Vancouver
Full Metro and heritage trolley

Vancouver's Skytrain opened in 1986. It currently has 3 lines, 1.3 km and 4 stations of which are underground. As of February 2002, 22 stations are open.  Total length of the system is currently approximately 32 km, with 28.6 consisting of the first "Expo Line" (since it was built, in part, to service Expo 86). The train is completely driverless - the first in the world -  and manned by friendly attendants trained to fulfill your every fantasy. Translink took over the line from BC Transit in 1999.

Update: May, 2003: Translink is planning to contribute $300 Million to build a form of rapid transit, either Skytrain or light rail, between Richmond and the Vancouver airport. The section running under Cambie (Vancouver's Chinatown) is expected to be underground between 16th and 63rd Avenues, as well as a section under Granville Street in downtown. Several new Skytrain bridges are also being talked about for the line.


Update: The new Canada line opened in August 2009. The line connects downtown's Waterfront station wth two branches, one to the airport and another serving nearby Richmond. The 19 km route has 16 stations with an allowance for three future stations.



An 11 km Evergreen Line is planned to serve the northeast part of the city, connecting Lougheed Town Centre, Coquitlam and Burnaby. After several debates as to the technology to be used, it was decided to utilize existing Skytrain technology. In the process, routes were changed and cut as well as stations. The final plan is scheduled to open in 2014.

The Downtown Historic Railway is a heritage trolley line operated by TRAMS, Vancouver's Transit Museum Society. It runs from from Science World to Granville Island.  Opened in 1986, several extensions are on the table. You can see some photos here.

In September 2009, a temporary 1.8 km light rail line was under construction along False Creek on Granville Island to support transportation for the Olympic Village. The possibility of light rail remaining in Vancouver is a hope for one by city officials. Two flexity light rail vehicles were borrowed from Brussels for the project.

Finally, there are unsubstantiated rumours of a secret subway under construction in Vancouver.

Our new SkyTrain page
T2000BC: Public transit in the Vancouver area
Rapid Transit Project 2000
Info on the Vancouver Skytrain from Bombardier
BC Transit Vancouver Light Rail
Railway Technology - BC Transit Vancouver Light Rail
Greater Vancouver Rapid Transit Project Official Web Site
Transit Museum Society of British Columbia
Millenium line home page
Photos of Vancouver's heritage trolley from Trackwalker
Skytrain history and expansion plans from the City of Vancouver



Millenium line interior
A few additional pictures, courtesy of David Morgan


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