Metro-Vancouver Transportation

West Coast Express Train Ridership Up*

This year ridership on the commuter rail West Coast Express Train has been increasing rapidly. The commuter rail service that runs from Mission all the way in to Vancouver on week days is quite comfortable and relaxing. Compared with a daily driving commute – fighting traffic with the increased costs involved with record priced gasoline prices; the additional insurance; and the wear and tear on both vehicle and nerves – it is a pleasant alternative. It does cost more than the normal public transit system, but people find the trip which eventually ends up in down town Vancouver preferable.

The West Coast Express is run by Translink, the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority and there are eight stops including the Vancouver Waterfront station. Five trains run into Vancouver from Mission in the morning and five trains run back from Vancouver to Mission. There is an additional run with a bus through the West Coast Express stations after the fifth train has left. There are stations in Vancouver, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows, Port Haney, and Mission City. Parking is available near or at the stations. Travel from Mission to Vancouver takes around 1 hour 10 minutes and from Port Moody to Vancouver in around 25 minutes which is very favourable if compared with rush hour traffic.

Later!
~ Darrell

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* I wrote this article a year ago for a paper and they decided not to use my work. I spent all day in the hospital with kidney stone problem and the night a day or o before under the weather because of it and so decided to post from my stock of articles. I hope to feel up to writing something fresh on the 'morrow.

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