I also found out that Translink and Canada Line officials wanted to open the new line at the beginning of August (four months ahead of schedule), but the elevator at the Marine Drive Station wasn't ready and neither was all the work on the interior of the Olympic Village Station. Not to mention that the new crosswalk and set of traffic lights outside of this station, on 6th Ave, weren't ready till about noon on opening day. Whew ! Talk about cutting it close (this was courtesy of the C of V streets department)...  All of the Cambie Bridge 'on and off' ramps at the south end are now also open (but 2nd Ave from Cambie to Main is still a single lane - more street works; suggest you stay away till after the middle of September)...

I went out to the YVR (Vancouver International Airport) Station before 10 am to see if I could watch the ribbon cutting...40-year Transit Driver Angus McIntyre was there as well, but we had no luck. The special train was 203 / 103 with 203 in the lead. A second train of dignitaries followed, being 206 / 106. The line up for the first free passenger train rides started at YVR at 11:30 am. I was about 15th in line, but managed to get into the front of car 206 (leading) for the ride to Waterfront Station. (Later I heard the line up went well into the terminal. Be sure to see the new eating area and observation deck within the newly renovated YVR domestic building.)

The gates opened at 1 pm with the train leaving the airport at 1:03 pm, arriving at 1:28 pm - 25 minutes. Nice smooth ride, with no problems. And we arrived one minute sooner than the advertised time of 26 minutes. Everybody had a good laugh as we pulled into Sea Island and Templeton Stations, the platforms were pretty much empty...only a handful of people waiting to board. Bridgeport was packed, as were all the other stations heading north (and south).

Fabulous view of the mountains and Fraser River as we crossed into Vancouver on the new North Arm Bridge. We could even see pedestrians and cyclists using the new walkway on the west side of the crossing.

I got off at Waterfront to help some tourists who rode in with me (yes, even on the first train 'out-of-towners' were with us), and that's when I saw the line up of people waiting to board. It went from within the station, up the staircase to the Granville Square plaza, snaked all over the entire plaza, went up Granville by the Sinclair Centre to Hastings, east on Hastings to Seymour, and down Seymour back towards Cordova. Media reports said it was a two (or more) hour wait...I've seen some long line ups for various things over the years, especially at Expo 86, but that was pretty much the longest.

Walked up to Sears, knowing I wouldn't be able to get on there either, but how long was that line? From the station entrance at Granville and Georgia, it went south on Granville, by the store, to Robson, along Robson and I lost sight of it as it rounded the corner onto to Howe Street. At Yaletown the folks said the line up was only about 45 minutes in length. It went down about half a block along Mainland Street. Rode an Aquabus Ferry over False Creek and found no line ups at the Olympic Village Station. Ever. The entire day said the staff...

Got back on the train, this time heading to Richmond - Brighouse, at the Richmond Centre Mall. PA announcements told us that the train was going out of service there and to please leave. So I got off only to find that the staff didn't clear the train. So I got back on and rode it down to the Broadway - City Hall Station and found only a 15 to 20 minute line.

Went home from there and rode the train again three days later (Thurs Aug 20th) after 7:30 pm for about 45 minutes, to and from downtown, checking out all the stations, etc. Every train had a standing room only crowd and every train in both directions had folks with luggage. (Ed. note—I have used the Canada Line now three times for YVR transport and it works well, even with a SeaBus connection to start / end)

As I suspected, this line is going to be well used, and not just by folks going to and from the airport. Translink said at least 80,000 folks took a trip on the first day, over the eight free hours. At least 70,000 rode the following day, over it's 21 hours of regular operation. They are hoping for 100,000 a day within a few years. I don't think they'll be waiting more than a few months. The 98 B Line buses were equally deserted as the new line was crowded.

There is no doubt that Canada Lines longer, wider cars with their smoother (and quieter) starts and stops are already a hit with many regular (and non-regular) transit riders. An odd thing I've noticed is that the train seems to be moving a little slower, but when I check my watch, man did we get here quick. From Waterfront to Olympic Village Station it took me all of 5 minutes. About six or seven minutes later and I was at the Oakridge Mall. So it might seem that it's not rolling as fast, but it is.

While in the underground portion there is cell phone coverage, even while travelling under False Creek. Give it a spin, but do remember to pay for the two-zone fare between Vancouver and Richmond (for adults, that's $3.75 -  no extra airport surcharge of about $2 till sometime in 2010). The stations all seem to be pretty nice as well. Public art will soon be placed and will rotate from station to station. The line is 19 kms long with 16 stations. 9 are in Vancouver, 8 of them are underground, with the Marine Drive Station being above ground. Of the 7 stations in Richmond, 5 are above ground and two are at grade level.

When you exit the train at YVR, if you turn to the right you can head into the International Terminal Building. Turn to the left and you'll be heading into the north end of the domestic building, passing by Susan Point's work of art, a beautifully carved 'owl.' Both walkways are covered.

Back on opening day, while waiting for the gates to open, the media train returned and I was able to snap the enclosed photo of long-time transit operator and transit booster, Vic Sharman. (photo)

See you on the rails, or the buses.