TransLink’s new Mark V SkyTrain is officially on track.
The first of 47 new trains took its first trip on the Expo Line Thursday, with the remaining 46 set to hit the rails over the next four years.
“They’re also really key in making sure that we’re ready for the Broadway Subway and for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension,” spokesperson Anita Bathe told 1130 NewsRadio.
“For the next couple of years, these trains are going to play a key role in really getting our system ready for the future, as our ridership continues to grow and is expected to grow even more.”
The trains have more space and comfort and feature a modern design, Bathe says.
“We’ve got wider aisles with more standing room, we’ve got handrails and new leaning pads,” Bathe said.
“They’re super spacious, and we’ve got multi-use areas for bikes, luggage, strollers, wheelchairs, [and] any other mobility devices.”
The trains are also wider and longer and will feature a mix of forward-facing and side seating, she says.
“That just means that when you’re waiting for a train at a platform and there’s a big crowd, a lot more people are going to be able to get on,” she said.
The trains first arrived in Burnaby in 2023, where the transit authority said they would be subjected to rigorous testing.
With ridership expected to jump by 20 per cent on the Expo Line and by as much as 50 per cent on the Millennium Line by 2030, TransLink says the new fleet couldn’t have come at a better time.
— With files from Michael Williams.