Sky Train Vancouver

SkyTrain is Metro Vancouver’s medium-capacity rapid transit system in British Columbia, Canada. It runs on 79.6 km (49.5 mi) of fully automated, grade-separated track, using underground and elevated guideways to connect Vancouver with nearby cities. The system has 54 stations on three lines: the Expo Line, Millennium Line, and Canada Line. It is a core part of public transport, local transport, and city transport across the region.

Sky Train Vancouver Map

Map of Sky Train Vancouver showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Sky Train Vancouver map in PDF format.

Sky Train Vancouver Lines

SkyTrain Vancouver has three automated rapid transit lines. Together, they create a fast route plan between Downtown Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Richmond, Coquitlam, and Vancouver International Airport.

• Expo Line: opened in 1985 and runs from Waterfront Station to King George Station. Some service patterns also connect Waterfront with Braid Station and Production Way–University Station.
• Millennium Line: opened in 2002 and runs from VCC–Clark Station to Lafarge Lake–Douglas Station, serving East Vancouver, Burnaby, Port Moody, and Coquitlam.
• Canada Line: opened in 2009 and runs from Waterfront Station to Richmond–Brighouse Station and YVR–Airport Station.

For transfers, the main stations list is straightforward: Waterfront is the key connection for the Canada Line, SeaBus, and West Coast Express, while Commercial–Broadway, Lougheed Town Centre, and Production Way–University connect SkyTrain lines. The Canada Line splits at Bridgeport Station, where riders choose trains toward Richmond–Brighouse or YVR–Airport.

These lines form the backbone of transportation in Metro Vancouver, with frequent trains and clear transfer points for most cross-region trips.

Timetable & Operating Hours

SkyTrain runs from early morning until after midnight on all three lines. Exact operating hours, opening times, frequency, and closing time vary by line, route, and day, so check the schedule today before traveling late at night or early in the morning.

The route timetable may change for operations, construction, or special events. SkyTrain has operated longer hours during major events such as New Year’s Eve, the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, and marathons.

Canada Line riders should note one early-morning detail: before 5:30 a.m. on weekdays, 6:00 a.m. on Saturdays, and 7:30 a.m. on Sundays and holidays, the Cordova Street entrance to Waterfront Station is closed. Use the Granville and Hastings entrance instead.

Some service is also affected by special patterns. Certain Waterfront to Braid trains run only during peak, midday, evening, and weekend daytime periods, and service to Production Way–University and Lougheed Town Centre is reduced for about two years beginning in February 2024.

Sky Train Vancouver Fares, Tickets and Cards

SkyTrain fare depends on the time of day, day of travel, and how many zone boundaries you cross. The system normally uses 1-zone, 2-zone, and 3-zone prices. After 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and all day on weekends and provincial statutory holidays, all trips are charged as 1-zone fares. A single ticket is valid for 90 minutes on bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus, and HandyDART.

All fare and parking price amounts below are in Canadian dollars, shown as CA$.

• Adult fares apply to most riders aged 19 to 64.
• Concession fares are available for HandyCard holders, seniors 65 and older, and youth aged 13 to 18 with valid photo ID.
• You can pay with cash at ticket machines, a Compass Card with stored value, a monthly pass, or a DayPass.
• A Compass Ticket can be purchased from Compass Vending Machines at the cash fare.
• Contactless debit, credit card, and mobile wallet payments are accepted for a single adult fare.

A Compass Ticket lets you transfer between bus, SeaBus, HandyDART, and SkyTrain as many times as needed within the zones purchased for up to 90 minutes. When you tap in and out on SkyTrain, the system calculates the correct fare based on the zones traveled.

Monthly Passes provide unlimited travel on SkyTrain and SeaBus within the purchased zones, plus unlimited bus and HandyDART travel at any time. They also allow unlimited travel across all zones on all modes after 6:30 p.m. on weekday evenings, on weekends, and on statutory holidays. A DayPass gives unlimited transit use on buses, SkyTrain, SeaBus, and HandyDART for one full day across all zones.

Journeys starting at YVR–Airport, Sea Island Centre, or Templeton stations include a CA$5 YVR Airport AddFare at all times. Children 12 and under ride bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus, and West Coast Express free of charge. HandyDART fares match 1-zone fares on bus, SeaBus, and SkyTrain.

Parking near Sky Train

Park and Ride lots make it easy to leave your car and continue by transit. Metro Vancouver has 20 Park and Ride locations serving SkyTrain, West Coast Express, and major bus loops. Some SkyTrain and West Coast Express stations also have dedicated Evo and Modo vehicle parking.

Parking charges per day, hours of operation, and liability notices are posted at each location. Overnight parking is not permitted at these lots.

At nine Park and Ride lots, parking can be paid through the PayByPhone app or website. At Carvolth Exchange, Scott Road, and South Surrey, you can also pay on site at parking meters by credit card or cash using exact coin. At six West Coast Express station lots, parking can be purchased at Compass Vending Machines with a Compass Card, cash, debit, or credit card.

TransLink and BC Hydro have installed public electric vehicle chargers at select Park and Ride locations, including Coquitlam Central Station, Port Coquitlam Station, and South Surrey. Some lots also offer carshare stalls and priority parking for carpool groups.

Other Park and Ride locations include free and paid lots across Metro Vancouver, from Bowen Island and Lions Bay to Richmond, Surrey, West Vancouver, and West Coast Express stations in Maple Ridge, Mission, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody.

Sky Train Vancouver Rules and Tips

If you are new to Vancouver, SkyTrain is one of the easiest ways to move around without a car. It connects downtown Vancouver with Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Richmond, and other key areas in the TransLink network.

Before you ride, check your route, running time, transfers, and train schedule. SkyTrain uses fare gates, so you need a valid Compass Card, Compass Ticket, or contactless debit or credit card to tap in and tap out where required.

The network has three fare zones. Vancouver and the UBC area are in Zone 1; Burnaby, New Westminster, and Richmond are in Zone 2; and Surrey, Coquitlam, Port Moody, and Port Coquitlam are in Zone 3. The zone number is not always the same as the number of zones you cross, so check before paying.

A reloadable Compass Card is convenient for regular riders. For occasional trips, tap-to-pay may be simpler. Students at participating schools may also have access to a U-Pass linked to a Compass Card.

• Check the line and direction before boarding.
• Use platform displays, overhead signs, and onboard announcements to avoid the wrong train.
• Let passengers exit before you board.
• Stand to the right on escalators so others can pass on the left.
• Wait to the side as the train arrives, then board calmly.
• Keep bags close and make room when trains are busy.
• Give priority seats near the doors to riders who need them.

Stay behind the yellow line on platforms and follow station signs and staff instructions. SkyTrain stations and trains are automated and connected to TransLink safety systems, with emergency communication features available on board and at stations.

SkyTrain does not run 24 hours, so check closing time and the last train if you are traveling late. During the day, frequency is high, and a DayPass can be useful if you plan several trips.

One small bonus: many elevated sections offer wide views across Metro Vancouver, so even a routine commute can be scenic.

History

SkyTrain history begins with Metro Vancouver’s growing transportation needs and the push to create a showcase rapid transit project for Expo 86. Ideas for rapid transit in Vancouver go back to the 1950s, when a monorail plan was considered and later dropped. By the 1970s, traffic congestion had become a serious issue. In 1980, the British Columbia provincial government selected Advanced Light Rapid Transit technology for a planned Vancouver to New Westminster corridor.

The original system was developed in the early 1980s to demonstrate automated transit technology and support Expo 86. Construction began in March 1982, and the first demonstration project was completed in early 1983.

SkyTrain opened with the Expo Line, built as part of the Expo 86 legacy. The first 21.4 km (13.3 mi), from Waterfront to New Westminster station, opened for limited fare-free service on December 11, 1985. Revenue service began on January 3, 1986, and the line carried more than 30 million passengers in its first year, including Expo 86 visitors.

The Expo Line then expanded in stages. Columbia station opened in 1989, followed by the SkyBridge crossing over the Fraser River to Scott Road station in 1990. Gateway, Surrey Central, and King George stations opened in 1994.

The Millennium Line opened its first section in 2002, with Braid and Sapperton stations. Most of the remaining section began operating later that year, and the extension to VCC–Clark opened on January 6, 2006. The Evergreen Extension opened on December 2, 2016, extending the network to Coquitlam.

The Canada Line was approved in the early 2000s as a public-private partnership. It opened on August 17, 2009, ahead of schedule and on budget, adding a major southbound link from Waterfront through Vancouver and Richmond to the airport branch.

SkyTrain has shaped development across Metro Vancouver, especially around station areas where housing, offices, and retail have grown around transit access. It also played a major role during regional events, including the 2010 Winter Olympics, when ridership reached record levels.

Future Extensions

SkyTrain expansion is already underway through the Broadway corridor extension and the Expo Line extension to Langley. These projects will add stations, expand the system’s reach, and increase capacity for future growth in Metro Vancouver.

The Millennium Line extension toward the University of British Columbia remains a major long-term priority. Planning and technical work are underway, and the Arbutus Station terminus has been designed to allow a future westward extension.

Several additional corridors have been identified as candidates for future SkyTrain planning where long-term demand may support fully grade-separated rapid transit:

• King George Boulevard
• Metrotown–North Shore
• Hastings Street

Major SkyTrain extensions take years of design, consultation, land work, and procurement before construction can begin, so early planning matters. Future route planning will depend on matching near-term expansion with long-range regional growth.

Nearby Attractions

SkyTrain makes sightseeing simple because many stations are close to shopping areas, museums, parks, entertainment venues, and walkable neighborhoods. The Canada Line is especially useful for visitors, while the Expo Line connects travelers with Downtown Vancouver, Metrotown, New Westminster, and Surrey Central.

The stations map is useful for planning a day around shopping, dining, culture, and nature, especially if you combine the SkyTrain with bus connections or a DayPass.