Rail Projects

From October 2022 until early 2024, we will be working to replace the five aging escalators at Burrard SkyTrain Station with new, heavier-duty models to ensure their safe and reliable operation for years to come. These modern transit-grade escalators are much more durable and feature:

• smoother operation and braking for passenger safety

• LED step lighting for better visibility in dimly lit areas

• a variable speed option for power savings

• improved accessibility for maintenance, to minimize down time and keep passengers moving

Expo Line traffic has increased exponentially since these escalators began operating more than 35 years ago. Their replacement is critical to ensure growing passenger volumes are supported today and well into the future.

Construction Information:

Burrard Station will continue to operate normally throughout construction; however, passengers can expect more congestion within the station than usual.

• Signage and SkyTrain Attendants will help direct passengers during any in-station detours, as required.

• Access to Royal Centre and Bentall Centre will not be affected by construction.

• Elevator access on all levels will not be affected by construction.

Thank you for your patience while we work to improve your transit experience.

The previously announced upgrades that would have closed the station for two years were rescoped. We assessed that that replacing the current escalators with new models is a necessary near-term improvement to continue effectively serving customers. For more information, please view the SkyTrain Station Upgrades section below.

We're replacing aging SkyTrain tracks on Expo Line, including rail and rail pads, to help ensure a smoother and quieter ride for our customers. Much of this track is more than 30 years old and has carried more than 2 million trains since 1986.

We're replacing rail and rail pads throughout our system one segment at a time to prevent future need for fixes that can cause unexpected disruption to neighbours and customers.

Estimated time: Summer 2023 to Spring 2026

TransLink is working to enhance the SkyTrain network to run more trains and carry more passengers across Metro Vancouver in the coming years. Currently, SkyTrain has a network of propulsion power substations throughout the system to supply electrical power to run trains on the SkyTrain lines. However, as we expand our fleet with longer trains and increase service levels, more substations are required to maintain a safe and reliable SkyTrain service.

The Propulsion Power Upgrades project will upgrade and expand SkyTrain’s existing propulsion power system by adding new power substations along the Expo and Millennium lines. New substation locations were selected based on a study that determined locations that can provide the most benefit to the SkyTrain network. The project starts in Vancouver at VCC Clark in June 2023, followed by substations in Burnaby at Sperling, with Moody Center substation starting in 2024.

• From 2023 to 2026, add eight propulsion power substations (three in Vancouver, two in Burnaby, one in Surrey, one in Coquitlam, and one in Port Moody)

• From 2023 to 2024, replace or add transformer rectifier units at existing substations

During the substation construction, there are no changes to SkyTrain service levels or station access. There will be some construction noise during these days. Thank you to our customers and the community for your patience as we complete improvements to the SkyTrain network for a better, safer transit experience.

As part of the TransLink Maintenance and Upgrade Program, we’re continuing to partially and fully replace the roofs at several SkyTrain stations and other buildings on the system to protect customers and SkyTrain facilities. Many of the buildings along our SkyTrain network are aging and require ongoing maintenance. This work will help ensure that we continue to meet the needs of our customers now and in the future.

From June 17 to July 31 (45 days), we are undertaking essential maintenance work to replace two SkyTrain track switches located near Gateway Station on the Expo Line in Surrey. This work is critical to keeping SkyTrain maintained and ensuring the system remains reliable.

Track switches are essential components which allow trains to be routed to different tracks, and these two switches are being replaced for the first time since they were installed over thirty years ago.

During this maintenance work, trains will only be able to travel on one side of the tracks between Scott Road and King George stations, which will slow service and reduce the number of trains which can travel through the area.

Trains travelling toward Surrey will terminate at either Scott Road, Surrey Central, Gateway, or King George stations. Usually, these trains would all terminate at King George Station. Given station screens only display the next three destinations, customers may have to wait before a train to King George or Production Way-University is shown.

Surrey customers are encouraged to use Scott Road Station, when possible, as it will have the most frequent SkyTrain service in the area.

Other stations will have fewer trains serving customers:

• King George Station (33% of usual peak service)
• Surrey Central Station (50% of usual peak service)
• Gateway Station (66% of usual peak service)

During this time, customers should:

• Build in at least 20 minutes of extra travel time and be prepared for crowding on trains and platforms during peak periods.
• Check platform screens to ensure they are boarding the correct train for their destination as Expo Line service patterns will be adjusted.

Additional SkyTrain staff are being deployed to assist customers during the maintenance work.

This track maintenance work does not affect Expo Line customers who are not travelling to or from Surrey. The Canada Line and Millennium Line will be unaffected during this work.

We appreciate your patience while these necessary upgrades are completed.

For more information, customers and neighbours can call:

Customer Information | 604.953.3333 

• 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days per week.

We also encourage you to sign up for Transit Alerts if you’d like to be notified by text message (SMS) and/or email about disruptions, updates, or changes to SkyTrain or other transit services you take.

TransLink’s SkyTrain Customer Communications Upgrades Project is now complete, improving customers’ in-station experience by providing relevant, timely, and clear transit service information. We know that customers expect to see and hear important information when they need it most. The completion of this project delivers on our commitment to upgrade our in-station systems to provide real-time information across the transit system, as part of our Customer Experience Action Plan.

Across Expo and Millennium Line, we’ve installed:

• Approximately 280 new information displays, including ‘next train’ signs and general information screens on SkyTrain platforms, and new information screens at station entrances.

• More than 1,400 new speakers to replace end-of-life units and expand to new areas of the station. We’ve also upgraded some of the more recently installed speakers along Expo Line.

• More than 1,200 CCTV cameras in stations, replacing aging units and adding more to improve coverage.

New, real-time information throughout the station make it easier for customers to make decisions about their transit trip by keeping them informed of up-to-the-minute service information, including system-wide alerts.

The improved quality of in-station announcements make it easier for customers to get relevant service information, particularly during service disruptions. Better CCTV systems improve the safety of customers and employees within the station and are a valuable resource for Transit Police investigations.

Funding

This $79 million program is part of a larger $92.4 million Rapid Transit Systems Rehabilitation and Maintenance Project paid for under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF), which is funded by the Government of Canada (50 per cent), the Government of British Columbia (33%), and TransLink (17%).

Did you know?

TransLink has installed more than 50 digital touch screen kiosks throughout the transit system as part of the Digital Customer Kiosk Program, a separate project in partnership with Lamar Advertising Company.

These kiosks provide customers the ability to plan their journeys on-site with all transit modes, using real-time transit information. This is another way TransLink has made taking transit an easier, more attractive option for the region.

View the full Digital Touch Screen Kiosks map

In response to noise concerns from residents along the Expo and Millennium lines, TransLink conducted a multi-step SkyTrain Noise Study in 2018.

The study recommended that we investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of six noise mitigation measures. These investigations were divided into two phases. Both phases have now been completed. You can find more details in the summary report and technical report.

This work is more important now than ever before as Metro Vancouver continues to grow and more people choose to live near rapid transit lines. The results of the study will help us identify noise-reduction measures for our system and inform future designs and investments.