In 1986………….
In 1986, during the duration of Expo 86 in Vancouver there was a passenger rail service from New Westminster to Abbotsford.
A British Rail Class 142 Pacer DMU at Abbotsford station in the summer of 1986. If it could be done in 1986, it can certainly be done in 2014.
What is not said is that most of these trains were full!
Political will and nothing more will see the interurban, updated to 21st century standards, in operation again in the Fraser Valley.
It was done, just not in Vancouver, in Ottawa we call it the O-Train and it officially moves 14,000+ people a day, up from 6000 when it opened in 2001. Its now set for a an expansion to 7.5 minute service down from 15 minute, originally 20 minute service. The Talent DMU’s are being supplemented with Alstom Cordina Lint 41 DMU’s (finally safety approved by Transport Canada).
Zwei replies: Love to see a Talent or Lint run a 60 minute service to Chilliwack from Vancouver.