TRANSLINK is adding another West Coast Express (WCE) train into service. The newly refurbished train will enter service on June 19 and make two trips each weekday.
Extra service:
* 5:55 a.m.: weekday departure from Mission City Station
* 4:20 p.m.: weekday departure from Waterfront Station
The train is part of an ongoing refurbishment project co-funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, and TransLink. The West Coast Express Fleet Refurbishment Project was initiated to improve the quality of the WCE locomotive engines, which are nearing the end of their lifespan.
These engine refurbishments will:
* Reduce engine emissions by up to 50 per cent
* Extend the lifespan of the locomotive engines by 15 years
* Include newly painted locomotive cars
To ensure there is no disruption to West Coast Express service, all locomotives are being refurbished one at a time, with a spare train available for rotation into service. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2026.
Kevin Quinn, CEO, TransLink, said: “The West Coast Express has been moving thousands of Metro Vancouver residents for nearly 30 years and we are pleased to put five trains back in service for the first time since 2020. Over the last several months, we’ve seen ridership on the service steadily increase and we’re taking steps to keep it a reliable transit experience for our customers across the region.”
Quick facts:
* With 116,000 boardings on the West Coast Express in May 2023, ridership increased nearly 55 per cent more than May 2022.
* West Coast Express is a weekday commuter rail service that runs 69 km between Mission and Vancouver.
* West Coast Express has been serving the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver since 1995, with over 2.6 million boardings per year.
