Columbia station (SkyTrain)

Columbia is a train station in New Westminster, British Columbia. It is located at 435 Columbia Street. It is owned by TransLink and is used by the SkyTrain in the Metro Vancouver area for their Expo Line.

The station was built in 1988 and 1989, officially opening on February 14, 1989. After it was completed, it was the eastern terminus for the Expo Line until the Skybridge was built and the line was extended out to Scott Road station. When it was being planned, the station was first going to be called Fourth Street but was later changed to Columbia. In 2002, it became a popular station for transferring lines after the Millennium Line was created. It caused heavy foot traffic and overcrowding because the station was not built as a transfer point. There are three entrances for Columbia station: one on 4th street. one on Clarkson Street, and one on the west side of Columbia Street through a mall which has a wheelchair accessible elevator but it is not owned by TransLink. It is an underground station, featuring two tracks and side platforms. It is preceded by New Westminster towards Waterfront and splits into two different directions. The Surrey branch ends at Scott Road towards King George and the Lougheed branch end at Sapperton towards Production Way–University.

In 2018, heavy rainfall caused flooding in the station which delayed and stopped service for the Expo Line for a while. Water had to be pumped out of the tunnel.

In February 2020, TransLink announced that they were gong to retrofit and upgrade the station to make it more easily accessible. In 2022, TransLink purchased the Boucher Centre property for $17.7 million for the purpose of upgrading Columbia station. In 2024, it was ranked at #35 of the 54 busiest stations in use for the SkyTrain.

The station serves as a connection for the 102, 105, 109, and N19 TransLink bus services.

Around the station is the Boucher Centre, Queens Park, and Westminster Pier Park.

References

Category:1989 establishments in British Columbia
Category:Railway stations in Canada
Category:SkyTrain (Vancouver) stations