On Saturday, politicians joined a group of residents at the Coquitlam Center West Coast Express (WCE) station advocating for more trains to meet the demand of growing populations outside Vancouver’s core. “The West Coast Express started operating in November 1995. So it’s been 27 years, not much has changed,” said Harvey Su, Coquitlam resident and founder of the WCE Expansion Association. The WCE is a commuter train that historically only runs on weekdays during peak hours. Members of the West Coast Express Expansion Association won the support of local politicians at a Sept. 10 event. (Submitted by Harvey Su) Before the pandemic, five trains would leave Mission starting at 5:25 a.m., making stops at Port Haney, Maple Meadows, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody before finally arriving at Downtown Vancouver. All trains arrive at Vancouver’s Waterfront Station before 9am. The first train leaving Vancouver on the way back to the Mission is at 3:50 pm. and the last one leaving is at 6:20 p.m. During the pandemic, TransLink reduced service to three trains. Now, with ridership levels still only 40 percent of pre-pandemic levels, only four trains are running along the 70km route. Su would like to commute to work in Downtown Vancouver using WCE, but says the limited train schedule makes that impossible. “The last train out of Coquitlam Center is at 8:10 a.m.,” he said. “I have two daughters. I have to leave them and after I leave them the train is gone.” He says ridership is low because the WCE schedule isn’t convenient for people who want to catch a late-night sports game in Vancouver or the breweries in Port Moody on the weekend.
Support from mayors
So far, Su, who is running for Coquitlam City Council, has garnered support from the mayors of Port Moody, Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam. “There are many residents of our community who want to travel to Vancouver or anywhere else in our region outside of the weekday rush hour,” Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart said at Saturday’s event. In a statement emailed to CBC News, TransLink said it appreciates any effort in favor of expanded public transit. TransLink says that starting September 12, one car will be added to each of the two busiest WCE trains, bringing the total car capacity to 23. However, the transport agency says there are no current plans to expand services further. “TransLink is monitoring ridership on the WCE to determine a long-term strategy for the service and assess its role as a regional passenger rail system,” the statement said. TransLink says it has limited control over the use of rail lines owned by CP Rail. “I don’t know if it’s possible to get an extended line [service],” Stewart said Saturday. “It’s a CP line that’s mostly used for freight.” CBC News reached out to CP Rail but did not receive a response in time for publication.
