Vancouver’s Broadway Subway Project has reached a new phase of development with dynamic testing now underway on completed sections of track. This marks the first time SkyTrain vehicles have operated on the extension.
The project is extending Metro Vancouver’s Millennium Line west from VCC-Clark Station to Arbutus Street, adding 5.7 kilometres of rapid transit infrastructure and six new stations.
The testing programme represents a significant step towards the planned opening of the line to passengers in autumn 2027.
Dynamic testing began at VCC-Clark Station and will progress westwards as construction work continues along the route. The process is designed to verify that trains, tracks, signalling equipment and communications systems operate together safely and reliably before the line enters service.
During the initial phase, driver-operated trains will run at varying speeds in both directions along completed sections of elevated guideway and through tunnels west of Great Northern Way-Emily Carr Station. Future testing will include the transition to automatic train control and the operation of multiple trains on the network simultaneously.
Testing will continue in stages throughout 2027. Before the extension opens to the public, the full system will undergo trial running, during which trains will operate at normal service frequencies and stop at each of the new stations under real-world operating conditions.
Construction activity is continuing alongside testing. Crews remain engaged in track installation while work inside stations focuses on the electrical and mechanical systems required to power and operate the extension.
British Columbia's Minister of Transportation and Transit, Mike Farnworth, said:Seeing these test trains in operation shows how much progress has been made on this massive project. 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.
The Broadway Subway Project is being funded through contributions from the Government of British Columbia, the Government of Canada and the City of Vancouver. The provincial government is contributing 1.957 billion CAD, while the federal government is providing 896.9 million CAD, and the city is making an in-kind contribution valued at 100.3 million CAD.
Once operational, the extension is expected to carry more than three times the passenger capacity of the existing 99 B-Line bus service. Journey times between VCC-Clark and Arbutus are forecast to take around 11 minutes, while passengers travelling from Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station in Coquitlam to Arbutus Street will be able to complete the journey without changing trains in approximately 46 minutes.
