West Coast Express
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| Type | Commuter rail | |
| Number of stations | 8 | |
| Cities serviced | Vancouver, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Mission | |
| Termini | Waterfront Mission City | |
| Operations | ||
| Opened | November 1, 1995 | |
| Owner | TransLink (1999–present) BC Transit (1995–1999) | |
| Operator | Bombardier Transportation (2014–present) BC Rapid Transit Company (1995–2014) | |
| Rolling stock | Bombardier BiLevel 
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| Technical | ||
| Line length | 69 km (43 mi) | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | |
| Reporting marks | WCE | |
| Route Diagram | ||
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West Coast Express (WCE or WCX) is a commuter railway operating between Downtown Vancouver and Mission, British Columbia. This is a subsidiary of TransLink.
History
In 1972, there were plans to implement a commuter rail service using existing rail corridors. There were also plans in the late 1980s to implement a new SeaBus route between Waterfront Station and Port Moody. In 1992, a 14-member citizens advisory committee began reviewing possible transit improvements in northeast Greater Vancouver and construction of the West Coast Express began in 1994, with service commencing on November 1, 1995.
In 1993, BC Transit began negotiating with Canadian Pacific Railway and Burlington Northern Railway (now Burlington North Santa Fe) on possible routes. Proposed routes were:
- Port Coquitlam to Vancouver on CP Rail
- Mission to Vancouver on CP Rail
- Port Coquitlam to Vancouver on both CP and BN rail
- Mission to Port Coquitlam on CP, then Port Coquitlam to Vancouver on BN
In the October 22, 1993 issue of The Buzzer, it stated that the estimated cost of introducing service ranged from $80 million to $140 million, with the federal government contributing 50% of the cost.
Service was operated by the West Coast Express division of the BC Rapid Transit Company, a TransLink operating company. Bombardier Transportation took over in 2014.
Service Details
The total trip time from terminus to terminus is approximately 75 minutes. Service runs Monday to Friday with morning trips leaving Mission City for Waterfront in Vancouver and Waterfront to Mission City in the afternoon.
Carriages and locomotives are maintained by VIA Rail and operations are under Bombardier Transportation. Carriages and locomotives are owned by TransLink. The service runs along CP Rail tracks and West Coast Express trains are scheduled in between regular freight train service. However on some occasions, there are scheduling conflicts resulting in West Coast Express trains being delayed due to freight movement.
There are five trains that depart from Waterfront to Mission City in the afternoon and five trains that depart from Mission City to Waterfront in the morning. For latest scheduling information, consult the timetable. Timetable is subject to changes and adjustments.
Amenities and Services
All trains have washrooms available on board each car (except for the Cappuccino Cars), bike racks, power outlets, and tables. All trains can accommodate wheelchairs and bicycles. Trains are made up of 4 to 10 cars per set and each train has one car designated as a Cappuccino Car, which has a small coffee bar in place of a washroom.
TrainBus
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| Termini | Waterfront Station Mission City Station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operations | Cantrail Coach Lines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vehicles | MCI 102-D3 Prevost LeMirage XL-II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Timetable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Eastbound (Monday to Friday)
Westbound (Monday to Friday)
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The TrainBus provided service along the route and connections to all stations when the trains were not running on weekdays only.. There were two westbound trips in the morning: one trip left from Port Haney while the other left from Mission City. There were five eastbound trips that departed from Waterfront: three trips went to Mission City while two only went to Port Haney. Fares were the same as taking the train. The TrainBus was not accessible.
On September 7, 1999, West Coast Express trialed the TrainBus service after conducting a survey in 1998 with passengers for providing a bus service after the last Mission City-bound train departed Waterfront and would stop at all West Coast Express stations. Service was initially one trip in the evening only. Service was initially contracted to Gray Line with one coach wrapped in the TrainBus livery.
Service was later provided by an Orion V 
unit from Coast Mountain Bus Company.
In August 2004, TrainBus service was contracted to Cantrail Coach Lines using 4 Prevost LeMirage XL-II coaches and 1 MCI 102-D3.
The service ended in 2016 with the extension of select 701 trips from Coquitlam Central Station to Mission City Station.
HomeRun Travel Insurance
In the event of an emergency that requires immediate travel between 7am and 3:30pm when trains were not running, West Coast Express passengers who registered for the program are covered for three trips per year by taxi. Passengers had to be traveling on a 28 Day Pass to be eligible in the program and initial cost was $25 per year.
By 2008, the travel times were changed to 7am to 3pm and annual rates were changed to $50 to the Tri-Cities, $75 to the Maple Ridge area, and $100 to Mission. However, this program is no longer being offered as of October 2017.
Brain Trains
A car was designated as the "Brain Train" and offered free classes and activities in the morning. This program ran until 2004.
Xpress Card
The West Coast Express Xpress Card provided savings for train and parking tickets. The re-loadable, stored-value cards allowed up to $100 to be stored. This card program was subsequently replaced following the introduction of GO2 cards in 2009.
GO2 Card
Introduced in 2009, the GO2 cards replaced the Xpress Card, with the same benefits and functions. GO2 cards were replaced when Compass Cards were introduced across the TransLink system in 2013.
Fares
Fares and zones on the West Coast Express differ from regular fares and zones set by TransLink. West Coast Expres fare products are valid on TransLink services. Passengers must tap in and tap out at all points at validators with their Compass Cards or Tickets. In the morning, Tap Outs are not required at Waterfront Station on the validators.
Fares are as of July 1, 2018. For latest fare information, consult the fare table.
Adult Fares
To/From Waterfront:
| Destination | Zone 3: Moody Centre, Coquitlam Central, Port Coquitlam |
Zone 4: Pitt Meadows, Maple Meadows, Port Haney |
Zone 5: Mission City |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-Way (Compass Ticket) | $7.45 | $9.20 | $12.45 |
| One-Way (Stored Value) | $6.25 | $7.65 | $10.40 |
| Return Fare (Compass Ticket) | $14.25 | $17.50 | $23.50 |
| Return Fare (Stored Value) | $13.50 | $16.75 | $22.50 |
| Monthly Pass | $205.00 | $248.00 | $339.75 |
To/From Other Stations
| Destination | 1-2 Zones (e.g. Moody Centre to Coquitlam Central) | 3 Zones (e.g. Moody Centre to Mission City) |
|---|---|---|
| One-Way (Compass Ticket) | $5.70 | $7.45 |
| One-Way (Stored Value) | $4.80 | $6.25 |
| Return Fare (Compass Ticket) | $10.75 | $14.25 |
| Return Fare (Stored Value) | $10.50 | $13.50 |
| Monthly Pass | $155.75 | $205.00 |
Concession Fares
To/From Waterfront:
| Destination | Zone 3: Moody Centre, Coquitlam Central, Port Coquitlam |
Zone 4: Pitt Meadows, Maple Meadows, Port Haney |
Zone 5: Mission City |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-Way (Compass Ticket) | $4.40 | $5.65 | $7.65 |
| One-Way (Stored Value) | $3.60 | $4.70 | $6.35 |
| Return Fare (Compass Ticket) | $8.75 | $11.00 | $15.00 |
| Return Fare (Stored Value) | $8.25 | $10.50 | $14.25 |
| Monthly Pass | $126.00 | $156.25 | $219.25 |
To/From Other Stations
| Destination | 1-2 Zones (e.g. Moody Centre to Coquitlam Central) | 3 Zones (e.g. Moody Centre to Mission City) |
|---|---|---|
| One-Way (Compass Ticket) | $3.40 | $4.40 |
| One-Way (Stored Value) | $2.85 | $3.60 |
| Return Fare (Compass Ticket) | $6.75 | $8.75 |
| Return Fare (Stored Value) | $6.50 | $8.25 |
| Monthly Pass | $95.00 | $126.50 |
Stations
There are 8 stations on the West Coast Express. All stations are wheelchair accessible except for the Park and Ride entrance at Mission City Station. Accessible boarding areas on platforms are raised for convenience and trains have foldout ramps located inside that will be set up by the conductor.
| Station Name | City | Fare Zone (WCE Zones) [Note 1] |
Date Opened | Transfers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Vancouver | 1 |
November 1, 1995 |
 Canada Line Expo Line SeaBus 95 B-Line
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Port Moody |
3 |
 Millennium Line
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Coquitlam | Millennium Line
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Port Coquitlam | ||||
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Pitt Meadows |
4 |
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Maple Ridge |
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Mission | 5 |  |
Notes
- ↑ West Coast Express zones differ from regular Fare Zones. WCE zones have their own unique fare structure.
- ↑ Station opened in 1914 as a CP Rail station. The SeaBus terminal portion of the station opened on June 17, 1977; Expo Line platforms December 11, 1985; West Coast Express platforms on November 1, 1995; Canada Line platforms on August 17, 2009.
- ↑ The original Port Moody Station entrance and concourse was demolished to make way for Moody Centre Station and the SkyTrain guideway. Following completion of the Evergreen Extension, Port Moody was renamed to Moody Centre
- ↑ SkyTrain portion of the station opened on December 2, 2016
Fleet
Locomotives
| Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Horsepower | Top speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 901–905 | 
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1995 | GMDD | F59PHI | 12N71OG3B-EC | 3200hp | 177 km/h |
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| 906 | 
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2006 | MPI | MP36PH-3C | 645F3B | 3600hp | 177 km/h |
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Railcars
| Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101–108 | 
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1995 | Bombardier | BiLevel | Cab | |
| 109 | 
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2010 | Bombardier | BiLevel | Cab |
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| 201–220 | 1995 | Bombardier | BiLevel | Coach |
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| 301–309 | 
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2000 | Bombardier | BiLevel | Coach |
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| 401–406 | 2010 | Bombardier | BiLevel | Coach |
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Geographical Map
The West Coast Express connects Waterfront Station in Vancouver and Mission City. The line is marked purple on system maps
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| Fleet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locomotives | 901–905 906 907 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Coaches | 101–108 109 201–220 301–309 401–406 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Waterfront – Moody Centre – Coquitlam Central – Port Coquitlam – Pitt Meadows – Maple Meadows - Port Haney – Mission City
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