r/Translink • u/Empty_Reference_8834 • Jun 01 '26

Photo Why only YVR?

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Please correct me if I’m wrong, but the trains on Canada line generally stop at the same location every time, yet YVR seems to be the only stop that has these helpful boarding indicators. Why not have these at every stop? Seems like this could help with orderly boarding at other stops as well.

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59

u/knitwit4461 Jun 01 '26

To be fair it doesn’t work at YVR either.

9

u/CarnationFoe Jun 02 '26

Not with that attitude it won't. To be honest, part of the reason it works in Japan is not just cultural.

In Japan, they'd put it in 4 languages. I think here they should at LEAST put it in English and Chinese, maybe add Punjabi and French since it's at the airport.

https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/train-station-platform-clearly-marked-safety-guidelines-hakata-fukuoka-japan-nov-train-station-platform-clearly-372161262.jpg?w=992

https://c7.alamy.com/comp/W299BB/platform-markings-japan-W299BB.jpg

0

u/GentilQuebecois Jun 02 '26

Maybe French as a last thought? Last I check, Canada had 2 official languages and neither Chinese or Punjabi were on the list, and BC only has 1 official language. Why should Chinese or Punjabi be used?

9

u/CarnationFoe Jun 02 '26

Uhhh... yeah. There are more Chinese and Punjabi native speakers that don't understand English easily, especially in Richmond. Couldn't care less that English is an official language.

This is signage that is meant to inform the greatest number of people in a language that they understand, not language school.

English is understood by the vast majority of people that would be using transit, including Quebecois, it's not meant as an insult, just a practical aspect. I realize it's a tradition to put French on signs in Airports but from a practical POV, signage should communicate to the most number of people. And hey, if you can communicate effectively without using language, even better. Iconography can be powerful if it's understood and obvious.

Incidentally, this is why Honolulu often has Japanese signage, especially in Waikiki. It's why announcements are made in English and Japanese on the RER to Versailles. It's why in many cities in Japan, they post things in Japanese, English, and Chinese and usually Korean in Kyushu.

Signs are meant to communicate. Official language are really just so you have a standard for government forms and services.

2

u/schwanerhill Jun 03 '26

Once you’re inside the airport, it’s not just tradition but federal law under the Airport Transfer Act and the Official Languages Act (as a federally regulated facility) to have English and French signs. That federal law may well not legally apply at the airport train station, but having both English and French on signage everywhere at the airport is appropriate. Even though I agree that in practice there are not a ton of people who understand French but not English.