First train now rolling on Broadway Subway for active testing ahead of 2027 opening | Daily Hive

First train now rolling on Broadway Subway for active testing ahead of late 2027 opening

First test train for the Broadway Subway, as seen on May 29, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

Before entering retirement, two Mark I SkyTrain cars will take on one final role: serving as the first test train for the Broadway Subway.

While the project is commonly referred to as a subway, less attention has been paid to the 0.7-km-long segment of new elevated guideway built through the False Creek Flats, spanning from the project’s eastern starting point just west of the existing VCC-Clark Station to the tunnel portal just east of the new Great Northern Way-Emily Carr Station.

This morning, members of the media — accompanied by federal, provincial, and municipal government officials — were given a tour and ride-along aboard the two-car test train along the entire future westbound section of the new elevated guideway, which is part of SkyTrain’s overall 5.7-km-long Millennium Line Broadway extension to Arbutus Street.

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“Seeing these test trains in operation shows how much progress has been made on this massive project,” said Mike Farnworth, B.C. minister of transportation and transit, in a statement.

“Dynamic testing will confirm that all systems are performing safely and reliably, so we can look forward to welcoming the public on board next year.”

Currently, testing is in its very early stages — specifically, the initial phase of dynamic testing, which allows crews to determine whether the trains, tracks, signals, and communications systems are working together safely. During this phase, drivers operate the trains before testing transitions to fully automated train control in later stages. Trains also operate at different speeds in both directions on the same track.

In addition, various testing procedures will ensure that the trains have adequate clearance, are correctly positioned, and that the signalling systems are functioning properly.

As more testing milestones are completed, the process will also trial how multiple trains operate on the tracks simultaneously.

A 2-car Mark I train is now being used to test the new 0.7-km elevated guideway between VCC-Clark Station and a short span of tunnel west of Emily Carr Station.

The very early stages of testing the Broadway Subway. #TransLink #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre 2/5https://t.co/skZViDMVsg pic.twitter.com/3MIFcTbNbO

— Kenneth Chan (@iamkennethchan) May 29, 2026

The south view onboard the Broadway Subway’s first test train, riding eastbound along #SkyTrain‘s new elevated guideway from the tunnel portal to just before VCC-Clark Station. #TransLink #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre 3/5https://t.co/skZViDMVsg pic.twitter.com/QLpO5iJttt

— Kenneth Chan (@iamkennethchan) May 29, 2026

broadway subway skytrain millennium line construction may 29 2026

First test train for the Broadway Subway, as seen on May 29, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

broadway subway skytrain millennium line testing

First test train for the Broadway Subway, as seen on May 29, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

First test train for the Broadway Subway, as seen on May 29, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

During this initial dynamic testing, the test train will run along a span of about two km of track, including both westbound and eastbound segments. Testing will incrementally expand along more of the route as additional segments of the track reach completion.

Initial testing is currently underway between the elevated segment west of VCC-Clark Station and a short portion of the underground segment just west of Great Northern Way-Emily Carr Station, as it is the most advanced portion of the project in terms of its track installation. This part of the Broadway extension was the first segment to achieve completion of its running rails, side-mounted power rail (third rail), and the aluminum rail for the linear induction motor (LIM) system, which runs along the centre of the track between the two running rails.

On the Expo and Millennium lines, LIMs mounted beneath SkyTrain vehicles interact with this continuous aluminum rail to generate an electromagnetic force that propels the trains forward. For this reason, trains operating on the Expo and Millennium lines have fewer mechanical moving parts compared to the trains used on the Canada Line and other conventional rail systems.

Additionally, there are also two thin black cables running down the centre of the track. These are fibre optic cables for automatic train control and communications systems.

According to an update by the project office earlier this month, the westbound track segment between VCC-Clark Station and Broadway-City Hall and the eastbound track segment between VCC-Clark Station and the tunnel portal have achieved full completion of all track components. The westbound segment between Broadway-City Hall Station and Arbutus Station has seen both of its running rails and lim rails reach completion, while only the running rails have been installed on the eastbound segment between the tunnel portal and Arbutus Station at this time.

Watching the Broadway Subway test train run eastbound towards VCC-Clark Station. #SkyTrain #TransLink #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre 5/5https://t.co/skZViDMVsg pic.twitter.com/iqx66wG9mK

— Kenneth Chan (@iamkennethchan) May 29, 2026

Installation of the two running rails and centre linear induction motor aluminum strip on the elevated guideway of the Millennium Line’s Broadway extension, as seen on May 29, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

Installation of the two running rails, side power rail/third rail, centre linear induction motor aluminum strip, and automatic train control cables on the elevated guideway of the Millennium Line Broadway extension, as seen on May 29, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

Tunnel portal and the eastbound direction track for the Broadway Subway, just east of the new Great Northern Way-Emily Carr Station, as seen on May 29, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

Broadway Subway track installation update, May 2026. (Government of BC)

The return trip going westbound on #SkyTrain‘s new elevated guideway towards the Broadway Subway’s tunnel portal, looking north. #TransLink #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre 4/5https://t.co/skZViDMVsg pic.twitter.com/EOOUcxbCAG

— Kenneth Chan (@iamkennethchan) May 29, 2026

Some tests will also involve adding weights inside the train interiors to simulate passengers, which is a step also undertaken for the commissioning of SkyTrain’s new Mark V cars. Eventually, all models of trains operated on the Expo and Millennium lines will be tested on this Millennium Line extension to ensure full compatibility and safety.

While the current initial testing process involves the use of the Mark I fleet’s 013 and 014 cars, this old train model in service since the 1980s and early 1990s will be almost entirely or fully retired by the time the Millennium Line extension opens. TransLink is currently in the process of testing and commissioning new Mark V train arrivals, with the first of these new trains being used to retire the fleet of all 150 Mark I cars.

It is unclear what model and mix of trains will be used on the Millennium Line when the Broadway extension opens. It is noted that upon opening, the extension will have the capacity to move over three times as many people as the current 99 B-Line. Currently, TransLink typically dedicates the Mark II cars from the early 2000s for the Millennium Line’s operational needs, but that could change from the near-term full retirement of the Mark I cars and the arrival of the Mark V cars, resulting in a complete recalibration of how the overall fleet is best deployed. For the time being, the Mark V cars are only being used on the Expo Line, but TransLink is currently in the process of modifying some of the Millennium Line stations to ensure future full compatibility and flexibility for accommodating SkyTrain’s new generation train.

Over the period closer to opening day, the Millennium Line’s Broadway extension will be extensively stress tested under real-world conditions, with trains running all day at normal frequencies and stopping at each of the six new subway stations.

A one-train ride between Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station in Coquitlam City Centre and the Millennium Line’s new westernmost terminus of Arbutus Station will take about 46 minutes, with a travel time of about 12 minutes between the major hub of Commercial-Broadway Station and Arbutus Station and 11 minutes between the start of the new route at VCC-Clark Station and Arbutus Station.

It has been known for a while that the $2.95-billion extension is scheduled to begin serving passengers in Fall 2027. During today’s tour, Farnworth specified for the first time that the extension is expected to open late in the fall of 2027. Technically, that could mean as late as the third week of December 2027.

Construction on the project has progressed to the removal of the temporary traffic decks installed over the five subway station construction sites beneath Broadway, the installation of new utilities, the backfilling of the volume between the subway station structure roofs and the ground level with thousands of cubic metres of gravel, and the restoration of the roadway above the subway stations to the permanent configuration of four vehicle lanes — two in each direction — along with widened pedestrian sidewalks.

This phase began with the removal of the traffic decks at Mount Pleasant Station, a disruptive process that required the full closure of a city block of Broadway between Main and Quebec streets and a traffic detour for four months. The street reopened earlier this month with one lane in each direction and is expected to return to its full two lanes per direction within the next few weeks.

The provincial government has since confirmed that the only other necessary prolonged full Broadway roadway closure and detour is for Broadway-City Hall Station, which will take six months beginning after the FIFA World Cup. For the remaining four subway stations on Broadway, the traffic deck removal and roadway restoration work will be accomplished with lane reductions only — no full closures required.

Along the entire extension, crews are also installing the electrical and mechanical systems necessary for not only the subway stations but also to power the trains and initiate testing. Some giant tunnel ventilation fans were also seen today being prepared for transport for installation inside the tunnel.

As well, construction is also progressing on the stations, with clear progress on the station entrance building structures and the installation of the first interior furnishings, such as the first drop ceiling panels for the platform level at Mount Pleasant Station.

At Broadway-City Hall Station, there is clear construction work on the existing Canada Line platforms — an extension of the platform lengths by 10 metres to 50 metres to provide passengers with more circulation and waiting capacity, when this station opens its new underground walkways to enable passengers to seamlessly transfer between the Canada Line platforms and the new Millennium Line platforms.

mount pleasant station broadway reopening may 21 2026 f

Reopening of Broadway between Main and Quebec streets, above Mount Pleasant Station, after the four-month closure, as seen on May 21, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

Tunnel ventilation fans being prepared for installation on the Millennium Line’s Broadway extension, as seen on May 29, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

mount pleasant station broadway subway ceiling

Test drop ceiling for the platform level of Mount Pleasant Station. (Government of BC)

canada line broadway city hall station platform extension may 21 2026

Platform extension construction for the Canada Line’s Broadway-City Hall Station, part of the Broadway Subway project, as seen on May 21, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

Diagram showing the interchange hub between the Millennium Line and Canada Line at Broadway-City Hall Station. (Government of BC)

When asked by media to provide an update on the planning process for the future westward extension of Millennium Line from Arbutus Station to the University of British Columbia campus, Farnworth reiterated that the provincial government is continuing the business case planning work and that TransLink’s timeline is to begin implementing this extension beginning in the early 2030s. Until the UBC SkyTrain extension is built, the remaining journey to campus will be made by a truncated 99 B-Line service from Arbutus Station.

Two years after the Millennium Line’s Broadway extension to Arbutus opens, in late 2029, the $6-billion, 16-km-long Surrey-Langley extension of the Expo Line will also reach completion and open. Major construction work first began in November 2024, but there is already very significant progress on this 100 per cent elevated extension; as of early this month, all eight stations are under construction, over 30 per cent of the elevated guideway is complete, and trackwork, including the installation of rail, has begun.

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