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Canada Line Opens Six Months Ahead of 2010 Olympics In Vancouver

by Yuliya Talmazan | August 17, 2009 at 11:13 am

425 views | 12 Recommendations | 4 comments

The City of Vancouver launched the new Canada Line today, months ahead of schedule and under budget. The new Canada Line skytrain will connect downtown Vancouver and YVR international airport in Richmond, making Vancouver one of the very few North American cities to have a metro line connecting city core to airport. The project came at a cost of $2 billion. The ride from downtown Vancouver to Richmond is expected to take 25 minutes. It is expected that Canada Line will relieve traffic congestion during the 2010 Vancouver Games in February of next year.

The service will officially start today, August 17, and will be free to use 1-9 PM PST. Regular fares will apply starting Tuesday. Celebrations are scheduled at new skytrain stations. City officials will be in attendance.

Premier Gordon Campbell and federal Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day will take part in a ceremony at the airport and will be among the Canada's Line first riders.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson will join them at the Broadway-City Hall station, and VANOC CEO John Furlong will be getting on the line at the Olympic Village station.

There will be festivities and fun at every station on opening day. Riders can pick up a free passport that can be stamped at 11 of the 17 stops.

Waterfront: Win prizes at Canada Place

Vancouver City Centre: Street teams handing out gift cards to Pacific Centre to the tune of live music

Yaletown-Roundhouse: Visit the steam train inside the Roundhouse, live music

Broadway-City Hall: Mayor Gregor Robertson will speak about the opening of the line, accompanied by a 1950s rock band

King Edward: Cambie Village merchants will be handing out coupon books for shops and restaurants. Paralympic curling demonstrations between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Oakridge-41st Avenue: The unveiling of the Design for Diversity mosaics, free scratch tickets for big prizes at Oakridge Centre

Langara-49th Avenue: Free coffee and hot dogs at Langara College

Bridgeport: Hang out with Elvis impersonators at the River Rock Casino. Collect Marti Gras beads and playing cards

Lansdowne: Enjoy a free horse drawn carriage ride to the shopping centre. Paralympic basketball from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Richmond-Bridghouse: Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie will officially cut the ribbon at 12:45 p.m., after a traditional Lion dance ceremony.

YVR-Airport: Free frozen confections in the public observation area with the theme "Explore Planes, Trains and 2010"

For more FAQ on Canada Line Opening, see the official Canada Line website.

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alia_d

at 11:22 on August 17th, 2009

This is exciting!

sara star

at 11:48 on August 17th, 2009

Any pictures?

mbaumgartner

at 14:12 on August 17th, 2009

Hi Sarah, Ive just added a scan to this story. Pictures are coming in.

Jordan Yerman

at 11:49 on August 17th, 2009

I'm really psyched. Now I can leave even later to the airport, without having to worry about traffic on Granville or Oak, and without the $35 taxi fare. (Taxi drivers must hate this, by the way)

Sure, it just enables my work-until-you-must-dash-out-the-door-to-YVR habit, but whatareyagonnado?