Not everyone supported the Olympics coming to Vancouver, when it was put to a referendum. Many felt that a city with the poorest area code in Canada, as well as the richest, should invest time and money on sorting out its very real problems before inviting the international community to watch skiing and skeleton competitions.

The Olympics (just around the corner now, starting in February) have for better or worse caused a great deal of money to be spent, some of it disastrously: the collapsed public-private partnership that was supposed to save us money on the athletes village springs to mind. But there was one investment of time and money that is an undeniable bonus for Vancouver, bringing it a huge step forward in the world-class city stakes.

This is the Canada Line, a rapid transit route that finally connects downtown Vancouver to the airport. The journey now takes only half and hour (previously closer to an hour on public transport, including a change) and stops at various other key spots along the way, effectively expanding the Skytrain system and connecting areas of Vancouver to the centre that had previously been only accessible by painfully slow city buses.

Moreover, the Canada Line is a part of the general transportation and doesn’t cost any more than a normal ticket. There is a surcharge for traveling to the airport of $5, but not if you have a pack of tickets (available at Newsagents and drugstores, or at the airport at Pharmasave or 7/11). A pack of tickets is a good investment for your trip to Vancouver anyway: as the buses only take exact change, it cuts down on the weight of your wallet and saves you money in the process.

Apart from all these practical concerns, the Canada Line is cool. Modern, even futuristic, the train swishes into the station, collects you, and swishes off again. Much better than sitting in traffic… Just remember to buy a book of tickets before your first trip and you’re set to go!

This article is brought to you by Beckside Bed and Breakfast – A unique Bed and Breakfast in Vancouver