TransLink to buy 205 new SkyTrain cars from Bombardier for $723 million

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-new-skytrain-cars-bombardier-alstom

Big news today. TransLink announces that it will be buying 205 new SkyTrain cars from Bombardier (which is soon to be owned by Alstom). The exact model, specifications are not known at this time but the contract does call for a new design for the train ends, sideways seating, better ventilation, lighting and more.

Important to note that 205 trains is essentially half the SkyTrain fleet, which would allow them to expand and replace the old original Mark I train sets.

The first new train is scheduled to be delivered to TransLink in October 2023 for the commencement of testing. The second train is expected to arrive June 2024, and all subsequent trains will be delivered at a rate of about one per month until the last train is delivered in September 2027.

New additional cars and other infrastructure upgrades as part of the Phase Two transit expansion plan will boost the Expo Line’s capacity to 17,500 passengers per hour per direction (pphpd) and the Millennium Line’s capacity to 7,500 pphpd. These increases represent a 32% and 96% boost in carrying capacity, respectively, over existing capacities.