Rail Projects

We're replacing the escalators at Stadium–Chinatown Station sooner than originally planned as part of the Expo Line Escalator Replacement Program. With the easing of provincial health restrictions, we're expediting work to prepare the station for increased passenger volumes associated with future events.

What you need to know:

• Work on the first of the station’s two escalators, between the platform and mezzanine levels, began on July 5, 2021 and is now complete.

• Work on the second escalator, between the concourse and street level, has begun and is expected to complete in spring 2022.

Know before you go!

For your safety during construction, the elevator will be occasionally closed for short periods of time. For up-to-date information on station access and detour information, visit our Alerts page.

Thank you for your patience as we work to update our aging infrastructure and improve your transit experience.

Expected Timeline: spring 2021 to spring 2022.

We’re replacing your West Coast Express escalators with brand new models!

What you need to know:

• From May 2021 until spring 2022, we’ll be working to replace all three escalators at Waterfront’s West Coast Express station.

• Work on the west escalator began May 2021 and is now complete.

• Work on the two escalators at the east end began in September 2021 and is expected to complete in spring 2022.

• During this time, please use the stairs, elevator, or west escalator to access the ticketing level.

• To help limit disruption to our customers, the completed west escalator will operate bidirectionally – going up in the morning, and down in the evening.

• Thank you for your patience as we work to improve your West Coast Express station.

Waterfront SkyTrain Station’s escalator replacement project is now complete, including five new, heavier-duty models which means less downtime for maintenance to help keep you moving.

We've replaced:

• Two escalators (one up, one down) at the east end of the Expo Line platform (complete)

• Two escalators (one up, one down) at the Howe Street station entrance.

• One (up) escalator between the Expo Line platform and Howe Street escalators

Thank you for your patience as we work to update our aging infrastructure and improve your transit experience.

The three main escalators at Granville Station are the longest on the system. Replacing these escalators was a complicated process requiring the new escalators to be built piece-by-piece on site. Including these, a total of six escalators began replacement work in 2018 and 2019. As of July 2020, these escalators have been successfully replaced and all entrances at Granville Station have been re-opened.

Granville Station’s Escalator Replacement Project is now complete and the station has now fully re-opened to welcome you back to transit.

• This Includes

• Two escalators in the Hudson’s Bay mall corridor, providing access to the main SkyTrain entrance and ticketing area

• The ticketing area and three long escalators providing access to the inbound and outbound platforms

• A small escalator and staircase, leading from the inbound to outbound platform levels

• The Seymour Street entrance and staircase

We’re excited to fully re-open Granville Station just as ridership continues to return to the SkyTrain system.

• More route options within the station makes it easier to maintain physical distance from others

New, heavier-duty escalators mean less downtime for maintenance to help keep you moving.

Did you know?

The three longest and most iconic escalators in Metro Vancouver have been successfully replaced – that’s more than 500 steps in total!

• This wasn’t your average escalator replacement – these required piece by piece assembly on-site meaning a customized, longer, more complex process

• Prior to construction, these escalators carried nearly 30,000 people on an average weekday

• A small escalator and staircase, leading from the inbound to outbound platform levels

• The Seymour Street entrance and staircase

We know this project was a long-haul and appreciate your patience. This critical infrastructure work will improve the durability, safety, reliability of Granville Station’s escalators today and well into the future.

Replacement of two escalators in Commercial–Broadway’s south stationhouse is now complete. The new, heavier-duty models means less downtime for maintenance to help keep you moving.

Thank you for your patience as we work to update our aging infrastructure and improve your transit experience.

Nanaimo Station’s escalator replacement is now complete. The new, heavier-duty model means less downtime for maintenance to help keep you moving.

Thank you for your patience as we work to update our aging infrastructure and improve your transit experience.

Patterson Station’s escalator replacement is now complete. The new, heavier-duty model means less downtime for maintenance to help keep you moving.

Thank you for your patience as we work to update our aging infrastructure and improve your transit experience.

22nd Street Station’s escalator replacement is now complete. The new, heavier-duty model means less downtime for maintenance to help keep you moving.

Thank you for your patience as we work to update our aging infrastructure and improve your transit experience.

Columbia Station’s escalator replacement is now complete. The new, heavier-duty model means less downtime for maintenance to help keep you moving.

Thank you for your patience as we work to update our aging infrastructure and improve your transit experience.

Expected Timeline: summer 2022

What you need to know:

• Customers can still use the stairs or elevator at the station to access platform level and the station remains fully accessible.

• We’ll be replacing escalators one at a time, to minimize disruption for customers.

• Replacement of all three escalators is expected to be complete in summer 2022.

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

Gateway Station’s escalator replacement is now complete. Your new, heavier-duty escalators means less downtime for maintenance to help keep you moving.

Thank you for your patience as we work to update our aging infrastructure and improve your transit experience.

Expected Timeline: Late 2020 through 2022.

We’re replacing your escalators with brand-new models!

What you need to know:

• We’ll be replacing all four of the aging escalators at Surrey Central Station.

• Work on the escalator nearest to the bus loop, as well as the one nearest to the City Parkway entrance, is now complete and both are open to the public. 

• Work on the escalator leading from the City Parkway entrance mezzanine up to the platform level is ongoing and you can expect it to be ready spring 2022.

• Replacement of the remaining escalator will follow.

• Throughout construction, the stairs and elevators will remain available to access all three levels.

King George Station’s escalator replacement is now complete. The new, heavier-duty escalator means less downtime for maintenance to help keep you moving.

Thank you for your patience as we work to update our aging infrastructure and improve your transit experience.

Estimated Timeline: March 2021 through the end of 2022
While the majority of work in this area will be complete in winter 2021/22, crews will need to return intermittently throughout the year for finishing touches.

Overview: We’re replacing the portion of track between Main Street-Science World and Commercial–Broadway stations, including 6,700 metres of rail and 14,100 rail pads.

Know before you go! This work will require single tracking and changes to regular operating patterns. For up-to-date information visit our Alerts page.

Estimated Timeline: December 2021 through the end of 2022

Overview: We’re replacing the portion of track between Commercial–Broadway and Nanaimo stations, including 7,300 metres of rail and over 10,400 rail pads.

Know before you go! This work will require single tracking and changes to regular operating patterns. For up-to-date information visit our Alerts page.

Waterfront to Stadium-Chinatown Station

From December 2018 to spring 2019, we replaced 4,900 metres of rail and 8,400 rail pads on the tracks between Waterfront and Stadium–Chinatown stations, including inside Dunsmuir Tunnel which had one of the worst sections of rail pad corrosion across our system.

Stadium-Chinatown to Main Street-Science World

Between spring 2019 and spring 2020, we replaced about 1,800 metres of rail and 4,000 rail pads between Stadium-Chinatown and Main Street-Science World stations.

22nd Street to New Westminster Station

Between December 2019 and March 2021, we replaced the portion of track between 22nd Street and New Westminster Stations, including 9,800 metres of running rail and 17,000 rail pads.

Estimated Timeline: Dec. 2021 until spring 2022

Overview: We’re working to partially replace the roof at Surrey Central Station! As with other roof replacement work, the majority of construction will take place during the day with the possibility of some overnight work if required. Customers may notice construction material in the area but all access will remain as normal and service will not be impacted. We thank our customers and neighbours for their patience throughout this work.

Estimated Timeline: Oct. 2021 until early 2022

Overview: We’re partially replacing the roof at Columbia Station! Most of the work will take place in the daytime, with some overnight work as required. Station access will remain as normal and service will not be impacted. We thank our customers and neighbours for their patience as we complete this work.

Estimated Timeline: Nov. 2021 until spring 2022

Overview: We’re working to fully replace the roof at Production Way – University Station! As with other roof replacement work, the majority of construction will take place during the day with some overnight work as required. Customers may notice construction material in the bus loop but all access will remain as normal and service will not be impacted. We thank our customers and neighbours for their patience throughout this work.

The next part of the SkyTrain Noise Study was designed to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of the six noise mitigation measures recommended in the 2018 initial assessment report.

These investigations were divided into two phases. Phase 1 involved studying all noise mitigation measures except for the top of rail friction modifiers and improvements to grinding practices, which require more time to investigate and are being addressed in Phase 2.

We'll continue to provide updates on our progress. Learn more in the reports below:

• Report to the Board - SkyTrain Noise Study Update (June 2021)

• Environmental Noise Assessment Interim Guidelines for New Developments (May 10, 2021)

• Q3 2020 SkyTrain Noise Study project update report

• Q2 2020 SkyTrain Noise Study project update report

• Q1 2020 SkyTrain Noise Study project update report

• Phase 1 Recommendation Report and Implementation Plan: Full Report and Summary Report.

• Fall 2019 SkyTrain Noise Study project update report

Some noise mitigation measures from Phase 1 are already being implemented. In most locations, you will not hear a sudden reduction in noise. These noise mitigation measures aim to make train noise levels more stable and consistent so that there are no longer times when the noise level is noticeably worse than others.

Throughout 2020 and beyond, TransLink will continue with Phase 2 noise mitigation investigations. We will then share an updated Recommendation Report and Implementation Plan. These recommendations will be for future consideration by TransLink. They will help to inform priorities for future investments with the intent of reducing noise levels and improving the livability of communities near the SkyTrain system.

While the SkyTrain Noise Study progresses, TransLink is committed to providing a safe and quality customer experience.

Our annual rail grinding program covers over 130 kilometres of running rail per year. Grinding addresses rail areas in need of re-profiling and defect removal. This work helps to prolong the life of the rail, improve ride quality, and lessen noise for customers and our neighbours. Our goal is to keep the system safe and in a state of good repair, and this is especially important as our system ages.

For more information, please email noisestudy@translink.ca.

About the Project

As part of the TransLink Maintenance and Upgrade Program, we will be upgrading the Burrard SkyTrain Station to improve the customer experience, provide universal accessibility, meet expected demand, and maintain a state of good repair.

Burrard Station is the fourth busiest station in our network. In 2019 (pre-Covid), there were more than 7.6 million boardings at the station. During the morning peak period, in particular, customers experience very heavy passenger volumes when exiting the station. Included in TransLink’s Phase One Investment Plan, the upgrade will improve the customer experience, helping people get where they need to go as quickly as possible.

Construction is expected to begin in spring 2022. We will share details about the construction schedule and changes to service in the area as plans are finalized.

Project Overview

The upgrades will include:

• An updated design to improve the passenger flow through and around the station, and to create a pedestrian-focussed plaza with customer needs at the forefront;

• Relocating the entrance closer to Dunsmuir Street for a more seamless transition to bus stops;

• Replacing all escalators and the elevator with new, heavier-duty models and installing five additional escalators and one new elevator to increase capacity (for a total of 10 escalators and two elevators);

• New passenger information displays;

• Upgraded power, electrical, and mechanical systems;

• Improved signage in and around the station; and

• New interior finishes.

Construction Information

Construction is expected to begin in spring 2022 and complete in 2024. To best manage these important upgrades, we will be closing the station for approximately two years.

To access the Expo Line in downtown Vancouver during construction, customers can use Waterfront Station or Granville Station. We will also modify any necessary bus routes in the area as well as the nearby HandyDART drop-off/pick-up location to ensure we minimize impacts on our bus passengers and customers with accessibility needs.

We will share more details as construction plans are finalized.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the project, please email burrardstationupgrade@translink.ca.