Metro Vancouver’s public transit authority says it is taking a serious look at how it can operate SkyTrain service later into the early morning hours.

See also

Opinion: 24/7 SkyTrain service is possible if Vancouver follows the Copenhagen Metro
TransLink reaching out to subway operators around the world on how to operate later night service

TransLink formally responded to mounting criticism over the last few weeks by announcing today that it is starting a feasibility study on extending SkyTrain service on Friday and Saturday nights.

In a release, the public transit authority says the study will take three steps. It will look into:

The best practices of other systems around the world on how they have managed to introduce late-night service.
How extended service can be provided while retaining critical maintenance hours that are required, and an estimate of the potential financial costs of extended service.
Working with municipal officials, downtown businesses, police, and other community leaders to consider all effects of extended late night service.

Previous discussions and criticisms earlier this fall from business leaders over the lack of later night SkyTrain service were paired with suggestions of extending SkyTrain service to at least 3 am on Fridays and Saturday nights, in alignment with bar and nightclub hours.

But TransLink maintains that while later night train service would be a great asset, its priority needs to be centred on operating a safe and reliable SkyTrain system.

See also

Longer maintenance hours that currently happen on Fridays and Saturdays would need to be retained and moved to another time. Between 400 and 500 hours of maintenance occurs during the overnight hours of Fridays and Saturdays each year.

“We have heard there is demand for SkyTrain to run later on weekends and we are taking a fresh look at what would be required to make that happen,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond.

“While it has always been technically possible to operate SkyTrain later at night, it would have a significant impact on maintenance. We are committed to operating a system that is safe and reliable. We want to find out if we can keep that commitment while offering another option for customers who travel late at night.”

Currently, the Expo Line’s last train leaving Waterfront Station is at 1:16 am between Monday and Saturday and 12:16 am on Sundays and holidays. The Millennium Line’s last train to Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station from VCC-Clark Station is 1:22 am between Monday and Saturday and 12:22 am on Sundays and holidays.

As for the Canada Line, the last train that departs Waterfront Station for Richmond-Brighouse Station is at 1:15 am. For the airport route, the last train departs Waterfront Station at 1:05 am and the first train of the next day leaves at 4:48 am.