What Will TransLink Do With Old SkyTrain Cars?

As our long-beloved, and well-worn, Mark I SkyTrains reach retirement, TransLink has a question: What should they do with the old SkyTrain cars? They are currently seeking innovative ideas and proposals from organizations who would like to make use of some of the roughly 150 retiring cars, the first vehicles in the SkyTrain fleet which first hit the track in 1985.

What Will TransLink Do With Old SkyTrain Cars?

Since they were introduced during Expo 86, the Mark I SkyTrain cars have served millions of transit riders for nearly 40 years and have become an iconic symbol of Metro Vancouver. Relocation of the original fleet presents a unique opportunity to celebrate the region’s transit history.

Interested community organizations, municipalities, developers, and individuals are encouraged to submit their proposals for the Mark I trains through a new Request for Information (RFI). Successful bidders would be responsible for funding the transport of the retired SkyTrain cars from the BC Rapid Transit Company (BCRTC) storage facility and covering the costs of repurposing the cars.

Proposals for the first set of cars can be submitted here and will be accepted until December 6, 2024. Applications will reopen at a later date, as more vehicles are retired from service.

The vehicles will be replaced by Mark V vehicles through 2026.

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