Columbia station (SkyTrain)

49°12′17″N 122°54′22″W / 49.20476°N 122.906161°W / 49.20476; -122.906161

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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

In February 2020, TransLink announced that they were gong to retrofit and upgrade the station to make it more easily accessible.[5] In 2022, TransLink purchased the Boucher Centre property for $17.7 million for the purpose of upgrading Columbia station.[6] In 2024, it was ranked at #35 of the 54 busiest stations in use for the SkyTrain.[7]

The station serves as a connection for the 102, 105, 109, and N19 TransLink bus services.[8]

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

References

  1. ↑ "The SkyBridge, one of the world's longest transit-only bridges (PHOTOS)". The Buzzer. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  2. ↑ "1986 SkyTrain photos from Alan M". The Buzzer. Archived from the original on May 19, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ↑ "Metro Vancouver's top 5 SkyTrain stations for noise complaints". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Flooding shuts down SkyTrain service at Columbia Station". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  5. ↑ "TransLink planning overhaul of SkyTrain's Columbia Station". Daily Hive. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  6. ↑ "TransLink acquires Boucher Centre for future SkyTrain Columbia Station upgrade". Daily Hive. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  7. ↑ "2024 Transit Service Performance Review – SkyTrain Stations Summaries". tableau.com. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Columbia Station Map" (PDF). TransLink. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
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