Latest news with #SkyTrain
Vancouver Sun
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Celebration of Light: What you need to know for July 23, 2025
The Celebration of Light continues with a mid-week event, marking the second night of the three-night festival. Here's everything you need to know to enjoy the 2025 Honda Celebration of Light featuring Team Quebec on Wednesday, July 23: Team Quebec, represented by Royal Pyrotechnie, will be presenting on Wednesday. Royal Pyrotechnie both imports fireworks and designs professional presentations for various clients. Their work has been presented around the world, including in Korea and the Philippines, as well as here at home for many Canada Day events and special occasions. The team puts on more than 500 shows a year. These 'celestial artisans' have been lighting up the skies since 1966 and 'are passionate individuals who pour their hearts into their craft. Thanks to their experience and expertise, Royal Pyrotechnie has earned international recognition and is proud to represent Canada.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Road closures for the downtown area, particularly the West End, will begin between 5 and 7 p.m. and remain in place until crowds have cleared and police signal that it's safe to allow vehicles back in. That usually happens at around 11 p.m. Vehicle access will be restricted in the blocks between Gilford and Thurlow streets, and from Alberni Street to Beach Avenue. Residents of the area can access the restricted blocks using access points at Thurlow and Burnaby, Thurlow and Nelson, and Alberni and Denman. Residents will need to show a parking permit or recent proof of address. On evenings when the Celebration of Light is taking place, there will be increased SkyTrain, Canada Line and bus service to help get crowds in and out of the downtown Vancouver area. Those taking SkyTrain should get off at Burrard Station and those taking the Canada Line should exit at Yaletown-Roundhouse Station to walk to the English Bay area. Those taking the bus can take any route that takes you into downtown and walk from the Granville Strip area or consider one of the many buses that travel along Georgia Street to Denman. It'll be nice and toasty. Wednesday's temperatures will hit a high of 24 C near the water, but 27 C inland. In the evening, temperatures will drop to a low of 17 C. sip@
Global News
a day ago
- Business
- Global News
Vancouver to allow liquor service until 4 a.m. downtown, extends hours elsewhere
Late-night revellers in Vancouver will soon have more options after city councillors approved new, later liquor service hours. Under the changes, the latest closing time for liquor service in downtown Vancouver will be extended to 4 a.m. Areas outside of the downtown core will see the latest closing time extended to 3 a.m. on weekends, and 2 a.m. every night. The changed service hours would not apply automatically; businesses will still have to apply to have their liquor licence updated, a process that requires neighbour and community input. 2:00 Vancouver seeks input on extending liquor serving hours The bylaw changes will also lift restrictions on service hours for new liquor licence-holding businesses in their initial months of operation. Story continues below advertisement Vancouver Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung said longer serving hours can help businesses bring in a little more revenue. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It can really help, in terms of people are struggling right now with affordability, a lot of increasing costs for small businesses,' she said. Vince Marino, who operates the Junction and Pumpjack pubs, told Global News the public likely won't notice a major change. 'It'll just allow us to decide whether we stay open or not,' he said. 'I don't think that it's going to be across the board, seven days of the week that we're gonna stay open to 4 a.m. That's not the idea of it.' According to a report to council on the liquor law modernization, the Vancouver Police Department was not opposed to the changes. 'The proposed changes are not expected to significantly impact police operations, as existing establishments are not all operating to maximum hours and uptake of later hours is anticipated to be incremental,' the report states. The report notes that when the latest service hours in parts of downtown and the Downtown Eastside were extended to 3 a.m. in 2023, fewer than a quarter of licensees applied for the later hours. 0:40 Vancouver exploring extending liquor serving hours It notes, however, that Vancouver Coastal Health raised concerns about the later service hours, flagging potential negative effects on public health including increased alcohol consumption, more injuries, the potential for violence and harm to others. Story continues below advertisement The report also considered transportation options, acknowledging that the SkyTrain ends service before 1:30 a.m. It said TransLink's NightBus service offers late-night service to neighbouring communities every 20-30 minutes, and that the expansion of rideshare services have helped ease pressure on taxis. 'Many of our buses run past 1 a.m. And then we have the NightBus service that mirrors the SkyTrain system,' TransLink spokesperson Tina Lovgreen said. 'So that runs throughout the night and gets people to where they need to go. And we do have plans to extend that service through our Access For Everyone plan.' The changes won't take effect until this fall, when staff return to council with updated bylaws to reflect the new later service hours. As of April this year, Vancouver had 209 liquor-primary licensed businesses such as bars and nightclubs, and 1,225 restaurants with a food-primary liquor licence.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
TransLink parodies Wicked musical in chirpy introduction to new SkyTrain model
More engaging than a social media post and far more memorable than a tiresome written release, TransLink has opted for an all-singing, all-dancing spectacle to announce the latest addition to its SkyTrain fleet. Those at the transit agency, ever the wallflowers, have launched the new Mark V model with a music video parody based on the Broadway-musical-turned-movie Wicked. A staff member, decked out in a long blonde wig and various Glinda-worthy ensembles, prances through the stations and in and out of SkyTrain cars while singing a rejigged version of the catchy number 'What Is This Feeling?' The song leads with the question 'Why is that SkyTrain so shiny and new?' before journeying into lyrics that merrily applaud the car's new features, including the wider aisles, ample bike space and new LCD screens. TransLink Spokesperson Thor Diakow says the video was produced completely in-house by chirpy staff from TransLink and the B.C. Rapid Transit Company, who figured the earworm tune of the Broadway hit was the only appropriate way to unveil a new transport system. 'We wanted to connect it with some current pop culture that is relevant for all ages, and Wicked felt like the perfect choice,' he says. Rehearsals for the video took about 90 minutes, and the recording of the video lasted just over two hours. Diakow says there were numerous spectators who attended the Waterfront Station customer appreciation event when the Mark V launched, who were equally as enthralled to watch the video come together in real time. 'The production team got some enthusiastic applause after the dance sequences,' he says. Since being posted to TransLink's Youtube page on Friday, the response to the video has been nothing but 'overwhelmingly positive,' Diakow adds. 'We've received many comments from people outside Vancouver and even outside of Canada, with some asking where this transit system is located,' he says. The video currently has over 150,000 views on TransLink's Instagram account. The first Mark V model officially entered service on the Expo Line July 10 as one of 47 new trains set to hit the tracks.
Vancouver Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Celebration of Light: What you need to know for July 19, 2025
The 2025 Celebration of Light kicks off this weekend and it's bound to be a spectacular event. Here's everything you need to know to enjoy the 2025 Honda Celebration of Light presentation featuring Team Yukon on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Team Yukon, represented by Midnight Sun Fireworks, will be presenting on July 19, 2025 for the Celebration of Light. The team last competed at the Celebration of Light in 2022 and walked away with the top prize that year. The volunteer group of pyrotechnicians is known for their 'unique and imaginative fireworks displays … filled with colour, joy, and emotion.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Every performance is a testament to their deep passion for the art of pyro-musical design, where light, sound, and creativity dance together in perfect harmony,' reads their official bio. The team's name references the Yukon's high latitude and the ability to see the sun, even at midnight. Road closures for the downtown area, particularly the West End, will begin between 5 to 7 p.m. and remain in place until crowds have cleared and police signal that it's safe to allow vehicles back in. That usually happens around 11 p.m. Vehicle access will be restricted in the blocks between Gilford and Thurlow streets, and from Alberni Street to Beach Avenue. Residents of the area can access the restricted blocks using access points at Thurlow and Burnaby, Thurlow and Nelson, and Alberni and Denman. Residents will need to show a parking permit or recent proof of address. On evenings when the Celebration of Light is taking place, there will be increased SkyTrain, Canada Line and bus service to help get crowds in and out of the downtown Vancouver area. Those taking SkyTrain should get off at Burrard Station and those taking Canada Line should exit at Yaletown-Roundhouse Station to walk into the English Bay area. Those taking the bus can take any route that takes you into downtown and walk from the Granville Strip area or consider one of the many buses that travel along Georgia Street to Denman. According to Environment Canada, Vancouver's weather will be a mix of sun and cloud on Saturday, July 19, with a high of 22 and a low of about 15. If you're planning to camp out at the beach before the show, don't forget to wear sunscreen even if it's cloudy and grab a spare layer for the evening. No rain is expected this weekend. sip@
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Alstom's SkyTrain Mark V vehicles commence operations in Vancouver
Alstom, in partnership with Vancouver's TransLink in Canada, has announced the commercial launch of the first new generation of SkyTrain vehicles, known as the Mark V. This marks a significant step in the modernisation of Vancouver's rapid transit system, with plans to have several five-car trains operating on the Expo and Millennium Line network by the end of 2025. The driverless light trains represent the SkyTrain network's longest and highest capacity trains to date. With TransLink's additional order for six five-car Mark V trains for the network in 2024, the total number of Mark V cars ordered to date stands at 235 (47 trains). Each Mark V train can transport 672 passengers, which is a 25% increase in capacity compared to the current four-car Mark III models. TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn said: 'The SkyTrain is more than just transportation - it's part of the identity of Metro Vancouver. 'The Mark V trains represent a bold new chapter, with more space, improved accessibility, and cutting-edge features that will enhance every ride. These trains are designed to meet the needs of a growing region, and I am excited to see them deliver a better experience for every customer.' The new trains offer passengers enhanced comfort with improved interior designs, interconnected wagons, new seating arrangements, advanced heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and large digital displays for station information. The Mark V trains are designed, manufactured, and tested at Alstom's facilities in Kingston, Ontario, and La Pocatière and Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville in Québec. The project employed 282 people at its peak, not including the additional jobs and economic benefits generated through Alstom's local supply chain. In a separate development, Alstom has secured a contract worth $2.3bn to supply 316 commuter rail cars to the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, which are part of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority in the US. The contract also includes an option for up to 242 additional cars, potentially raising the contract value by $1.5bn. "Alstom's SkyTrain Mark V vehicles commence operations in Vancouver" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
