TransLink has added 12 new, two-car trains to its Canada Line in Metro Vancouver to improve capacity and increase frequency.
The remaining 11 trains will be shipped from South Korea throughout 2019 and into early 2020.
The new trains are scheduled to go into service early next year following comprehensive testing and commissioning. Once in service, customers will benefit from:
- An increase of up to one minute in frequency during peak periods.
- An increase of 25 percent in passenger capacity – carrying nearly 1,400 more people per hour.
“The Canada Line has proven to be a popular service connecting major hubs and city centers,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. “More cars means an increase in convenience and comfort for our Canada Line customers. Customers are going to see and feel a difference in their daily commutes.”
Along with fleet expansion, the Operations and Maintenance Center (OMC) has been upgraded. Upgrades include an added four new tracks, a new gate/driveway, automatic train controls, and power and communications to help store and maintain all Canada Line trains. This work began in 2018 and is expected to be completed this summer.
Canada Line customers may have also recently noticed a new escalator at Yaletown–Roundhouse that went into service. The installation of new escalators at Yaletown, Vancouver City Center and Waterfront are underway to get ready for the expanded service.
The fleet expansion, OMC, systems and station upgrades are part of a C$123 million (USD$930.73 million) investment outlined in the mayors’ 10-Year Vision and funded by the Federal Government (50 percent), Provincial Government (33 percent) and TransLink (17 percent).
Quick facts:
- In 2018, the Canada Line had 147,000 average weekday boardings.
- There was a 5.3 percent increase in ridership in 2018 compared to the year prior.
