SkyTrain (Vancouver)

SkyTrain (Vancouver)
Name	SkyTrain
Locale	Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Transit type	Rapid transit
Began operation	December 11, 1985
Operator	British Columbia Rapid Transit Company
Stations	53
Ridership	495,000 (weekday average, 2023)
Track gauge	sg
Propulsion	Linear induction motor
System length	79.6 km
Map state	collapsed

SkyTrain (Vancouver) is the rapid transit system serving the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. Operated by the British Columbia Rapid Transit Company under contract to TransLink, it is the longest fully automated driverless light metro system in the world. The network consists of three lines—Expo Line, Millennium Line, and Canada Line—connecting Vancouver with surrounding municipalities such as Surrey, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, and Coquitlam.

History

The system originated as part of the transportation plan for Expo 86, with the initial Expo Line segment between Waterfront station and New Westminster station opening in December 1985. This initial line utilized the proprietary Advanced Rapid Transit technology developed by the Urban Transportation Development Corporation. Following the success of Expo 86, the line was extended to Columbia station in 1989 and later across the Fraser River to Scott Road station in 1990, marking its expansion into Surrey. The second line, the Millennium Line, opened in phases beginning in 2002, forming a northeast loop through Burnaby and into Coquitlam. A major public-private partnership led to the construction of the Canada Line, which opened in August 2009 in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics, linking Vancouver to Richmond and Vancouver International Airport.

System description

The SkyTrain network comprises three distinct lines operating over of guideway with 53 stations. The original Expo Line and Millennium Line share the same linear induction motor technology and Advanced Rapid Transit rolling stock, while the Canada Line uses conventional rotary motor technology and operates as a separate, fully integrated system. Key infrastructure includes the Skybridge—the longest transit-only bridge in the world—and the Dunsmuir Tunnel under Downtown Vancouver. Stations range from underground, such as Waterfront, to elevated and at-grade designs, with major interchange hubs at Commercial–Broadway station, Waterfront, and Lougheed Town Centre station.

Operations

The system is fully automated and driverless, controlled from the SkyTrain Control Centre in Burnaby. Service operates from approximately 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. daily, with two-to-seven minute peak frequencies on core sections. Fares are integrated into TransLink's Compass Card electronic fare system, with proof-of-payment enforcement by the Transit Police. The Expo Line and Millennium Line are operated by the British Columbia Rapid Transit Company, while the Canada Line is operated by ProTrans BC under a separate contract with TransLink.

Rolling stock

The Expo and Millennium Lines are served by several generations of Advanced Rapid Transit vehicles, including the original ICTs Mark I trains, the Mark II fleet, and the newer Mark III trains. These cars are powered by linear induction motors and run on standard-gauge steel wheels. The Canada Line uses a fleet of Rotem-built EMU trains with conventional propulsion. All rolling stock is fully automated and operates in married pairs or four-car trains, with maintenance performed at yards in Burnaby, New Westminster, and Richmond.

Expansion and future plans

Major ongoing expansion includes the Broadway Extension of the Millennium Line to Arbutus Street, with future plans to extend to the University of British Columbia. The Expo Line is also slated for significant expansion into Surrey and Langley as part of the Surrey–Langley SkyTrain project. Other proposals and studies have examined potential extensions to the North Shore, further into Coquitlam, and enhancements to the Canada Line. These projects are overseen by TransLink and the Province of British Columbia.

Impact and reception

SkyTrain has profoundly shaped Metro Vancouver's urban development, encouraging high-density transit-oriented development around stations such as Metrotown and Lougheed Town Centre. It is credited with reducing traffic congestion and supporting major events like Expo 86 and the 2010 Winter Olympics. The system has received international recognition for its automation and reliability, though it has also faced criticism over costs, notably regarding the Canada Line public-private partnership, and capacity constraints during peak periods. It remains a critical component of the regional transportation network, carrying nearly half a million passengers on an average weekday.

Category:Rapid transit in Canada Category:Transport in Vancouver Category:Railway lines opened in 1985