Metro-Vancouver's 4th Metro (Skytrain) Line - The Evergreen Line - Page 2

Metro-One · #21 Posted: **Jul 20, 2012, 3:04 AM**

Awesome news, they are adding another station to the Evergreen Line, in the heart of Coquitlam's commercial district (where from the start I suggested there should be a station) via a P3 between the Federal Government, the owners of Coquitlam Centre Shopping mall, and i believe the city and or Province.

Here is a render of the new (6th) station as part of the Evergreen Line:

From the Evergreen Line Facebook Page.

Again, it makes me so happy that Metro-Vancouver is continuing to build a true metro system. Yay full grade separation! Makes transit feel so much more big city IMO.

Also, demolition and utility work has been progressing steadily the last couple months in preparation for construction.

vancitydweller · #22 Posted: **Jul 28, 2012, 12:20 PM**

That is indeed excellent news. Too bad that station wasn't there a few years ago, when I used to work across the street from there. lol

vancitydweller · #23 Posted: **Aug 20, 2012, 12:41 PM**

I wonder when the major construction is finally going to begin on this project. They haven't even announced an actual contractor yet! Translink has said earlier this year that a contractor would be officially announced in August, from among three finalists.

Well, we're now August 20. Still haven't heard anything.

I haven't been in that area for a while. How's the preliminary work progressing? Is it still underway, or have they now finished?

Metro-One · #24 Posted: **Aug 21, 2012, 7:22 AM**

Preliminary work has been progressing steadily. The majority of the visible activity is around Burquitlam. Lots of road work relocating utilities and of course clearing all the houses for the west portal. The majority of them are gone now, last time I was there the few remaining ones were being stripped of their windows and other parts.

vancitydweller · #25 Posted: **Aug 21, 2012, 1:00 PM**

I see. Thanks for the info.

OhioGuy · #26 Posted: **Aug 21, 2012, 1:58 PM**

I think it's fantastic the Lincoln Station is being included. And even more fantastic that they were able to get the adjacent mall to help with the costs!

I love seeing a North American city still opting for higher quality grade separated rapid transit rather than going the half ass route with non grade separated light rail. It'll be a truly exciting day for Vancouver when the Broadway line to UBC is finally funded, constructed, and operating!

J. Will · #27 Posted: **Aug 21, 2012, 10:10 PM**

Vancouver's SkyTrain is fantastic. It is very fast AND very frequent. I think Seattle made a monumental mistake by not grade-separating 100% of their LRT. It might not be a big deal now, but eventually they're going to regret it. Rainier Valley will probably never have very high service frequency (3 minutes or less). And the amount and density of development around the stations will likely never be very high because the capacity of the system will be so limited with smallish trains and not great headways.

Penny-wise, pound foolish.

Metro-One · #28 Posted: **Aug 21, 2012, 10:38 PM**

I feel the same as you guys.

While I don't want this to become a vs. thread I am personally happy that Metro-Vancouver has built a fully grade separated transit system for its backbone. I love skytrain and do find it to be the best urban rail system in the Pacific Northwest (and the most big city in feel).

This new line will be a fantastic addition (I should note, at one point it was going to be built as surface LRT, but at one point all 4 of metro-Vancouver's skytrain lines were going to be built as such, but luckily good cost / benefit analysis have saved us each time!).

Once this is complete, all we need is the M-Line extension to UBC (which will be built mostly as subway with a few elevated sections) and the Expo extension south of the Fraser.

OhioGuy · #29 Posted: **Aug 22, 2012, 1:25 AM**

Once the Broadway line and Surrey extensions are constructed, do you think it's worthwhile to create a line along Hastings from downtown to PNE? Or is it more worthwhile to create a line along the Arbutus corridor into downtown? Is light rail more appropriate for these two corridors? Or can Skytrain still fit in?

Metro-One · #30 Posted: **Aug 22, 2012, 3:32 PM**

Seeing how the Arbutus corridor is already an old heavy rail corridor (with tracks still in place) and it would simply be a relief line for the Canada Line (and therefore not a backbone line) LRT would be better suited there.

Hastings on the other hand is a tough one, I personally would suggest skytrain, but any plan for mass transit down Hastings is at least decades away.

vancitydweller · #31 Posted: **Aug 29, 2012, 9:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

any plan for mass transit down Hastings is at least decades away.

I agree. I'm unlikely to see that happen in my lifetime----considering how many big projects are already on the backburner (such as the Broadway-UBC line), and how cash-strapped Translink apparently is.

By the way, there should also be a "spur line" constructed between Marine Drive Station (on the Canada Line) and 22nd Street Station (on the Expo Line). Currently, there are buses operating between the two stations, but they are not "Express", and therefore stop at every bus stop, and take forever. A spur line would greatly reduce travel time, by eliminating the need to transfer at Waterfront Station for those wishing to remain on ALRT (I don't say "Skytrain", because the trains on the Canada Line are not technically Skytrain) for their entire commute. Plus the Marine Drive corridor is densely populated and heavily congested. This line would be a major asset to those neighborhoods. I wonder if Translink has thought of this? In the meantime, there really should be a B-Line operating between those two stations.

vancitydweller · #32 Posted: **Sep 16, 2012, 1:04 PM**

I've been following every development regarding the Evergreen Line for a long time now, and one thing I've never heard (or read) any mention of: whether they are buying new trains for this line. When they built the Millenium and Canada lines, the number of train cars on order were often mentioned. With this line, I haven't heard anything at all. I certainly hope they are ordering some new MK II trains from Bombardier----using only the existing stock would mean longer waiting times, and more trains packed like sardine cans during the morning and evening rushes.

LeftCoaster · #33 Posted: **Sep 20, 2012, 2:21 PM**

Yes they will be building a ton more trains for this line, Mark 2.5s at the least.

Check the thread in the Vancouver local for detailed info.

drifting sun · #34 Posted: **Sep 21, 2012, 6:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Will

Vancouver's SkyTrain is fantastic. It is very fast AND very frequent. I think Seattle made a monumental mistake by not grade-separating 100% of their LRT. It might not be a big deal now, but eventually they're going to regret it. Rainier Valley will probably never have very high service frequency (3 minutes or less). And the amount and density of development around the stations will likely never be very high because the capacity of the system will be so limited with smallish trains and not great headways.

Penny-wise, pound foolish.

As someone who has had the fortune to visit Vancouver and ride the train (I went out to the hinterlands from downtown and back, for the sole purpose of experiencing SkyTrain), I wholeheartedly agree.

Not grade-separating often results in mediocre performance, giving the anti-public transportation crowd an excuse to point fingers and say "see...we told you it was going to be a boondoggle...yammer yammer yammer...."

NIMBY's and other sorts often object to elevated rail, but, it sure is a lot less divisive and not nearly as unattractive as 4, 6, 8, 10+ lanes wide elevated freeways.

vancitydweller · #35 Posted: **Sep 22, 2012, 6:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Yes they will be building a ton more trains for this line, Mark 2.5s at the least.

Check the thread in the Vancouver local for detailed info.

Hopefully more than one ton, because that's not even a full car!

Thanks for the info!

vancitydweller · #36 Posted: **Oct 8, 2012, 5:51 AM**

The contract for the construction has now been awarded to SNC-Lavallin. With major construction slated to begin late this fall.

Hot Rod · #37 Posted: **Oct 10, 2012, 1:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vancitydweller

I agree. I'm unlikely to see that happen in my lifetime----considering how many big projects are already on the backburner (such as the Broadway-UBC line), and how cash-strapped Translink apparently is.

By the way, there should also be a "spur line" constructed between Marine Drive Station (on the Canada Line) and 22nd Street Station (on the Expo Line). Currently, there are buses operating between the two stations, but they are not "Express", and therefore stop at every bus stop, and take forever. A spur line would greatly reduce travel time, by eliminating the need to transfer at Waterfront Station for those wishing to remain on ALRT (I don't say "Skytrain", because the trains on the Canada Line are not technically Skytrain) for their entire commute. Plus the Marine Drive corridor is densely populated and heavily congested. This line would be a major asset to those neighborhoods. I wonder if Translink has thought of this? In the meantime, there really should be a B-Line operating between those two stations.

Isn't "SkyTrain" the name of the metro system?

A terrific one I agree with everyone!

vancitydweller · #38 Posted: **Oct 10, 2012, 2:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hot Rod

Isn't "SkyTrain" the name of the metro system?

It's commonly called "Skytrain", yes. But Skytrain is actually a trademark of Bombardier, which manufactures those types of automated light rail cars. The trains on the Canada Line, though also fully automated, were constructed in South Korea by Hyundai ROTEM, and don't use Skytrain's linear induction motors.

ssiguy · #39 Posted: **Oct 10, 2012, 2:29 AM**

Yes, the Canada Line uses standard subway/Metro cars which means any new orders do not have the restriction of using Bombardiers proprietary SkyTrain technology. The new Evergreen Line will be Bombardier SkyTrain as it will be interlining with the current Millenium SkyTrain line.

bardak · #40 Posted: **Oct 10, 2012, 2:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vancitydweller

It's commonly called "Skytrain", yes. But Skytrain is actually a trademark of Bombardier, which manufactures those types of automated light rail cars. The trains on the Canada Line, though also fully automated, were constructed in South Korea by Hyundai ROTEM, and don't use Skytrain's linear induction motors.

I'm pretty sure that Skytrain is Translink's trademark not Bombardier's. I know that people have used skytrain as a shorthand for Bombardier's ART system but I think that was only because Vancouver had the largest system.