Safety and Security

The Transit Police force is committed to maintaining order, promoting safety and reducing crime on the transit system in Metro Vancouver. Transit Police officers have the same authority and powers of other municipal police officers in British Columbia, as well as issue violation tickets for fare evasion and other infractions.

Transit Police Service responsibilities include:

• making the system safe by arresting those wanted for outstanding warrants or for criminal offences
• investigating criminal behavior and the implementation of crime reduction strategies
• patrolling trains, stations and transit property for added safety and security of transit passengers and employees
• enforcing provincial and federal laws, including issuing violation tickets for violations of the Transit Conduct and Safety Regulations, Liquor Control Act and the Motor Vehicle Act, to name a few

To contact Transit Police, call 604.515.8300. If it's an emergency, call 911.

You can also request the assistance of Police, Fire or Ambulance by alerting TransLink staff in person, or by using the safety and security features listed in the Bus & SeaBus, SkyTrain and WCE tabs on this page.

If you're reporting an emergency over the phone, or in person, you can assist emergency responders by providing them with following information:

• mode of transit (Bus, SeaBus, SkyTrain, West Coast Express)
• location (city, last stop/station)
• direction of travel

and depending on your mode of transit:

• bus route number
• bus vehicle number (usually located at the front of the bus above the windshield)
• SkyTrain vehicle number (three digit number located on either end of SkyTrain cars on the inside and out)
• West Coast Express train number

When to call 911

When you dial 911 in Metro Vancouver, you're connected to E-Comm, the regional emergency call centre. Once you've provided your location, you'll be forwarded to the appropriate jurisdictional police dispatch centre, which will then contact Transit Police and/or other appropriate emergency responders.

An emergency is a situation where there is an immediate threat to a person or property; a serious crime is in progress (fight, break and enter) or has just occurred (sexual assault or robbery); or, there is a suspicious circumstance that may indicate criminal activity (suspicious package, passenger behaving suspiciously).

A non-emergency is a crime where there is no suspect and/or there has been a lengthy delay since the crime occurred.

If you're unsure of how serious an incident is, call 911 and E-Comm will advise whether or not to call the Transit Police non-emergency number: 604.515.8300.

Bus

Every Coast Mountain Bus Company vehicle is equipped with an on-board communication system that keeps drivers in touch with "T-Comm," a 24/7 contact point to provide support in the event of any safety and security issues.

Request A Stop: If you feel safer getting off the bus at a point between two regular bus stops, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. you can "Request A Stop". The bus driver will let you off if he or she believes it's safe to do so. Note: You can't "Request A Stop" along an express or limited-stop portion of a route.

SeaBus

SeaBus crews train extensively for all types of emergency situations that may occur while running the ships. Attendants oversee the safety of passengers in terminals and on board the SeaBus.

In the event of an emergency, please follow the directions of the crew. For your safety, life jackets are located under each seat and there are four (150 person) life rafts on board each SeaBus.

Please note that it's a criminal offence to wilfully interfere with the ship's safety equipment.

CMBC Transit Security

In addition to Transit Police, Coast Mountain Bus has a transit security force that patrols the system.

CMBC Transit Security responsibilities include:

• ensuring the safety and security of transit employees and our passengers
• responding to requests for assistance
• enforcing the Transit Tariff and safety and conduct rules
• handling incidents that are of a non-criminal nature
• assisting in the investigation of any criminal offence on, or in relation to, transit and it's properties
• Protecting and managing the security of corporate assets and property
• gathering information pertaining to: fares and fare structure, suspicious activity on the system and identifying crime trends

SkyTrain vehicles and stations are monitored and managed during all hours of operation by a dedicated team of SkyTrain customer service staff and security personnel.

All public areas have been designed to provide good sightlines, offering maximum visibility for customers, SkyTrain staff and security personnel.

SkyTrain Security Features

• The on-train Passenger Silent Alarm is a yellow strip above every window, which allows passengers to silently alert SkyTrain control operators in the event of a security concern. Help will be on the scene as soon as possible.
• The on-train Speakerphone is located inside each car near the doors. Speakerphones provide two-way voice communication with SkyTrain control operators for urgent assistance.
• The in-station Designated Waiting Areas are located on all platforms. These areas have enhanced lighting, red emergency telephones and a bench, and are monitored by closed-circuit television.
• The in-station Emergency Cabinets are located on SkyTrain platforms and are equipped with a red emergency telephone, fire extinguisher and emergency train stop buttons.
• Closed-circuit TV monitors platforms, elevators, escalators and ticket concourse areas. This provides effective station surveillance and the opportunity to record suspicious activity or crime in progress, and to respond to system emergencies.

SkyTrain Attendants (STAs) responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• providing customer service
• providing level 1 first aid and emergency response
• troubleshooting train and station operations
• performing fare inspections

Rail Talk Webcasts

TransLink COO Doug Kelsey held a series of webcasts to answer questions about SkyTrain safety, security and other topics. Visit our Rail Talk YouTube channel to watch the webcasts and hear Doug's answers.

Working Near SkyTrain

Work activities close to SkyTrain can create hazards. To ensure the safety of passengers, employees and those people working near the SkyTrain system, please follow the procedures outlined in our Equipment Limits of Approach booklet.

Every West Coast Express train is staffed by an engineer and conductor. These CP professionals are responsible for all aspects of rail operations and they oversee your safety while onboard the train. The conductor is responsible for boarding and departures, assisting customers with disabilities, keeping customers safe and secure and checking fares. Security staff patrol between stations during operating hours, and stations are randomly patrolled after hours.