Canada Line Opening

On Monday, August 17, 2009, the Canada Line rapid transit project finally opened to the public after 4 years of construction and 3 months ahead of schedule.

I don't know why they choose to have the grand opening on a Monday (these kinds of grand infrastructure projects are usually open to the public on the weekends...) but because I had work, I unfortunately could not ride the train on the opening day. I tried going after work but the lines were just too crazy.

Instead after dinner I went biking down Cambie St. and across the Canada Line bridge to Richmond. While biking I passed by many stations and they were all packed with people. I had never seen Cambie St. so alive with pedestrians before!

Below are pictures of the craziness that ensued on opening day when an estimated 100,000 people rode the train from 1 pm to 9 pm.

(Note: The pictures are not mine and are from various sources)

Our illustrious leader, the one who knows best, Premier Gordon Campbell opening the system at the YVR-Airport station.



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Crazy lines downtown:



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Inside the stations:



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Inside the trains:



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Transition from the subway portion in Vancouver to the elevated portion in Richmond:



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One of my favorite stations, Broadway-City Hall (not on opening day):



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