The SkyTrain light rail cars keep showing up throughout British Columbia as TransLink adds 24 new cars in September to help handle increased service on the Expo and Millennium lines in the metro Vancouver region, while another 24 cars will grow Canada Line’s service in 2020. 

As cars arrive this summer and later in 2019 to B.C., TransLink says the train cars, shipped from South Korea, will undergo testing and commissioning before going into service on Canada Line to increase frequency by up to one minute during peak periods and carrying nearly 1,400 more people per hour, a 25 percent passenger capacity increase. 

“The Canada Line has proven to be a popular service connecting major hubs and city centers,” says Kevin Desmond, TransLink CEO, in a statement. “More cars mean an increase in convenience and comfort for our Canada Line customers. Customers are going to see and feel a difference in their daily commutes.” 

To go along with the fleet expansion, the Operations and Maintenance Centre has also enjoyed an upgrade of four new tracks, a new gate/driveway, automatic train controls and power and communications upgrades to help store and maintain all Canada Line trains, a 10-year-old portion of the SkyTrain system.

The trains were brought to Canada by Canaan Group. They were manufactured by Hyundai Rotem. 

The fleet expansion and upgrades to the OMC and small station upgrades were part of a $123 million investment. 

“We’re seeing record levels of transit ridership right across Metro Vancouver and the Canada Line is no exception,” says Bowinn Ma, parliamentary secretary for TransLink, in a statement. “These new cars are just one part of an exciting expansion in service currently underway.”

And as part of a $210 million, 56-car expansion of the Expo and Millennium lines, this September marks the move to add 24 new SkyTrain cars — six trains — onto the two lines. 

“Investing in public transit is essential to creating strong sustainable communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” says Terry Beech, member of parliament for Burnaby North-Seymour, in a statement. “This service increase will allow residents to spend less time commuting and more quality time with their loved ones.” 

Follow Tim Newcomb on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.