View source for West Coast Express

{{Short description|Commuter railway in British Columbia}}
{{About|a commuter railway in Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Primary sources|date=June 2011}}
{{Infobox rail line
| color           = {{rcr|TransLink (BC)|West Coast Express}}
| name            = West Coast Express <div style="float:right;">{{rail-interchange|vancouver|wce|size=25}}</div>
| logo            =
| logo_width      = 
| image           = WCE train no. 901 at Waterfront.jpg
| caption         = West Coast Express train at Waterfront station, set to depart towards Mission
| locale          = [[Lower Mainland]], British Columbia, Canada
| type            = [[Commuter rail in North America|Commuter rail]]
| open            = {{Start date and age|1995|11|1}}<ref name="buzzer-blog-11-2010">{{cite web |url=http://buzzer.translink.ca/2010/11/happy-15th-birthday-west-coast-express/ |title=Happy 15th birthday, West Coast Express! |work=The Buzzer |publisher=[[TransLink (British Columbia)|TransLink]] |date=November 1, 2010 |access-date=July 24, 2015}}</ref>
| linelength_km   = 69 
| speed           = {{convert|70|mph|abbr=on}} ({{Tooltip|top|top speed}})
| gauge           = {{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| stations        = 8
| daily_ridership = {{American transit ridership|BC Vancouver CR daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| ridership2      = {{American transit ridership|BC Vancouver CR annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| website         = {{URL|https://www.translink.ca/about-us/about-translink/operating-companies/west-coast-express|Official website}}
| owner           = [[TransLink (British Columbia)|TransLink]]<br />(West Coast Express, Ltd.)
| operator        = TransLink
| map             = {{switcher
| {{maplink-road|from=West Coast Express.map}} West Coast Express highlighted in purple <hr />
| Show interactive map
| {{West Coast Express|inline=yes}}
| Show route diagram
}}
}}

The '''West Coast Express''' {{reporting mark|WCE}} is a [[Commuter rail in North America|commuter railway]] serving the [[Lower Mainland]] region of [[British Columbia]], Canada. It is owned and operated by the region's transit authority, [[TransLink (British Columbia)|TransLink]]. Opened in 1995, it provides a link between [[Metro Vancouver]] and the [[Fraser Valley Regional District]] and is the only commuter railway in [[Western Canada]]. In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|BC Vancouver CR annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|BC Vancouver CR daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}.

Service is provided between [[Downtown Vancouver]] and the municipalities of [[Port Moody]], [[Coquitlam]], [[Port Coquitlam]], [[Pitt Meadows]], [[Maple Ridge, British Columbia|Maple Ridge]], and [[Mission, British Columbia|Mission]]. Along its route, several stations interchange with the [[SkyTrain (Vancouver)|SkyTrain]] metropolitan rail system as well as local bus services. Additionally, [[Waterfront station (Vancouver)|Waterfront station]] in Downtown Vancouver provides a connection to the [[SeaBus]] passenger ferry.

==History==

Service on the West Coast Express began on November 1, 1995, under the management of [[BC Transit]]. It was transferred to TransLink on April 1, 1999, the successor to BC Transit's operations in [[Greater Vancouver]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Cotey |first=Angela |date=June 30, 2006 |title=West Coast Express |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/west-coast-express/ |work=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]] |accessdate=March 5, 2025}}</ref> In 1997, an onboard education program called the "Brain Train" was introduced; for a fee, passengers in a dedicated car would listen to weekly lectures from a [[Capilano College]] instructor in various subjects, including foreign languages and public speaking.<ref>{{cite news |last=Simpson |first=Scott |date=August 30, 1997 |title=It's Spanish lessons, si, for Express commuters |page=A7 |work=Vancouver Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-its-spanish-lessons/167252837/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=March 5, 2025}}</ref>

==Operation==
[[File:Coquitlam Station board.jpg|thumb|Passengers waiting to board at Coquitlam Central station|right|upright]]
The West Coast Express operates from Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) with five trains per day running from Mission to Vancouver in the morning peak hours (5:25{{nbsp}}am{{snd}}7:25{{nbsp}}am) and returning to Mission in the evening peak (3:50{{nbsp}}pm{{snd}}6:20{{nbsp}}pm).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/west-coast-express |title=West Coast Express Schedules |access-date=April 30, 2023 |publisher=[[TransLink (British Columbia)|TransLink]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430170223/https://www.translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/west-coast-express |archive-date=April 30, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> A one-way trip takes 75 minutes, which is faster than driving to Downtown Vancouver.

The commuter railway is owned by [[TransLink (British Columbia)|TransLink]], the transportation authority of the [[Metro Vancouver]] region. [[Metro Vancouver Transit Police]] officers and transit security officers conduct random fare inspections within the Fare Paid Zones at stations and on board trains. People caught without valid fare are removed from the train and may be fined $173. Contracted commissionaires provide station attendant services and a security presence, even checking fares on occasion at stations. Commissionaires do not conduct fare enforcement.

===Supplementary bus service===
Rail service is supplemented by TransLink's 701 bus route, which runs four eastbound and four westbound trips per weekday—one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and two in the evening—between [[Coquitlam Central station]] and [[Mission City station]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://buzzer.translink.ca/2016/12/bus-route-buzz-west-coast-express-trainbus-701/ |title=Bus Route Buzz: West Coast Express TrainBus – 701 |last=Coling |first=Adrienne |date=December 18, 2016 |website=The Buzzer blog |publisher=TransLink|access-date=December 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://infomaps.translink.ca/Public_Timetables/129/tt701.pdf |title=Route 701 Timetable |date=December 19, 2016 |access-date=December 19, 2016 |publisher=TransLink |archive-date=December 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222113413/http://infomaps.translink.ca/Public_Timetables/129/tt701.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> As with the West Coast Express itself, this bus service does not run on weekends and holidays. TransLink's regular one-zone adult/concession fare rates apply to these trips. The eastbound bus makes regular stops until it reaches [[Haney Place Exchange]] in [[Maple Ridge, British Columbia|Maple Ridge]] and then runs non-stop for about 26 minutes to Mission City station. This process is reversed for westbound buses. The entire one-way route is completed in 60 to 70 minutes.

===Prior services===
[[File:Two West Coast Express Buses at Waterfront Station.jpg|thumb|"TrainBuses" at Waterfront station|right|upright]]
Until December 30, 2016, the West Coast Express ran [[Coach (bus)|coach-style]] "TrainBus" service, which provided additional service when trains were not running. The TrainBus service provided two buses, one from [[Port Haney station]] in Maple Ridge and one from Mission City station, to Vancouver in the morning (after all westbound trains had departed) and five buses eastbound (two mid-day, and three after all eastbound trains had departed Waterfront), three of which extended to Mission, stopping only at West Coast Express stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.translink.ca/en/Schedules-and-Maps/West-Coast-Express/WCE-Schedules.aspx |title=West Coast Express Schedule – TrainBus Service Update |access-date=December 19, 2016 |publisher=TransLink |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327165908/https://www.translink.ca/en/Schedules-and-Maps/West-Coast-Express/WCE-Schedules.aspx}}</ref> This service was replaced by the 701 bus service.

==Map==
[[File:Vancouver TransLink Major Network Lines 2017.jpg|centre|TransLink major network lines as of late 2016|upright=4|frameless]]

===Legend===
{{plainlist|
* {{legend0|#53059a|border=1px solid black}} West Coast Express route and stops
* {{legend0|#000099|border=1px solid black}} [[Expo Line (TransLink)|Expo Line]] (runs from Waterfront to King George with a branch northeast after Columbia to Production Way–University)
* {{legend0|#ffcc00|border=1px solid black}}{{legend0|#00cc66|border=1px solid black}} [[Millennium Line]] (runs from VCC–Clark to Lafarge Lake–Douglas, interlined with the Expo Line at Production Way–University and Lougheed Town Centre)
* {{legend0|#7c1c00|border=1px solid black}} [[SeaBus]]
* {{legend0|#00cccc|border=1px solid black}} [[Canada Line]] (runs from Waterfront to Richmond-Brighouse and YVR-Airport)
}}

==Stations==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! Station
! Municipality
! Zone
! Year
! Connection(s)
|-
|[[Mission City station|Mission City]]|| [[Mission, British Columbia|Mission]]||Zone 5||1995||{{rail-interchange|bc|bctransit|size=26}} [[Central Fraser Valley Transit System#Regular routes|CFV buses]]
|-
|[[Port Haney station|Port Haney]]|| [[Maple Ridge, British Columbia|Maple Ridge]]||Zone 4||1995||
|-
|[[Maple Meadows station|Maple Meadows]]|| Maple Ridge||Zone 4||1995||
|-
|[[Pitt Meadows station|Pitt Meadows]]|| [[Pitt Meadows]]||Zone 4||1995||
|-
|[[Port Coquitlam station|Port Coquitlam]]|| [[Port Coquitlam]] ||Zone 3||1995||
|-
|[[Coquitlam Central station|Coquitlam Central]]|| [[Coquitlam]] ||Zone 3||1995||{{plainlist|
* {{rint|vancouver|millennium|size=20}} [[Millennium Line]]
* {{rint|vancouver|rapidbus|r3|size=20}} [[R3 Lougheed Hwy]]
}}
|-
|[[Moody Centre station|Moody Centre]]|| [[Port Moody]] ||Zone 3||2016{{efn|The West Coast Express previously served [[Port Moody station]], opened in 1995 along with the rest of the West Coast Express stations, in Port Moody. It was replaced in 2016 by Moody Centre station.}}||{{rint|vancouver|millennium|size=20}} Millennium Line
|-
|[[Waterfront station (Vancouver)|Waterfront]]|| [[Vancouver]]||Zone 1||1995|| {{plainlist|
* {{rint|vancouver|expo|size=20}} [[Expo Line (SkyTrain)|Expo Line]]
* {{rint|vancouver|canada|size=20}} [[Canada Line]]
* {{rint|vancouver|seabus|size=20}} [[SeaBus]]
* {{rint|vancouver|rapidbus|r5|size=20}} [[R5 Hastings St]]
}}
|}

==Ridership==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ West Coast Express ridership by year
! Year
! 2016<ref>{{Cite web|title=APTA 2016 Q4 Ridership Report|url=https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/Resources/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2016-q4-ridership-APTA.pdf|access-date=July 10, 2021|website=American Public Transportation Association}}</ref>
! 2017<ref>{{Cite web|title=APTA 2017 Q4 Ridership Report|url=https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/Resources/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2017-Q4-Ridership-APTA.pdf|access-date=July 10, 2021|website=American Public Transportation Association}}</ref>
! 2018<ref>{{Cite web|title=APTA 2018 Q4 Ridership Report|url=https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2018-Q4-Ridership-APTA.pdf|access-date=July 10, 2021|website=American Public Transportation Association}}</ref>
! 2019<ref>{{Cite web|title=APTA 2019 Q4 Ridership Report|url=https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2019-Q4-Ridership-APTA.pdf|access-date=July 10, 2021|website=American Public Transportation Association}}</ref>
! 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=APTA 2020 Q4 Ridership Report|url=https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2020-Q4-Ridership-APTA.pdf|access-date=July 10, 2021|website=American Public Transportation Association}}</ref>
|-
! Trips (millions)
| 2.5 || 2.3 || 2.5 || 2.6 || 0.8{{efn|name=CovidDecrease|Represents a significant ridership decrease from prior years owing to the [[impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transport]].}}
|-
|colspan="6"|
{{Chart|chart=West Coast Express ridership by year.Bar.chart|width=400px|height=150px}}
|}

{{TransLink British Columbia ridership by mode}}

==Fares==
Use of the [[Compass Card (TransLink)|Compass Card]] on the West Coast Express began on June 8, 2015, along with new card vending machines. Existing paper fares were honoured until July 24, 2015.<ref name="fares" />

West Coast Express fares can also be used as a three-zone fare on other TransLink services. A one-way fare expires 120 minutes from the time of purchase; all other fares work as an all-day pass.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2024 |title=West Coast Express Fares |url=https://www.translink.ca/transit-fares/west-coast-express-fares |access-date=December 4, 2024 |website=TransLink.ca}}</ref> See TransLink Fares for more information on the pricing of the West Coast Express' fares.

{{As of|2021|07|01|df=US}}, the lowest adult fare is $5.90 for one or two zones traveled excluding Waterfront station and $7.65 for three zones including Waterfront station. A discount is available for Compass Card users, who are also able to load return and monthly passes.<ref name="fares">{{cite web |url=https://www.translink.ca/transit-fares/west-coast-express-fares |title=West Coast Express Fares |publisher=[[TransLink (British Columbia)|TransLink]] |year=2021 |access-date=February 26, 2022}}</ref>

==Rolling stock==
[[File:West Coast Express trains at Waterfront.JPG|thumb|Bi-level coaches at Waterfront station|right|upright]]<!-- Editors are to find and use verifiable sources (i.e. not original) when noting changes to rolling stock. -->
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Type
! Manufacturer
! Model
! Units
! Notes
|-
| Locomotive
| [[Electro-Motive Diesel]]
| [[EMD F59PH#F59PHI|F59PHI]]
| 5
| Nos. 901–905
|-
| Locomotive
| [[MotivePower|MotivePowerIndustries]]
| [[MPI MPXpress#MP40PH-3C|MP36PH-3C]] 
| 1
| No. 906; backup unit, arrived in December 2006.
|-
| Locomotive
| [[Electro-Motive Diesel]]
| [[EMD F59PH|F59PH]]
| 1
| No. 907; backup unit, former [[GO Transit]] Locomotive 533, former Larry's Truck Electric 18533, arrived in May 2023.
|-
| Rail coach
| [[Bombardier Transportation|Bombardier]] 
| [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach|BiLevel coach VI]]
| 44
| 37 original units, 7 added in 2010
|}

Each train consists of a [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]]/ [[EMD F59PHI]] [[diesel-electric locomotive]] and between four and ten [[Bombardier Transportation|Bombardier]] [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach|BiLevel passenger coaches]]. The West Coast Express also operates an [[MPI MPXpress|MPI MP36PH-3C]] and [[EMD F59PH]] for backup. The total fleet of passenger coaches numbers 44.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.translink.ca/en/About-Us/Media/2010/August/New-West-Coast-Express-Cars-Roll-Into-Town.aspx |title=New West Coast Express Cars Roll Into Town |publisher=[[TransLink (British Columbia)|TransLink]] |date=August 26, 2010 |access-date=July 24, 2015}}</ref> Each passenger carriage has a [[seating capacity]] of 144 people. Like many commuter railways, the West Coast Express uses [[push–pull train|push–pull]] operation; instead of moving the locomotive to the other end of the train, it is controlled remotely from a [[cab car|second cab in the last passenger carriage]], allowing the train to run 'backwards'; this occurs during mornings, as during afternoons the locomotive is at the front of train. Passenger amenities include washrooms, power outlets, wheelchair accessibility and space for bicycles.

The coaches and locomotives are maintained by [[Via Rail]] and, under the contract, operated by Alstom Transport Canada (formerly Bombardier Transportation) over tracks which belong to the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]]. Bombardier began a contract to operate the trains for the next five years, commencing on May 5, 2014.<ref name="Bombardier 24 Dec 2013">{{cite news |url=http://www.railway-technology.com/news/newsbombardier-to-manage-train-operations-in-british-columbia-4151069/ |title=Bombardier to manage train operations in British Columbia |date=December 24, 2013 |newspaper=Railway Technology |quote=Bombardier Transportation has been awarded a C$17m ($16m) contract to provide train operations for TransLink's West Coast Express commuter rail system in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia (BC), Canada. |access-date=May 1, 2014 |author1=Admin }}</ref> After May 2014, track time is negotiated between TransLink and the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]], which balances the use by the West Coast Express with its mainstay freight operation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://buzzer.translink.ca/index.php/2010/02/all-aboard-the-west-coast-express-theres-extra-trips-for-the-olympics/ |title=All aboard the West Coast Express (there's extra trips for the Olympics)! |work=The Buzzer Blog |publisher=[[TransLink (British Columbia)|TransLink]] |date=February 17, 2010 |access-date=February 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Judd |first1=Amy |title=West Coast Express service not affected by CP Rail strike |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4241630/west-coast-express-cp-rail-strike/ |access-date=July 10, 2023 |agency=Global news |date=May 30, 2018}}</ref>

==Future plans==
TransLink's 2009 capital plan included upgrades to the Waterfront and Mission stations, and platform extensions to handle longer trains.<ref>[http://www.translink.ca/en/About-Us/Media/2008/December/TransLinks-2009-Budget-and-Capital-Plan-to-maintain-transportation-expansion.aspx TransLink's 2009 Budget and Capital Plan to maintain transportation expansion]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In the 2009 10-Year Plan, TransLink also proposed a number of other improvements to West Coast Express service,<ref>[http://translinkcommission.org/Regional_Transportation_Commissioner/Downloads_&_Links_files/2009%2010-Year%20Plan.pdf 2009 10-Year Plan]</ref> some of the key improvements being:
* Upgrades to [[Port Haney station]] passenger drop-off
* Park and ride expansion at [[Maple Meadows station]]

The company committed to maintaining the 2011 service levels to 2014. TransLink has been criticized for the low ridership of the West Coast Express and supports its expansion.<ref name="TransLinkExpansion">{{cite news |url=http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/130160978.html |title=TransLink supports West Coast Express expansion |author=Phil Melnychuk |date=September 19, 2011 |work=Maple Ridge News |access-date=February 6, 2012 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111958/http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/130160978.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<blockquote>A 20-year service agreement between TransLink and the Canadian Pacific Railroad to operate the West Coast Express expired in 2015. Negotiations for renewal were initiated within the time period covered by this Base Plan. A fuller understanding of the future interaction of the service with the Evergreen Line is required, as well as an understanding of the overall market for long distance travel in the corridor. Accordingly, TransLink initiated the development of a West Coast Express Strategy in 2011 to consult with stakeholders and examine the issues. Completion of the strategy is expected in 2012, with subsequent implementation work expected to identify appropriate future service and infrastructure requirements.<ref>[http://www.translink.ca/~/media/documents/bpotp/10_year_plan/2012_plans/2012_base_plan_and_outlook.ashx 2012 Base Plan and Outlook]</ref></blockquote>

A proposal in the 2009 10-Year Plan for a new station in [[Albion, British Columbia|Albion]] did not appear in the 2012 ten-year plan. Plans for a new station in northern [[Burnaby]] to service Simon Fraser University have been indefinitely postponed.

In 2021, the federal and provincial governments announced an upgrade program to extend the life of six of the seven locomotives used for the West Coast Express, with additional upgrades to improve efficiency and allow the future operation of longer trains.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Infrastructure |first=Transportation and |date=March 17, 2021 |title=Canada, B.C. invest to refurbish West Coast Express |work=BC Government News |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021TRAN0035-000484 |access-date=June 22, 2024}}</ref> The upgrades are expected to be completed by 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2023 |title=West Coast Express service boosted with extra train |url=https://www.translink.ca/news/2023/june/west%20coast%20express%20service%20boosted%20with%20extra%20train |access-date=June 22, 2024 |website=TransLink}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}
{{Portal|Railways}}
* {{Commons category-inline|West Coast Express}}
* [http://www.westcoastexpress.com/ West Coast Express official site]
* [http://www.translink.bc.ca/ TransLink's official site]
* [http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?railroad=West%20Coast%20Express Rail pictures]

{{TransLink services|state_skytrain=collapsed|state_other=uncollapsed}}
{{Canadian passenger rail systems}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:West Coast Express| ]]
[[Category:Passenger railways in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1995]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge railways in Canada]]