Templeton Station photos from the Canada Line open house
Templeton Station photos from the Canada Line open house
Well, the Templeton Station open house was yesterday, and lots of us have returned with photos!
Templeton is quite a gorgeous station—it’s all glass and wood and feels really light and airy. There are wonderful views of the surrounding area from the top level. Also, I’m told that YVR is planning to put its long term and possibly employee parking in this area, so eventually there will be parking structures nearby, not just empty field.
In this post you’ll find the panoramic photos I took of the station plus a few more (okay, the panoramics are stitched together with Photoshop, if you must know). David Lam, Tafyrn Palecloud, and CJ Stebbing also have more great photos of the station and trains. Here’s the links to their pictures:
- David Lam’s Templeton photos
- Tafyrn Palecloud’s Templeton photos
- CJ Stebbing’s Templeton photos
- And a video from Tsushima Masaki!
And here’s the rest of my photos!
It looks like the CLA’s (Canada Line Attendant) butt in the first photo is pointy at the end. Lol
I have a question regarding taking pictures of transit buses. Is there an issue if we don’t inform the drivers or Translink or Coast Mountain Bus of our intention to take pictures of buses in transit throughout Lower Mainland? The purpose is to present our transit system to users that are part of Transit Forum.
Thank you for your time and I am sorry if this is not the right place to ask this question.
“…I’m told that YVR is planning to put its long term and possibly employee parking in this area, so eventually there will be parking structures nearby, not just empty field.”
Just to clarify, does this mean that we spent 1.9 billion dollars building a rapid transit line to the airport so that travellers and airport employees can drive to Sea Island, park, and take the train for the two stops between the parking lot and the terminal?
I truly hope that the City of Richmond, YVR, and CLCO have higher ambitions for the empty fields around Templeton; perhaps an airport-oriented business park, or a hotel with par-3 golf course, or just about anything other than parking. It would be tragic to have spent that kind of money to over-build a people mover connecting the terminal with the long-term parking. Tragic.
From what I remember, YVR was a major financial contributer to the Canada Line when it was proposed. The International terminal is expanding and the lots will be moving East to the Canada Line station locations. The people mover is better than waiting 15 or 20 minutes for those shuttle buses from the long term lots.
Mihnea:
There are many bus photographers in the Lower Mainland with large collections of transit photographs, so you’re not alone in snapping these pics. And in general, if you’re on public property anyone is allowed to take photos of anything in public. As I recall from my journalism training, anyway!
But you should probably be aware that right now, due to the Olympics coming up, our staff and people in general might be a little cautious of those snapping photos of public places where people congregate (like buses, Skytrain stations, stadiums etc).
One suggestion to maybe avoid some hassle would be to give our customer relations line a call before you head out and let them know of where and when you will be snapping photos.
@Desmond
I agree with you about the parking lots. I hope that they don’t build a business park also. Nobody likes walking at business parks, from what I understand, so it’s pointless to build a station in a business park or parking lot.
Also, why bother building a *beautiful* building, only to let it serve a parking lot? This is absurd. People are supposed to take transit to Templeton, and here they are driving there. I can’t imagine anybody wanting to drive somewhere and take a train just 2 or 3 stops.
Great photos Jhenifer. Can’t wait to ride the train to the airport.
@Desmond and Eugene, YVR’s section of the Canada Line was paid for by YVR including the station. They have long term land use plans including moving long term parking away from the airport. The YVR section will not only serve travelers to and from Vancouver and Richmond, it will serve whatever internal operations they have planned. Let’s not judge them, without their contribution, the Canada Line would just be a Vancouver to Richmond line.
The airport currently has huge parking lots located relatively close to the terminals, connected by shuttle buses. YVR plans to keep short term parking within walking distance, but move all other lots out to Templeton. Canada Line will replace many of the shuttle buses.
The land currently being used for parking lots will be converted into terminal space, hotel space, airline operations, etc.
The reason that Templeton and Sea Island stations are on the ground instead of elevated like the rest of the Richmond/YVR stations is because YVR will eventually be building a huge overpass allowing planes to move directly between the two parallel runways instead of having to taxi all the way around the terminal buildings.
@Donald
That’s awesome news. I guess that I didn’t pay enough attention to the media.
Thank you very much!
I heard that King George Station was paid for by private people. Is that true? I don’t mean confidential people.
To clarify what’s been discussed….
On Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Line ), the Airport is contributing $300 million or roughly 20% of the Canada Line cost to make it possible. During the planning meetings, it was felt 20% of the ridership projections would use the Airport segment (10% airport passengers & 10% airport employees).
-Government of Canada: $450 million
-Government of British Columbia: $365 million
-Vancouver Airport Authority: $300 million
-TransLink: $400 million
Early plans were to have the Sea Island segment elevated, but I believe to keep project costs under budget (Richmond segment was originally plan to be at grade and Vancouver was not to be tunneled King Edward South), Sea Island segment was built partially at grade. By having Canada Line at grade, a future taxiway can be built above to connect the North and South Runways ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Island_Centre_Station ). Driving a plane from the North Runway to the South Runway around the terminal is not very fuel efficient.
On page 27 of the Airport 2027 Master plan ( http://www.yvr.ca/yourairport2027/pdf/yvr_masterplan.pdf ), you will see a large structure (the future North East terminal) occupying the existing employee and long term parking lots in 2023. Those lots are expected to be moved closer to the Templeton station. Instead of operating an additional train/people mover, it would be more practical to partner with the Canada Line to operate that small segment. Think of the convenience to travelers in not having to transfer trains. I should also add the existing Long-term lot is frequently over capacity during Summer, Christmas and holiday travel periods.
We all know today what it’s like to retrofit a transportation solution into established neighbourhoods like Cambie. YVR is thinking ahead by investing in the Canada Line today for the next 30 years.
I still don’t understand why they aren’t painting the Canada Line Trains the same colour as the SkyTrains – it’s like the Canada Line doesn’t even belong to TransLink!
Nice photos! Templeton does look like a nice station (even if it is still surrounded by a whole lot of not very much).
There will always be people who drive to the airport — from out of town or suburban areas badly served by transit, with small children, with extra luggage, etc. I’m really looking forward to having it be a feasible proposition for me to take transit between north Burnaby and YVR, and I’m sure many other metro Vancouver residents feel the same. I’m going to Europe for a month this summer, and while something tells me I probably won’t be taking the Canada Line to the airport when I leave on July 30th, it’s exciting to think that I might be able to ride it when I get home on September 4th!
@LeonYuen, unfortunately the Canada Line does not belong to Translink, it belongs to inTransitBC for the next 30 or so years before it gets handed over to Translink. The only thing Translink is responsible for is collecting fares and paying inTransitBC as part of the P3 agreement. If Translink was responsible for the Canada Line branding, the trains would look a lot better and the name of the line would be changed to something a lot less dorkier. (Tourist: “How long does the Canada Line take to get to Montreal?”)
who is doing the announcements for the Canada Line?
Laureen Regan! I just found out.
Hi Jhenifer
I Have Some Information About The Canada Line Stations Which Gives Me The Idea Of Which Buses Serve All Stations But I Didn’t Expect That West Vancouver Transit Was Thinking About It From Now Until The Week Of September 1st To September 5th, But I’m Quite Talented About Transit Systems When I Lived In Vancouver.
Hi Jhenifer
I Have Some Information About The Canada Line Stations Which Gives Me The Idea Of Which Buses Serve All Stations But I Didn’t Expect That West Vancouver Transit Was Thinking About It From Now Until The Week Of September 1st To September 5th, But I’m Quite Talented About Transit Systems When I Lived In Vancouver.
I’m Also Looking At The Changes & New Diagrams By The Labour Day Weekend.
From Stirling Bloye.