TransLink order for longer SkyTrain cars shows SkyTrain is the future
- Reality Check
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- February 12, 2012
TransLink has released a new Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) for the next generation of fully automated SkyTrain vehicles, timed to support the launch of Evergreen Line service in 2016. The document outlines a major fleet expansion: up to 28 vehicles initially, with options for an additional 28 by 2017.
In Part A of the RFEOI, TransLink specifies that all new vehicles must be fully compatible with the existing SkyTrain system—its ALRT technology, steerable axle trucks, 650‑volt DC LIM propulsion, and SELTRAC automated train control. The timing aligns with Evergreen Line’s opening, but the RFEOI hints at something more significant: a shift toward longer, higher‑capacity train configurations.
Longer, 4-car SkyTrain vehicles
Appendix 2 of the RFEOI provides the most consequential detail. The new vehicles are specified to include:
- A “centre car” inserted between two end cars
- A basic unit length of four cars
- Full end‑to‑end walkability
This confirms that TransLink intends to move beyond the current 2‑car married‑pair ART 200 configuration toward permanently coupled 4‑car articulated trains. If the vehicles were simply married pairs, there would be no “centre cars” at all—only end cars. The specification makes clear that the future SkyTrain fleet will be longer, more spacious, and more passenger‑friendly.
SkyTrain is a proven global model
Two other Innovia ART systems already operate 4‑car configurations: Beijing’s Capital Airport Express and Kuala Lumpur’s Kelana Jaya Line.
The new SkyTrain vehicles will resemble these trains—potentially using Bombardier’s newer Innovia Metro 300 platform, with larger windows, wider doors, and improved interior layouts. Although the RFEOI’s dimensions closely match the existing ART 200 series, the Metro 300 still fits within these specifications while offering a lighter, more efficient design.
Under the Innovia Metro 300 specification, each car will carry 134 people at a 4 passengers/m2 passenger density, or 185 people at a 6 passengers/m2 crush-load passenger density. Up to 740 people (with a 6 passengers/m2 density) can be carried per 4-car vehicle—and owing to the extra articulated sections between cars, which can hold passengers themselves, this number may be higher.
Despite Evergreen Line’s opening, the RFEOI strongly suggests the new vehicles will be deployed first where demand is highest. Evergreen Line is expected to launch with 2‑car trains running every 3 minutes at peak, leaving the Expo Line as the logical destination for the new 4‑car sets.
A Glimpse at SkyTrain’s Future Capacity
TransLink’s move toward longer trains opens the door to even more ambitious configurations. With a 4‑car base unit, adding a fifth centre car becomes a realistic future option.
A fully automated SkyTrain segment operating:
- 5‑car Innovia Metro 300 trains
- 75‑second headways (theoretical maximum)
- 925 passengers per train at crush load
…would achieve a staggering 44,800 passengers per hour per direction (pphpd).
That level of throughput rivals or exceeds many heavy metro systems worldwide—including Toronto’s subway, even with its forthcoming “Rocket” trains and partial automation upgrades. Under such a scenario, SkyTrain would not only remain Canada’s fastest rapid transit system (with average speeds near 45 km/h) but could also become the highest‑capacity rapid transit system in the country.
Conclusion: TransLink's order shows SkyTrain technology is the future
This RFEOI is more than a procurement notice—it’s a statement of intent. By moving to longer, articulated, walk‑through trainsets, TransLink is laying the groundwork for a SkyTrain system capable of delivering metro‑level capacity on its busiest corridors.
The new vehicle order is the first step toward a future where SkyTrain can outperform even the largest subway systems in Canada.
Pictured in header: TransLink original concept render for SkyTrain in Surrey, showing longer 5-car trains
Reality Check
Reality Check is the online blog run by the founder of SkyTrain for Surrey, a BC-based community organization that has advocated for the expansion of the Vancouer SkyTrain system, including our successful advocacy for the under-construction Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension.
Media Contact: Daryl Dela Cruz – Founder, SkyTrain for Surrey ・ Phone: +1 604 329 3529, [email protected]
