Heavy Rail, Commuter Rail, & Intercity Transportation

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by casper

The people that take the train are going to be people who like trains.

Or the people who don't like driving winding mountain roads with stop-and-go traffic during the peak travel times. It's not all always all about speed, because there are a lot of other things you can do when you don't have to pay attention to the road.

In fact, I'd argue that for that kind of travel the personality type that either is or is not willing to take public transportation is a bigger predictor than speed. There seem to be an awful lot of people who feel that public transportation is beneath them.

[casper]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

Or the people who don't like driving winding mountain roads with stop-and-go traffic during the peak travel times. It's not all always all about speed, because there are a lot of other things you can do when you don't have to pay attention to the road.

In fact, I'd argue that for that kind of travel the personality type that either is or is not willing to take public transportation is a bigger predictor than speed. There seem to be an awful lot of people who feel that public transportation is beneath them.

I am comparing those that will take the bus service vrs train service.

[Migrant_Coconut]

There's flexibility to consider as well: between SkyLynx and Epic Rides, there's a combined total of twelve shuttle buses from downtown (and seven of those stop at YVR too) for ~$30-90 per round trip and just slightly more travel time over driving.

So a hypothetical two-train service (assuming they charge standard TransLink 3-zone fares) is basically looking for cheapskates who have such a strong desire for personal space that they're willing to use up most of their morning or afternoon to get it... which excludes most of the Sea-to-Sky's commuters and a large chunk of the sightseers. This'll have to be like a discount Rocky Mountaineer to be viable.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

There's flexibility to consider as well: between SkyLynx and Epic Rides, there's a combined total of twelve shuttle buses from downtown (and seven of those stop at YVR too) for ~$30-90 per round trip and just slightly more travel time over driving.

So a hypothetical two-train service (assuming they charge standard TransLink 3-zone fares) is basically looking for cheapskates who have such a strong desire for personal space that they're willing to use up most of their morning or afternoon to get it... which excludes most of the Sea-to-Sky's commuters and a large chunk of the sightseers. This'll have to be like a discount Rocky Mountaineer to be viable.

WestCoast Express fares are $25.90 (5-zone). They are not going to charge less to Whistler than the WestCoast express to Mission for a longer distance.

Can't see saving money being a motivator to use the service.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Indeed. So I think the only option is to bring fares up to the $100-300 range: add a dining car and dome cars, and treat it as a poor man's sightseeing trip.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Indeed. So I think the only option is to bring fares up to the $100-300 range: add a dining car and dome cars, and treat it as a poor man's sightseeing trip.

You could do both. Have a business class car and an economy car. Give the business class customers a free meal and charge an extra $150 for it. For the economy passengers they can buy over priced lattes, hot chocolate and mountain granola bars from the cart or cafe car. Westcoast Express has a coffee bar.

There is the business plan. Only thing left is to figure out how to convince people to use it instead of the bus. I think it will come down to the quality of the coffee beans.

[jollyburger]

Maybe West Vancouver could turn the right of way into some kind of streetcar service from Dundarave to Park Royal or Capilano Road terminus.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Maybe West Vancouver could turn the right of way into some kind of streetcar service from Dundarave to Park Royal or Capilano Road terminus.

Not while CN has a long term lease and actively uses it.

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by casper

I am comparing those that will take the bus service vrs train service.

Ah, so that's easy then. Call the bus service ridership the upper bound of what you can expect the train service to attract and see if that can justify the cost of running trains. I'd be very surprised if it could. Trains are only going to beat buses on cost effectiveness if you're having to run enough buses to form a convoy.

[jollyburger]

Greyhound buses may be returning to B.C. highways.

Vernon council on Tuesday agreed to support a request from German-owned FlixBus to launch an intercity bus service in B.C., using its Greyhound subsidiary.

Greyhound was once the biggest name in intercity bus travel, but the company left Western Canada in 2018 and Canada entirely in 2021. Flix bought out Greyhound later in 2021 and has been slowly moving back into Canada.

“Our proposed service would bring regular daily connections through Vernon, linking your residents to Kelowna, Kamloops, Vancouver, Calgary, Seattle, and beyond,” the company said in a letter to Vernon council. It wants council to support its application to the BC Passenger Transportation Board.

https://www.biv.com/news/transportation/greyhound-buses-attempting-a-comeback-in-bc-11350157

[bloomtronzero]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

https://www.biv.com/news/transportation/greyhound-buses-attempting-a-comeback-in-bc-11350157

I've been unable to get over how we've barely even had a discussion about setting up a provincially-run inter-city bus service in the time since Greyhound first left. It seemed like such an obviously good move, to me.


Like, pop a hub station next to Lougheed station or something, where the 555 and 66 come off the freeway, with scheduled buses departing for the Kelownas and Kamloopses of the world. Give it a distinct identity, have it show up on transit maps as an important connection like we do with the Ferries. Just really have a go of it. It'd probably do well as part of the public transportation system.

[ahdede]

Originally Posted by bloomtronzero

I've been unable to get over how we've barely even had a discussion about setting up a provincially-run inter-city bus service in the time since Greyhound first left. It seemed like such an obviously good move, to me.

https://blog.jivison.dev/a-new-vision-for-intercity-transit-in-bc/

I don't believe this was ever posted here or anywhere in the forum - a good dive into the intricacies and what such a system could look like.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by ahdede

https://blog.jivison.dev/a-new-vision-for-intercity-transit-in-bc/

I don't believe this was ever posted here or anywhere in the forum - a good dive into the intricacies and what such a system could look like.

Wow!! Amazingly forward-looking. And almost European in density!

[jollyburger]

I wonder how long they expect this rail bridge to last



https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/broken...ching-metro-vancouver-terminals-11927081

[Vantage]

Well it's 65 years younger than the New Westminster Rail Bridge so I imagine it will stick around for quite some time yet.

[jollyburger]

Whistler commute rail pipedream

https://vancouversun.com/news/how-to-res...service-from-north-vancouver-to-whistler

[officedweller]

First of eight new trains arrives for Amtrak Cascades service linking Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/first-new-train-arrival-amtrak-cascades-vancouver-seattle-portland


Arrival of the first new Siemens Venture (Airo) trainset for Amtrak Cascades in Seattle on May 16, 2026. (Washington State Department of Transportation)
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/first-new-train-arrival-amtrak-cascades-vancouver-seattle-portland


https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/first-new-train-arrival-amtrak-cascades-vancouver-seattle-portland

[Glow Fun City]

Excellent news! No more train stop at the Peace Arch

Amtrak debuts North America’s first passenger rail preclearance station
Raynee Novak, CityNews Vancouver
https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/06/10/amtrak-preclearance-us/

Photo credit: CityNews

Rail travel to the U.S. just got easier.

Passengers headed for the U.S. on Amtrak can now complete preclearance before boarding their train at Pacific Central Station.

Preclearance has been available at select airports for many years, Pacific Central Station is the first rail station in North America to offer this capability.

“The launch of U.S. preclearance at Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station marks a major milestone in making cross-border travel and trade between our two countries safer, faster, and more efficient,” said Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety.

Delivered in partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), VIA Rail, and numerous agencies in both countries that include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Canada Border Services Agency, Transport Canada, and Public Safety Canada, the preclearance process consolidates inspection, security, and customs procedures into a single step prior to departure.

Trains departing Vancouver will now proceed directly into the United States without stopping for enroute border screening. To support preclearance, targeted upgrades were completed within the station to accommodate enhanced customs and security operations.

[madog222]

Does Canadian customs take place at the station upon arrival?

[Glow Fun City]

Originally Posted by madog222

Does Canadian customs take place at the station upon arrival?

Yes, that’s been the case for quite some time (no stop at the border heading north into Canada).