New Canada Line - very spiffy.

[agoodwinsmith]

For the last million years or so, the city has been torn up everywhere for the construction of the Canada Line transit link from Waterfront to the Airport.  The construction and disruption still go on, but the line is now operating.  It opened with a free day two Sundays ago.  You wouldn't get me to a free day for any amount of cotton candy, so we went and had a look at it yesterday.  Very nice.

Big seats.  Lots of knee room.  Wide aisles - easily get those SUV baby carriages down the aisles, as well as wheelchairs.  Smooth ride.  30 minutes from Waterfront to the departure gate station - amazing.  If you tried to drive the same distance, you'd be lucky to do it in less than an hour, and if it is rush hour it will be more, and you'd still have to find parking once you got there.  Very very slick.  The previous bus link was pretty good, but didn't accommodate suitcases very well, and had a kinky little shuttle bus connection to make near the end.  This is excellent - I'll use this to go to and from the airport.  In fact, for anyone going to the downtown area of Vancouver, it would still be the best option over a taxi, and then one can get a taxi the rest of the way to the hotel.  Aside from saving on taxi fees, you will save time and be more comfortable.

The only oh-darn I have is that most of it is underground.  It is clean and smooth, and one doesn't feel like one is in a scary place - but there is no scenery to look at.  And on that route, there would be terrific scenery to look at.  Oh well.  Very spendy homes in that area, and even though each of those owners only have one vote just like the rest of us, their votes are better.

Even so - wow.  Excellent.  It is *so* clean right now that there aren't even any ads in the ad hangers.  Never see that again.  :)

Comments

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

I'm reminded about Michael Palin's commentary about the Shinkanzen trains in Tokyo: "The doors only open for 90 seconds so god help you if you have a double bass and a set of golf clubs". I can just imagine a family of tourists, after spending 10 hours cramped in an airplane and then being subject to Customs' interrogation, trying to herd a bunch of screaming kids and all their luggage into one of those trains. I'll bet the most common trouble for the attendants will be uniting lost kids and luggage pieces with their families.

Ans as for the NIMBYs, let them pay a premium for their tickets. They can obviously afford it.

[agoodwinsmith.livejournal.com]

I think, for a family of four (you can't get more than four people in most cabs, and I wish you luck getting all the luggage for four people in the trunk), that it might be cheaper to take the taxi. Two adult 2-zone fares ($3.75 X 2 = $7.50), plus two concession 2-zone fares ($2.50 X 2 = 5.00) equals $12.50. Okay, no; taxi ride is going to be three or four times that price, depending on traffic. And it will take longer unless you have a police escort clearing the intersections for you. And, I think if you can get all your offspring and their chattels to the taxi stand, you can get them on the Canada Line with about the same level of heartburning.

Okay. It won't be easier than having the family retainer meek the train with the governess cart, but it is still pretty good. :)