SkyTrain Millennium Line

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SkyTrain Millennium Line is wheelchair accessible.
SkyTrain Millennium Line is a bike rack route.
Millennium Line Logo and Symbol-a.png
System SkyTrain
Type Light metro rapid transit
Number of stations 17
Cities serviced Vancouver, Burnaby,
Port Moody, Coquitlam
Termini VCC–Clark
Lafarge Lake–Douglas
Operations
Opened January 2, 2002
Owner TransLink
Operator BC Rapid Transit Company
Rolling stock Bombardier ART Mark II Wc15.JPG
Technical
Line length 31.2 km (19.4 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification Third rail (Linear motor)
Operating speed 80 km/h (50 mph)
Line Diagram

The Millennium Line Wc15.JPG is a SkyTrain line operated by British Columbia Rapid Transit Company Ltd., a subsidiary of TransLink in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Route Details

The Millennium Line connects VCC–Clark with Lafarge Lake–Douglas. The line travels along an elevated guideway for most its route with portions tunneled and at-grade.

Millennium Line route diagram

Departing from VCC–Clark Station, the line travels parallel along the Burlington North Santa Fe (BNSF) right-of-way in the Grandview Cut, entering Commercial–Broadway. Leaving Commercial–Broadway, the line continues in the Grandview Cut before elevating onto a guideway parallel to Grandview Highway. The line then travels over the Trans-Canada Highway into Burnaby, curving into the Brentwood area where it parallels Lougheed Highway.

Continuing along Lougheed Highway, the line curves onto North Road east of Lougheed Town Centre Station. After Burquitlam Station, the line curves over Clarke Road and into the tunnel travelling underneath Snake Hill. The tunnel is the longest in the system. Leaving the tunnel, trains run perpendicular to Barnet Highway before running parallel to the CP Rail right-of-way in Port Moody at-grade. The line then bends under St. Johns Street into Inlet Centre Station. Leaving Inlet Centre, the line continues to travel at-grade and then passes the Coquitlam Maintenance Centre before going elevated again west of Coquitlam Central Station. Departing Coquitlam Central, the line curves over the bus loop and parallels Pinetree Way to the terminus station of Lafarge Lake–Douglas.

Between December 2, 2016 and June 24, 2018, trains travelled on the left instead of on the right between Lougheed Town Centre Station and Burquitlam Station.

History

Millennium Line branding used at stations

Shortly after the completion of the Expo Line from Waterfront to New Westminster, there were considerations for an extension into Coquitlam with a short spur being constructed east of Columbia underneath the SkyBridge viaduct in preparation of an extension. During planning, there were considerations of building an extension from Royal Oak to Lougheed and into Coquitlam. This idea was later scrapped. Shortly afterwards in 1995, there were considerations of building a light rail system connecting Commercial Drive to Lougheed and into Coquitlam, travelling either at-grade along Lougheed Highway or using the BNSF right-of-way. In 1998, the idea was scrapped by the provincial government (headed by the BC NDP) in favor of a SkyTrain extension. By constructing an extension, it was impractical to connect at Broadway Station, so the spur east of Columbia was used to start as an extension. Installation of switches resulted in minor service disruptions to SkyTrain services east of Columbia. During planning, the Millennium Line was sometimes referenced as Rapid Transit 2000.

Initial Phase

Phase I of the Millennium Line was to be from Waterfront to Braid, which opened on January 2, 2002. Phase II, from Braid to Commercial Drive opened on August 31, 2002. Initially, Phase II was to also include the PMC Line (Port Moody-Coquitlam Line) and service was to be from Braid to around Granville Street and 10th Avenue in Vancouver. In preparation, a third platform was constructed at Lougheed Town Centre. Following a change of government from BCNDP to BC Liberals during construction, the PMC Line was scrapped and Phase II shortened to Braid to Granville and 10th. However, due to problems with land negotiations for the construction of VCC–Clark Station, Phase II was shortened again to Commercial Drive. It wasn't until 2006 that VCC–Clark opened, but the original Phase II plan of continuing deeper into Vancouver was subsequently scrapped due to a decreased priority.

In 2003, Lake City Way Station opened due to construction delays.

On October 22, 2016, the section between Waterfront and Braid was changed to the Expo Line and the Millennium Line was shortened to run between VCC–Clark and Lougheed Town Centre. On December 2, 2016, the Evergreen Extension opened, extending the Millennium Line to Lafarge Lake–Douglas.

Evergreen Extension

Main article: Evergreen Extension

Since the completion of the initial phase of SkyTrain in 1985 between Waterfront and New Westminster, there were plans of extending south to Surrey and east to Coquitlam. Potentially, extending into Coquitlam could be a spur line from Royal Oak Station. The Northeast Sector was hoping for rapid transit service, but was left disappointed following the 1987 announcement that the SkyTrain would instead extend to Surrey, a decision that was met with opposition from then-Coquitlam Mayor Lou Sekora[1]. Mayor Lou Sekora was also opposed to the 1995 announcement of the Millennium Line running only between Lougheed and Broadway in Vancouver with Coquitlam cut out again.

However, a few years after the Millennium Line was completed, the idea of rapid transit into the Tri Cities resurfaced. Options for technology included a new SkyTrain line, a light rail line, or a diesel multiple unit based railway. The route considered was either the current route or a southern route via the Mary Hill area. In 2006, the TransLink Board approved the construction of the Evergreen Line as a streetcar line, only to be revised in 2008 when the Government of British Columbia and TransLink revealed a business case favoring SkyTrain over streetcar.an announcement was made by the provincial government regarding the Evergreen Line. This change resulted in the removal of four stations: Cameron, Buller, Lansdowne, and Coquitlam Civic Centre. Currently, there are space allowances for future stations west of Moody Centre and east of Inlet Centre. There's also a short extension south of Coquitlam Central Station for future extensions east into Port Coquitlam.

During the planning for the Millennium Line, the Port Moody Coquitlam Line (PMC Line) was considered for part of Phase II. Due to a change in government following a provincial election, the plan for a PMC Line was dropped.

Start of construction was delayed multiple times due to difficulty of securing funding from 2009 to 2011. It wasn't until 2012 that preliminary construction began with the removal of structures and commencement of underground utilities construction. In the same year, Lincoln Station as added and the final names of stations were announced in 2013.

The extension opened on December 2, 2016.

Future Extension

TransLink's UBC Line Rapid Transit Study commenced in 2009 and went until 2012 to examine technology and route alternatives along the Broadway corridor to meet the growing demand of transit services. The alternatives for rapid transit considered were[2]:

  • Bus rapid transit connecting UBC and Commercial–Broadway along Broadway, University Boulevard and W. 10th Avenue using diesel articulated buses
  • Light rail transit with two options:
    • At-grade from Commercial–Broadway to UBC along Broadway, University Boulevard and W. 10th Avenue
    • Same routing as the first option, but with a branch line extending to Main Street–Science World Station from Broadway & Arbutus, using the CPR right-of-way
  • SkyTrain from VCC–Clark traveling under Broadway
  • A combination of light rail from Main Street–Science World to UBC and SkyTrain from VCC–Clark to Broadway & Arbutus
  • A combination of bus rapid transit from Commercial–Broadway to Broadway & Arbutus and SkyTrain from VCC–Clark to Broadway & Arbutus
  • Improvements to local, semi-express and express bus services along major corridors

By 2014, the options were narrowed down to either light rail along Broadway, either at street level or partially tunnelled; a combination of light rail from Main Street–Science World and SkyTrain from VCC–Clark, meeting at Broadway & Arbutus; or SkyTrain from VCC–Clark to UBC[3].

In June 2014, the Mayors' Council's 10-Year Transportation Vision outlined transit improvements for the upcoming years across the region. The vision included an extension of the Millennium Line from VCC–Clark to Arbutus Street. The plan is divided up into two phases: the first to Arbutus Street under Broadway and the second from Arbutus Street to the University of British Columbia.

In mid-2016, preliminary soil testing work began on Broadway.

With construction starting as early as 2019 depending on funding, the Millennium Line Broadway Extension will be elevated from VCC–Clark along Great Northern Way, where it will go underground and along Broadway. Currently, the stations will be located at:

  • Great Northern Way & Thornton Street
  • E. Broadway & Main Street
  • Broadway–City Hall
  • W. Broadway & Oak Street
  • W. Broadway & Granville Street
  • W. Broadway & Arbutus Street

At the moment, the extension is planned to be open as early as 2025.

The southwest corner of the Great Northern Way Campus Trust lands will be used for tunneling preparation and for the construction of a station at Great Northern Way & Thornton Street. Presently, there are reserve spaces underneath or near potential station sites at the Crossroads development at Cambie & Broadway; at 988 W. Broadway for a station at Oak & Broadway; and one at Pinnacle Living for a station at Arbutus & Broadway.

Service Information

Service on the Millennium Line runs 7 days a week.

Service Frequency

Millennium Line Logo-a.png Frequency
Peak Hours 3-4 mins.
Midday 6 mins.
Evening 6-8 mins.
Late Night 8-10 mins.
Early Saturdays and
Sundays/Holidays
8 mins.
Saturdays and
Sundays/Holidays
6 mins.

First and Last Trains

Outbound Service

VCC–Clark to Lafarge Lake–Douglas
Millennium Line Logo-a.png First Train Last Train Last Train to
Lougheed Town Centre*
Weekdays 5:30 a.m. 1:22 a.m. 1:29 a.m.
Saturdays 6:30 a.m. 1:22 a.m. 1:29 a.m.
Sundays/Holidays 7:30 a.m. 12:22 a.m. 12:29 a.m.

* Late night service terminate at Lougheed Town Centre after the last Lafarge Lake–Douglas train.

Inbound Service

Lafarge Lake–Douglas to VCC–Clark
Millennium Line Logo-a.png First Train Last Train Last Train to
Lougheed Town Centre*
Weekdays 5:04 a.m. 12:59 a.m. 1:39 a.m.
Saturdays 6:05 a.m. 12:59 a.m. 1:39 a.m.
Sundays/Holidays 6:56 a.m. 11:59 p.m. 12:39 a.m.

* Late night service terminate at Lougheed Town Centre after the last VCC–Clark train.

Stations

There are 10 stations on the Millennium Line. With the 7 from the Evergreen Extension, there are 17 stations in total. All stations are wheelchair accessible.

Station Name City Fare Zone Date Opened Transfers Notes
VCC–Clark Station

Vancouver

1

January 6, 2006
Commercial–Broadway Station

August 31, 2002

Expo Line Logo and Symbol-a.png
TransLink B-Line Symbol-a.png
Renfrew Station
Rupert Station
Gilmore Station

Burnaby

2

Brentwood Town Centre Station
Holdom Station
Sperling–Burnaby Lake Station
Lake City Way Station November 21, 2003
Production Way–University Station

August 31, 2002

Expo Line Logo and Symbol-a.png
Lougheed Town Centre Station Expo Line Logo and Symbol-a.png
Burquitlam Station Coquitlam

3

December 2, 2016

Moody Centre Station

Port Moody

West Coast Express Logo and Symbol-a.png
  • West Coast Express portion opened as Port Moody[Note 4]
Inlet Centre Station
Coquitlam Central Station

Coquitlam

West Coast Express Logo and Symbol-a.png
Lincoln Station
Lafarge Lake–Douglas Station

Notes

  1. Commercial Drive Station is now Commercial–Broadway Station Platforms 1 and 2. Platforms 3 and 4 were part of Broadway Station.
  2. Platforms 3 and 4 opened on December 11, 1985 as part of Broadway Station
  3. Platform 3 opened on December 2, 2016
  4. Port Moody Station opened on November 1, 1995. SkyTrain platforms opened on December 2, 2016 and the station was renamed to Moody Centre
  5. West Coast Express platform opened on November 1, 1995

Rolling Stock

Rolling stock for this line operates out of the main Operations and Maintenance Centre and the Coquitlam Maintenance Centre using 2001 Bombardier ART Mark II Wc15.JPG units in 2 car sets.

Occasionally during peak hours, 2009 Bombardier ART Mark II Wc15.JPG units may appear, also in 2 car sets.

References

  1. The Town Centre Model - Transit Muddling David Pereira, retrieved 12-10-2017
  2. UBC Line Rapid Tranist Alternatives Analysis - Findings to Date translink.ca, retrieved 7-1-2018
  3. UBC Line Rapid Transit Study Findings translink.ca, retrieved 7-1-2017
v·d·e
SkyTrain Logo-a.png
Operations
Lines Canada Line Logo-a.png Expo Line Logo-a.png Millennium Line Logo-a.png Millennium Line Evergreen Extension Logo-b.png
Rolling stock Expo Line 1984 UTDC ICTS Mark IExpo Line 1985 UTDC ICTS Mark IExpo Line 1991 UTDC ICTS Mark IExpo Line 1995 Bombardier ICTS Mark IExpo LineMillennium Line 2001 Bombardier ART Mark IICanada Line 2008 Hyundai Rotem EMUExpo Line 2009 Bombardier ART Mark IIExpo Line 2015 Bombardier Innovia Metro Mark IIIExpo Line 2018 Bombardier Innovia Metro Mark IIICanada Line 2019 Hyundai Rotem EMU
Yards Expo LineMillennium Line Operations and Maintenance CentreMillennium Line Coquitlam Maintenance CentreCanada Line Canada Line Operations and Maintenance Centre
Stations
Canada Line Logo-a.png Expo LineSeaBusTransLink West Coast Express bullet-a.pngR5 Hastings St WaterfrontVancouver City CentreYaletown–RoundhouseOlympic Village99 B-Line Broadway–City HallKing EdwardR4 41st Ave Oakridge–41st AvenueLangara–49th AvenueMarine DriveCanada Line BridgeportCapstan WayAberdeenLansdowneRichmond–Brighouse
Airport branch ← Towards Waterfront Canada Line BridgeportTempletonSea Island CentreYVR–Airport
Expo Line Logo-a.png Canada LineSeaBusTransLink West Coast Express bullet-a.pngR5 Hastings St WaterfrontR5 Hastings St BurrardGranvilleStadium–ChinatownMain Street–Science WorldMillennium Line99 B-Line Commercial–BroadwayNanaimo29th AvenueR4 41st Ave Joyce–CollingwoodPattersonMetrotownRoyal OakEdmonds22nd StreetNew WestminsterExpo Line ColumbiaR6 Scott Rd Scott RoadGatewayR1 King George Blvd Surrey CentralR1 King George Blvd King George
Production Way branch ← Towards Waterfront Expo Line ColumbiaSappertonBraidMillennium Line Lougheed Town CentreMillennium Line Production Way–University
Millennium Line Logo-a.png ArbutusSouth GranvilleOak–VGHCanada Line99 B-Line Broadway–City HallMount PleasantGreat Northern Way–Emily CarrVCC–ClarkExpo Line99 B-Line Commercial–BroadwayRenfrewRupertGilmoreBrentwood Town CentreHoldomSperling–Burnaby LakeLake City WayExpo Line Production Way–UniversityExpo Line Lougheed Town CentreBurquitlamTransLink West Coast Express bullet-a.png Moody CentreInlet CentreTransLink West Coast Express bullet-a.pngR3 Lougheed Hwy Coquitlam CentralLincolnLafarge Lake–Douglas