Transit system expansion: Behind the scenes of Vancouver’s SkyTrain growth

Every day, hundreds of thousands of people rely on SkyTrain in Vancouver, British Columbia, to get where they need to go. In this transit system, trains arrive on time. Doors open. Life moves forward. But behind that smooth journey is the question: How do you grow a driverless transit system without ever stopping it?

As Metro Vancouver’s transit network expands—with new Mark V trains, larger facilities, and major projects like the Broadway Subway and Surrey Langley SkyTrain—the pressure on the transit system increases. When it comes to rail and transit systems, growth can’t come at the cost of safety, reliability, or trust.

Go behind the scenes of the TransLink SkyTrain Expansion with Firas Al-Tahan and Sy Selick. Visit the places most riders never see. Rail yards grow. Maintenance workflows evolve. A mission‑critical Operations Control Centre is relocated—all while service continues, uninterrupted.

Working in close partnership with TransLink, our integrated design team helps the transit system scale for the future. The focus is simple but demanding: Protect daily service. Support the people who keep it running. And build infrastructure ready for what comes next.

This is the story of careful planning, human‑centered design, and the quiet work that keeps a region moving today and for decades to come.