Skip to main content

SkyTrain signals more work for Thales

Contract win extends manufacturer's SelTrac CBTC footprint in Vancouver’s mass transit system
By David Arminas September 29, 2020 Read time: 2 mins
Broadway Subway will extend the existing SkyTrain network (© Jerry Coli | Dreamstime.com)

Thales has been selected to provide its SelTrac communications-based train control (CBTC) signalling technology for the Vancouver Broadway Subway Project.

The Broadway Subway is an extension of the SkyTrain’s Millennium Line, extending it 5.7km along the Broadway Corridor, one of the busiest bus routes in North America.

It will run from VCC-Clark Station to a new station at Arbutus Street. There will be a fully integrated interchange where the existing Canada Line will intersect.

From Arbutus Station, the 99 B-Line bus service will connect passengers to the University of British Columbia. The new line will consist of 700m of elevated track and proceed underground for 5km, with six stations below the Broadway Corridor.

Skytrain’s Expo, Millennium and Canada lines in Vancouver are already equipped with Thales SelTrac technology, along with other projects in Toronto, New York City, Dubai, Doha and Santiago.

Thales is contracted by the Broadway Subway Constructors General Partnership (BSCGP).

British Columbia selected BSCGP to complete the design and construction of the line, which will be operated and maintained by British Columbia Rapid Transit.

Construction of the Broadway Subway Project is expected to start before then end of this year and is scheduled for public opening in 2025.

“The Broadway Subway is a key project in the City of Vancouver’s Transportation 2040 strategic plan,” said Dominique Gaiardo, vice president and managing director for Thales’ urban rail signalling business.

“Thales will continue to build local expertise and contribute to the mass transit capacity expansion in Vancouver with the innovative SelTrac CBTC system."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • UK university to develop asset management tool for light railways and tramways
    December 22, 2015
    Experts at the University of Huddersfield have won more than US$208,000 funding to develop a software-based asset management tool that will enable light railway operators to calculate the most appropriate rail wear limits for their system. This would mean longer intervals between maintenance and replacement, reducing disruption to passengers and costs to the operators, while maintaining safety levels.
  • Open road tolling: safer with less congestion
    January 30, 2012
    Michael J. Davis of PBS&J looks at the positive effect that open road tolling can have on safety
  • Malaysian LRT line orders more Bombardier trains
    March 28, 2017
    Rail technology specialist Bombardier Transportation and its local partner Hartasuma are to deliver an additional 27 Bombardier Innovia Metro 300 trains for the Kelana Jaya Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line in Malaysia. The order from Prasarana Malaysia Berhad is valued at approximately US$388 million (1.7 billion Malaysian ringgit). The lightweight aluminium Innovia Metro 300 trains can move up to 30,000 passengers per hour, per direction. Once final delivery is completed in 2022, these four-car trains will
  • Oriux innovation provides impressive results for Minneapolis LRT
    September 4, 2020
    The city of Minneapolis wanted to reduce delays caused at traffic intersections from repeated light rail transit (LRT) preemptions and also to eliminate stops between LRT stations. The transit authority turned to Oriux, the evolution of Peek Traffic, to find a solution. The company applied innovation to develop and deploy a customised solution.