John Furlong, Olympic Spirit honoured on SkyTrain car

May 11, 2010

The public “face” of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the people of the host region are being commemorated with a specially marked SkyTrain car.

Car # 308 – one of the new generation Mark II railcars – has been designated In The Olympic Spirit of John Furlong, after the CEO of the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee.

The decision to make this extraordinary designation came from TransLink executives, including Executive Vice-President Doug Kelsey, who was involved with Games transportation planning from the beginning stages of the bid.  The designation recognizes Mr Furlong’s intimate association with the Games and the success they achieved, as well as a key legacy of the Games: the demonstration of the capabilities and vast potential of Metro Vancouver’s public transportation system.  It also reminds all of us of the spirit that imbued Metro Vancouver at that time – and which still has not faded.

SkyTrain cars in the original Mark I series were designated “Spirit Of …”, honouring various British Columbia places as part of Expo 86.  This is the first time a car has been named after an actual person.

Car # 308 will return to regular service May 12.