seating config.

and wow about the braodway plans - its about time they added a new southern entrance

and i drove past the sapperton station tonight and they have built a new stair case from the over pass brdige down to the street level - still under construction actually - but it is there now

I am wondering how the anvil will fit into that small space - is the old skytrain walk way going to go through the anvil? or beside it?

i guess the new staircase was put in to handle whatever development is going in on the old Labatts brewery site - which is completely gone now

and I remember seeing a station in new west called WOODLANDS - it said "future" station

is that still going to happen? or will they wait for more ridership from it?

the vidtoria hill development would be the main are served by the station - and it is awfully close to columbia

i wonder how they would construct the station - were any elements put in place when construction happenned years ago?

[spongeg]

ok three more questions - i really should just go on teh system and see for myself

1 - is the new pender street entrance for granville station open now?

2 - are the new tv screens in place yet at burrard?

3 - they really should put some kind of over pass from VCC Clark to the home depot side - do you think it would be useful?

[spongeg]

ok i found a rendering



wanted to ask another question

i never use skytrain - cause i have no need for the most part but i used to in the past

anyway - a few years ago when commuting to downtown for a course the skytrain had trains that only stopped at a few stations between burrard and surrey - ie it skipped past a lot of stations without stopping - to act as an "express" car - it seemed it was only a few cars

do they still have that for rush hour?

[spongeg]

Originally Posted by mr.x

A lot will be happening at the Broadway/Commercial Station over the next 12 months:


BROADWAY STATION
- Replace metal screens and construct new dumpster enclosure
- Relocate elevator to south end of station
- Open a new 10th Ave entrance to the south with a new circulation stair
- Create a new bicycle storage facility (Bike Station)
- Remove 2 bays of east station wall at platform level
- Cover the underside of the passarelle
- Widen existing passarelle (pedetrian bridge over Broadway)
- Upgrade existing roof with skylights to encourage daylighting
- Replace existing roof structure with new canopy design
- Improve area wayfinding, signage and lighting
- Community Safety Office

For more details and diagrams: http://www.translink.bc.ca/files/pdf..._Materials.pdf

Construction begins Summer 2006 and ends Spring 2007.

wow

Will the safeway be constructed like now and open in 2007? or is it longer than that? the pdf seems to be full of so much info.

I think moving the elevator is one the simplest and best ideas for sure. Even opening up two of the things in the concrete wall be a great thing.

SO i looked at the metrotown plan but nothing is there yet. But i think and why it was never done otiginally - is they need an entrance and stuff at the west end of the platform - having the one entrance which basically serves the mall is pretty dumb.

a new western entrance way would serve the library and that side of things. having to walk with and thorugh the mall to get to the library is a real deterrant

should be exciting to some changes to the expo line in the next few years

[dchengg]

the elevator really blocks the path and forcing us to go around the elevator inorder to go over the "bridge" im always worried that someday someone will get knocked down onto the tracks during rush hours..

[spongeg]

i took a pic of the new entrance for granville - the pic is from far away but its in the hudson project

not open yet but signage is up

its hard to see but its at the far end of the building there

[officedweller]

I'll bet the stairs at Sapperton are to provide access while Anvil is under construction (i.e. the existing entrance would be closed during construcion).

A flat sectionof track was built for Woodlands Station - haven't heard anything about it though. The Victoria Hill project should have gotten it going, but hasn't. Maybe it isn't dense enough to justify the station being built.

[zonie]

They've just demolished the buildings where the King Edward station entrance and accompanying development will be.

[zonie]

Originally Posted by dchengg

i have a question,

do they still have that Family Day Program for Sundays and holidays.
It is where if you hold an adult mothly pass, can bring along with you one adult and 4 children with you.

Actually, they started this advertising again in "Your Ride Guide", a new magazine (details on p. 6)!

June 14, 2006
"Your Ride Guide" helps you to get onboard and explore Greater Vancouver

Anyone who’s ever ridden SkyTrain, SeaBus or buses in Greater Vancouver has looked at a building, landmark or natural setting and wondered, “What’s that?”

Beginning June 14, a new publication will offer a wealth of information about the Greater Vancouver that people see through a transit window, and give directions to some favourite destinations via public transit. Your Ride Guide, by local historian and long-time transit user Jim McGraw, will be distributed free in this Wednesday’s Vancouver Sun, and at selected SkyTrain stations and aboard SeaBus from Wednesday to Friday.

The 32-page magazine, sponsored by the Sun, Bombardier and TransLink, is valuable to visitors and local residents alike. The history, charm, attractions and interesting stories of neighbourhoods in the region are brought to life in Your Ride Guide through Jim McGraw’s light, entertaining style of writing.

“It’s amazing what’s around every major route,” says McGraw, a former broadcaster who is on the executive of the Vancouver Historical Society. “As I've ridden SkyTrain and SeaBus, I’ve often heard people say, 'What's that?' as they look out the window and see things like the Burr Building, The Lions or Christopher Columbus Plaza. Your Ride Guide is an answer to those 'what's that?' questions.”

As well as in the Sun, at SkyTrain stations and on SeaBus, Your Ride Guide will be available on BC Ferries, Amtrak and in many hotels and shopping centres.

[Toronto06]

Originally Posted by samsonyuen

Great pics. I've got to go on it soon.

im going next year

nice pics

i hear that vancouver cant have a subway because of the type of soil they have?

[mr.x]

i hear that vancouver cant have a subway because of the type of soil they have?

you're thinking Richmond, a city on a delta the Fraser River plus it's about 3 metres below sea level. the soil is saturated with water....try digging 10 feet and you'll hit water. that's why the Canada Line in Richmond and at YVR is being built elevated/at-grade.

in Vancouver, it's certainly possible to build underground. 3 km of the existing SkyTrain is underground (downtown) and 10 km of the 19 km Canada Line is being built underground.

[Huhu]

Originally Posted by mr.x

you're thinking Richmond, a city on a delta the Fraser River plus it's about 3 metres below sea level. the soil is saturated with water....try digging 10 feet and you'll hit water. that's why the Canada Line in Richmond and at YVR is being built elevated/at-grade.

in Vancouver, it's certainly possible to build underground. 3 km of the existing SkyTrain is underground (downtown) and 10 km of the 19 km Canada Line is being built underground.

Yeah Vancouver is mostly volcanic bedrock that is very stable and more suitable for subway construction. Richmond on the other hand is composed of soft sediments washed down by the Fraser River. Add to this fact that the whole city is below sea level and very close to the water table, and it makes subway construction not feasible; even basements and underground parking lots are difficult if not impossible to build. Everything has to be above ground in Richmond, Delta, and Sea Island (YVR).

[dchengg]

my dad always said, when earthquake comes, good bye richmond! and we have a chance of getting an earthquake!