Final testing phase before new Mark V trains enter service

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – Field testing for the next-generation Mark V SkyTrain vehicles will begin Saturday, March 8, marking a major step forward in ensuring their safety and reliability before entering service. These longer trains offer increased capacity, improved seating, and enhanced amenities for customers.

Testing will assess the train’s on-board systems, performance on the Expo and Millennium lines, and the upgrades made to stations to accommodate the Mark V’s longer five-car design. During testing, Mark V trains will stop at stations, but customers are not permitted to board and should stay clear of doors.

Intermittent testing will take place during non-peak hours, and will not impact SkyTrain service levels. All new trains must complete daytime field testing and meet safety requirements before entering service. The field testing will continue until the full order of 235 Mark V cars are fully integrated by 2029.

Mark V Features:

• New seating arrangement with wider aisles
• Flex areas for customers with mobility devices, strollers, bicycles, and luggage
• The return of the “driver’s seat” at the front and back of each train
• Improved in-train displays and door indicators
• Upgraded heating, ventilation, and cooling systems for improved climate control

TransLink is working to finish station upgrades to accommodate the longer Mark V vehicles before they can enter service. We project that vehicle testing and infrastructure upgrades will be completed in the coming months, and that Mark Vs will be ready to enter service this spring.

More information:
SkyTrain Fleet Expansion Program
Inside the Mark V (VIDEO)

Media downloads:
Mark V B-roll photos

Media contact:
TransLink Media Relations
E: media@translink.ca