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Elevator and Escalator Replacement

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    Station Access Transit Alerts

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    In Depth: Elevator Replacement at TransLink

    Check out a behind the scenes look at the elevator replacement process on the SkyTrain Expo Line system

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    Expo Line Elevator Replacement Program

    Following the successful replacement of Expo Line’s original escalators, we’re continuing to improve your station experience by replacing its aging elevators. Many of Expo Line’s elevators have been moving customers for four decades – that’s enough to make anyone tired!

    Your new elevators have 20 per cent more room, making it easier for customers with mobility devices, strollers, bikes, and luggage to get a spot and move through stations faster. They also require less downtime for maintenance, minimizing impacts for customers and staff.

    Each elevator will take approximately four months to replace and customers can expect replacement work at up to four stations at once. Stations with two elevators will only have one replaced at a time to keep the other accessible for customers.

    Waterfront Station

    Expected completion: Spring 2026

    Commuters walking through the Waterfront SkyTrain station with signs for the Expo Line and an elevator

    Starting Nov. 4, 2025, the Expo Line elevator at Waterfront Station will be closed for replacement. Customers needing elevator access will not be able to connect to the Expo Line here and must connect at Granville Station instead. Elevators for Canada Line, SeaBus, and West Coast Express will remain in service.

    Impacted customers should allow 20-25 minutes of extra trip time to complete detours as required.  To clarify your route in advance, call Customer Information at 604.953.3333.

    Detailed Transfer Map

    Bi-directional Detour map for Waterfront Station Elevators

    Bus/SeaBus/West Coast Express Transfers

    Customers transferring between modes of transit or wishing to board the Expo Line at Waterfront have two detour options that connect customers with Expo Line at Granville Station instead:

    Option A: Connect by bus

    Transfers from Waterfront to Granville Station:

    • Customers can catch the #50 False Creek South bus from Bay 2 outside of Waterfront’s Cordova entrance,

    • Get off at Dunsmuir, and

    • Connect to the Expo Line via Granville Station’s accessible Dunsmuir entrance.

    Transfers from Granville Station to Waterfront:

    • Customers can catch the #50 Waterfront Station bus at stop #60993 located on Granville Street at Dunsmuir, and

    • Get off at Cordova and Seymour and cross the street to Waterfront Station.

    • After 9 p.m. on weekends, holidays, weekdays preceding holidays, or when Granville Street is otherwise closed, customers can board the bus on Seymour at stop #61519.

    Option B: Connect by Walk/Roll/Wheel

    Customers can travel via sidewalk along Granville Street between Waterfront’s Cordova Street entrance and Granville Station’s accessible Dunsmuir Street entrance.

    Canada Line Transfers

    Customers can transfer between Canada Line and Expo Line using Vancouver City Centre Station, transferring via street level to Granville Station’s accessible Dunsmuir entrance.

    Travelling between Waterfront and Stadium-Chinatown Stations

    The elevators at both stations are closed for replacement.

    Transfers from Waterfront Station to Stadium-Chinatown Station:

    • To get to Beatty Street, BC Place, and the upper level of Rogers Arena, customers should board the #5 Downtown at stop #50077 on West Pender at Granville Street, two blocks southwest of Waterfront Station, and

    • Get off at stop #50081 near Cambie and Dunsmuir streets and travel southeast along Dunsmuir to connect to Beatty.

    Transfers from Stadium-Chinatown Station to Waterfront Station:

    Stadium-Chinatown Station

    Expected completion: Early 2026

    Busy Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain station with people on stairs and escalator, signage pointing to Beatty Street and BC Place.

    Starting Oct. 21, 2025, the elevator at Stadium-Chinatown Station will be closed so we can install a new, more spacious and reliable unit. Customers that use this elevator are advised to build in 15-20 minutes extra trip time to access Stadium-Chinatown Station via the following detours. Customers should select which detour will take them closest to their intended destination. To clarify your route in advance, call Customer Information at 604.953.3333.

    Elevator access to the Lost Property office is available during construction via the Keefer Plaza elevator and station entrance. Follow the Expo Boulevard detour below and connect to Keefer Plaza using Abbott Street.

    Beatty Street Entrance Detours

    Customers on a Waterfront-bound train wanting to access Beatty Street from the station (best way to get to BC Place, Rogers Arena upper level) should:

    • Exit the train at Burrard and take the elevator to street level

    • Catch the #5 Downtown bus from Bay 7, across Burrard Street from the station entrance, and

    • Get off the bus at the intersections of Cambie and Dunsmuir streets.

    Customers continuing to BC Place/Rogers Arena:

    • To get to Rogers Arena, travel southeast along Dunsmuir Street.

    • To get to BC Place, travel southwest along Cambie Street and turn left at Robson St.

      • Detour map of the BC Place/Rogers Arena

    Customers wanting to access Expo Line from Beatty Street should:

    • Board the #5 Robson bus at the intersection of Cambie and Dunsmuir streets, one block northwest from the station entrance.

    • Get off the bus at Burrard Station and enter the station to access Expo Line.

    *Note: the #5 bus frequency is approximately every 8-15 minutes.

    Expo Boulevard Entrance Detours

    Customers on a Waterfront-bound train wanting to access Expo Boulevard from the station (best way to get to Rogers Arena ground level and Keefer Street):

    • Exit the train at Main Street-Science World Station and take the elevator on the west side of Main Steet to street level.

    • Catch the #23 Pacific to English Bay bus at stop #59925.

    • Get off the bus along Expo Boulevard at Abbott Street.

    Customers wanting to access Expo Line from Expo Boulevard should:

    • Board the #23 Pacific to Main St bus at Pat Quinn Way and Expo Boulevard.

    • Ride the bus to Main Street-Science World Station and use the elevator to access platform level.

    *Note: the #23 bus frequency is approximately every 9-15 minutes.

    Nanaimo Station

    Estimated timeline: July 2025 to Spring 2026

    People walking toward Nanaimo Station entrance on a sunny day, with a train passing overhead on an elevated track

    In July 2025, we began replacing the Platform 1 elevator (serving trains headed to Waterfront). Please allow 15 minutes extra trip time to complete detours as required.

    Customer Impacts

    Customers who normally get off at Nanaimo and use this elevator will need to

    • Stay on the train and get off at Commercial-Broadway Station;

    • Transfer across platforms and board any train headed back to Nanaimo Station.

    Customers who normally board trains headed to Waterfront at Nanaimo will need to 

    • Follow directional signs to Platform 2;

    • Board any train and disembark at 29th Avenue Station;

    • Transfer across the platform and catch a Waterfront-bound train.

    22nd Street Station

    Estimated timeline: July 2025 to Spring 2026

    22nd Street Station entrance with fare gates, elevated track, transit signs, and nearby bus bay

    In July 2025, we began replacing the Platform 1 elevator (serving trains headed to Waterfront). Please allow 15 minutes extra trip time to complete detours as required.

    Customer Impacts

    Customers who normally get off at 22nd Street and use this elevator will need to  

    • Stay on the train and get off at Edmonds Station; 

    • Follow signs for Platform 2 and board any train headed back to 22nd Street Station. 

    Customers who normally board trains headed to Waterfront at 22nd Street Station will need to 

    • Follow directional signs to Platform 2;

    • Board any train and disembark at New Westminster Station; 

    • Follow signs to Platform 1 and board any train to continue toward Waterfront Station. 

    Contact Us

    If you have any program questions or inquiries, please contact our Customer Information team at 604.953.3333, available daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. For additional up-to-date service information, please visit our Alerts page.