在加拿大旅行的每個城市裡，對於我這種不會開車的人來說，第一件必須熟悉的事就是大眾交通工具，到了溫哥華也不例外，這時就必須來聊聊溫哥華高架列車 (SkyTrain)，基本上只要靠這個交通工具，就可以輕鬆到達各種熱門景點，例如媒氣鎮、伊莉莎白女王公園、科學世界館等，我溫哥華的自由行，基本就是依據高架列車來規畫。
搭乘高架列車建議購買Compass Card，因為可用於其他多種交通工具例如公車等，該卡片的優點是在90分鐘內也享有換乘優惠，一開始購買此卡片時須支付6加幣作為押金，離開溫哥華之前也可以退卡片來取回押金，不過我回台前非常懶，所以就直接把卡片帶回家，就是是個旅遊收藏品了，哈哈。
高架列車特殊之處在於是站內沒有真人，買票機器和列車都由機器操作，在我溫哥華旅行期間，我幾乎天天坐高架列車，也沒遇到任何問題需要協助，所以看來站內確實沒有真人的需求。個人覺得它的使用方式和台灣的捷運不能說是完全相同，但可以說是一模一樣。只要是使用過地鐵和捷運的遊客搭乘高架列車可以說是完全沒有難度，更不用說買票機器還有中文顯示。
我個人很喜歡搭乘高架列車的原因，除了它很方便外，另一個原因就是可以欣賞風景，其實在天台等列車到達期間，向遠望去就可以隱約看到城市中的高樓大廈，在列車的最後一節車廂，也可以盡享窗外景致，途中可能會看到晴天和雨天的差異，也能感受到日落的美麗，個人覺得搭車高架列車也是一種體驗溫哥華的極佳方式，為自由行留下了不少回憶。
When traveling to any city in Canada, the first thing I need to get familiar with—as someone who doesn’t drive—is public transportation. Vancouver is no exception, and that’s where the SkyTrain comes in. With this transit system alone, I was able to reach many popular attractions with ease, such as Gastown, Queen Elizabeth Park, and Science World. My entire Vancouver itinerary was essentially planned around the SkyTrain.
I highly recommend getting a Compass Card when taking the SkyTrain, as it can also be used on buses and other transit services. One of its advantages is the 90-minute transfer discount. When purchasing the card, there’s an initial deposit of 6 CAD, which can be refunded when returning the card before leaving Vancouver. However, I was too lazy to do that before flying back to Taiwan, so I just kept it as a little souvenir!
One unique feature of the SkyTrain is that there are no staff members at the stations. Ticket machines and trains are fully automated. During my entire trip in Vancouver, I took the SkyTrain almost every day and never once needed assistance, so it seems like having staff at the stations really isn’t necessary. Personally, I find the system not entirely the same as Taiwan’s MRT, but pretty much identical in terms of how it works. Anyone who has used a subway or metro system before will have no trouble at all with the SkyTrain—plus, the ticket machines even have a Chinese language option!
One of the reasons I really enjoyed taking the SkyTrain, besides its convenience, was the view. While waiting on the platform, you can already catch glimpses of the city’s skyline in the distance. Sitting in the last car of the train gives you a great panoramic view of the tracks and the scenery outside. Along the way, you get to experience the contrast between sunny and rainy weather, and even the beauty of Vancouver’s sunsets. Taking the SkyTrain was more than just a way to get around—it was an experience in itself, making my trip all the more memorable.