Vancouver Transit Expansion: The Future of the SkyTrain

Updated: 2026-06-17 | Fares, schedules, and opening dates are subject to change; please refer to TransLink’s official announcements for the actual details.

Anyone who has lived in Vancouver for a while and has to commute every day probably feels the same way I do: the SkyTrain really is more hassle-free than driving, but the crowded cars during peak hours are real too. Over the past few years, Metro Vancouver’s rail transit has kept under construction and expanding, and online and in the news you often see claims like “a certain line is about to open,” but a lot of that information is actually outdated or has been misreported. This article uses verified official progress to lay out, for those of you preparing to visit or settle in for the long term, Vancouver’s current SkyTrain expansion plans, the fare structure, and how to actually get around when commuting.

First, the thing that is most easily misunderstood: the Broadway subway does not go all the way to UBC. There is a rumour going around online that “the SkyTrain is going to run straight to UBC,” but it actually confuses two different phases of construction. What is genuinely wrapping up right now is the Broadway Subway (Millennium Line Extension), about 5 kilometres long, extending west from the existing VCC-Clark station, running underground along Broadway and adding 6 new underground stations, with the terminus at Arbutus Street rather than UBC. In other words, once this section opens, you will still have to transfer to a bus at Arbutus to get onto the UBC campus. As for the opening date, this line was at one point described as opening “in 2025” or “in mid-2026,” but in reality it has been pushed back several times: according to the latest word from officials and the BC provincial government in 2026, train testing began in the new tunnel at the end of May 2026 (the first time a SkyTrain train has run along this stretch), and it is expected to open to the public in the fall of 2027. So if you come across an older article saying “you’ll be able to ride it in 2026,” you can simply skip it; for the exact date, refer to TransLink’s official announcement.

Two extension lines still in planning and construction

The stretch that goes from Arbutus on to UBC is a separate, standalone project called the Millennium Line UBC Extension, about 7 kilometres long, with at least 4 stations planned (Macdonald, Alma, Jericho Lands, and the core of the UBC campus), but it is currently still at the planning and study stage. The Mayors’ Council’s ten-year transportation strategy sets the target for implementing the UBC extension in the first half of the 2030s; funding commitments from the various levels of government and the construction timeline have not yet been finalized, so any claim that it “will definitely open in a few years” does not hold yet. An April 2026 poll commissioned by UBC showed that Metro Vancouver residents support this extension quite strongly — the public opinion is there, but the money and the timeline are not yet in place. For students and faculty this line is of course something to look forward to, but in the short term (including visits in 2026 and 2027), getting to UBC still means relying on buses or transfers, so don’t pin your itinerary on it just yet.

If what you care about is the expansion south of the Fraser River, then the one truly worth remembering — and that genuinely is being built — is the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain. This is an extension of the Expo Line, running elevated along Fraser Highway from King George station to downtown Langley (203 St), about 16 kilometres long with 8 stations planned. According to 2026 data from the province and TransLink, the current progress and timeline are as follows:

People living in Surrey who want to switch to rail commuting in the future can keep an eye on it; but since it won’t open until 2029, it doesn’t mean much for near-term travellers — it’s purely a matter of understanding which direction this city is heading.

How fares are calculated: the zone system and two important exceptions

TransLink’s tickets use a zone system, with Metro Vancouver divided into three zones. But riding it is actually less complicated than it sounds, because there are two rules that save a lot of travellers money: buses are always counted as 1 zone, no matter how far you ride or what time of day, the fare is always the 1-zone price; SkyTrain and SeaBus only charge by zone before 18:30 on weekdays, while after 18:30 on weekdays, as well as all day on Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory holidays, everything is counted as 1 zone. That means that on a holiday, even if you ride from downtown to Richmond’s airport, it’s still a 1-zone ticket. Below are the current adult fares (June 2026, before the July increase), in two forms — Compass card stored value and cash — and using a Compass card is clearly cheaper than paying cash:

For regular commuting, the Monthly Pass is what matters. Current adult monthly passes: 1 Zone $111.60, 2 Zone $149.25, 3 Zone $201.55; the Concession monthly pass (for seniors, youth, etc.) is $63.80 for all zones. Take special note: TransLink has announced an average increase of about 5% effective July 1, 2026. At that point the adult monthly pass will rise to about $117.20 for 1 Zone, about $156.70 for 2 Zone, and about $211.65 for 3 Zone, the Concession monthly pass will be about $66.95 for all zones, and single fares will be adjusted slightly at the same time. If you are settling in long term and need a monthly pass, it’s best to go straight by the latest announcement on the official website before deciding when to top up.

Beyond the SkyTrain, a few transit options you might use are also worth getting to know first. The SeaBus connects downtown Waterfront with Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver and shares the same ticketing system as the SkyTrain; it’s a way to enjoy the sea views while commuting. The West Coast Express is a commuter train running between Mission and downtown — few departures and a higher fare, but fewer crowds too, mainly serving outer-suburban commuters, and it only operates on weekdays. The Aquabus / False Creek Ferries run along the shores of False Creek (around Granville Island and the science museum), at about CAD 4-8 per trip, mostly sightseeing and leisure in nature, perfect for a weekend stroll — but they are not part of the TransLink system, so you have to buy a separate ticket.

A few practical tips for newcomers: get a Compass Card first — it works on all TransLink services, stored-value fares are cheaper than cash, and it spares you the hassle of making change every trip; students and seniors can apply for a discount card. Install a real-time bus app — the Transit App or Google Maps can both look up arrival times and transfer routes; Vancouver buses aren’t the most punctual, so during peak hours especially you should leave extra buffer time. Make good use of the “1-zone on holidays and in the evening” rule — going out on weekends or after 6:30 in the evening on weekdays, crossing zones still counts as only 1 zone, a great chance to save money. Check the zones before buying a ticket — the City of Vancouver and Burnaby are the core of Zone 1, while going to Richmond, the airport, or North Vancouver will often cross into Zone 2 or beyond.

You can have a smooth trip even without driving; here are a few spots I often recommend that you can reach by public transit: Stanley Park — take a bus to the West Georgia St area, then walk or rent a bike to enter the park, which has dedicated bike lanes; a full loop takes about 2-3 hours, and it’s free. Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch — within walking distance of the SkyTrain Waterfront station, its Colosseum-style architecture is very photogenic, borrowing is free, and it’s a good place to shelter from the rain or take a break. Gastown Steam Clock — about a 10-15 minute walk from Waterfront station; it’s Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood, with historic buildings and small shops perfect for a weekend wander.

To plan a more complete Vancouver itinerary, you can go on to read our Vancouver travel guide and Canada living guide, and arrange transport, accommodation, and attractions all together. The rail network keeps growing, but for those visiting in the near term, getting familiar with the existing SkyTrain, SeaBus, and buses is actually more than enough.