[browna]

It's one thing to go to a city like Vancouver (or Seattle, where I took the train from the airport to the stadium), if you're staying for a couple days in the downtown (or reside there and live dt) and don't need a car. It's ideal. Same for visitors here.

It's a whole other thing to do it leaving from here (or even a place like Van or Seattle if you don't live on a train line), even if there was a direct train. It takes me 25-30 minutes via train to get downtown when I commute that way in the morning. If I went with the family, trains would be either jammed or not as frequent, it would then be crossing the street with luggage to wait and catch an NE train and another 20+ minutes to the airport.

Of course, we'd have to get to a train station as well...and leave the car there multiple days? Not possible. Get a ride? May as well get a ride from a friend or family to the airport, only another 20 minutes. Take the bus? Sure. Add another 20 minute ride to the station for our once every 30 minute bus. So that's pushing over an hour if you line everything up perfectly...once you get to the station.

Hopefully you arrive back at a decent hour....do the trip in reverse, switch downtown again after 25 minutes. Then another 25 minutes down south. Our bus runs every 45 mins after 6pm, so now its as long as 1h45.

There's a lot of ifs and buts in there as well...winter weather, not making bus or train connections etc.

It takes just under 30 minutes, sans signficant traffic, for us to get to (and from) the airport long term parking. It will cost $65 or so for 3 days away parking at YYC vs $18 for a family of 3 round trip. So a $50 saving for at least 2, maybe closer to 3 hours of my time with ideal timing working out, and a lot of hassle along the way.

IMO, a train from the airport to dt would be good for the business travelers and weekenders coming into town and staying DT (for the Flames game at the old or new arena...lets get this back on track) or Motel Village. Saves cab fare and hassle. But the majority of locals not living directly downtown or on a train line will continue to drive, take cabs, or gets friends or family to take them to or from the airport...and the majority of airport LRT users will be Airdrie/far NE commuters.