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A glimpse of the enormous crowds in downtown Vancouver

A glimpse of the enormous crowds in downtown Vancouver

The crowds heading west toward Waterfront Station along Cordova St.
The crowds heading west toward Waterfront Station along Cordova St.

Record crowds are in downtown Vancouver today (Saturday, February 20), so I visited a couple of downtown stations at about 5 to 6 p.m. to see how things were going. Boy, was it wall-to-wall people! A ton were already in line for the Canada Line and Expo/Millennium Line. Here’s just a few snapshots of the early evening if you’re curious to see. (We’re managing them though! Waits are 30-minutes or less at most stations, and then we’re getting people on their way.)

I rode from Aberdeen to Waterfront -- here was the peak crowd inside the train. So full!
I rode from Aberdeen to Waterfront -- here was the peak crowd inside the train. So full!
Here is the crowd I passed on the Waterfront platform, waiting to board the next Canada Line train.
Here is the crowd I passed on the Waterfront platform, waiting to board the next Canada Line train.
The line snaked out into the station, and then up over the plaza outside.
The line snaked out into the station, and then up over the plaza outside.

This video shows the Canada Line lineup on the plaza next to Waterfront Station. (Why are they on the plaza? Read how we manage SkyTrain lineups at Waterfront Station.)

Waterfront Station, filled with people!
Waterfront Station, filled with people!
We had a queue management person directing people out the front doors and to the right to reach Canada Line and Expo/Millennium Line services.
We had a queue management person directing people out the front doors and to the right to reach Canada Line and Expo/Millennium Line services.
SkyTrain CEO Doug Kelsey and many members of the TransLink Olympic planning team were on hand to help with transit info and queue management.
SkyTrain CEO Doug Kelsey and many members of the TransLink Olympic planning team were on hand to help with transit info and queue management.
SkyTrain CEO Doug Kelseys wife and daughter even offered to help out with transit info and queue management!
SkyTrain CEO Doug Kelsey's wife and daughter even offered to come down and help out!
No-entry signs at the Waterfront Station entrance were getting a bit obscured by the huge numbers of people swarming around in front.
No-entry signs at the Waterfront Station entrance were getting a bit obscured by the huge numbers of people swarming around in front.

Here’s a video showing what the crowd flowing around the front of the station looked like. The intense guitar music is actually just from a nearby busker :)

The transit lifeguard at the Howe St entrance to the Expo/Millennium Line. So many people around him!
The transit lifeguard at the Howe St entrance to the Expo/Millennium Line. So many people around him!
When I showed up at Burrard Station, there was a lineup! The transit hosts were just trying to figure out where to put everyone.
When I showed up at Burrard Station, there was a lineup! The transit hosts were just trying to figure out where to put everyone.
The lineup dissipated in about 10 minutes though. It seemed as there was a big rush for the station just at that one point when I arrived!
The lineup dissipated in about 10 minutes though. It seemed as there was a big rush for the station just at that one point when I arrived!

It’s very likely our busiest day yet! Be prepared for much of the same tomorrow.

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