Electronic signs on the station platforms of SkyTrain’s Expo Line and Millennium Line are set to be completely overhauled with new real-time next train destination countdown signs.

TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond revealed the upgrade during his annual address to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade earlier today.

These signs will be similar to the electronic signs on the platforms of the Canada Line and 2016-completed Millennium Line Evergreen Extension, providing dynamic information on the next train arrival times, the final destination of the next trains, current time, and announcements.

“When’s your next train coming? It’s something we’ve been working on for awhile, we need to make this happen,” said Desmond.

Work on replacing the small single-text line red electronic signs will begin later this year, with an aim to have the new signs installed across the system by the end of 2019.

Old electronic signs on the platforms of the Expo Line and Millennium Line

Newer electronic signs on the platforms of the Canada Line and Evergreen Extension

Additionally, new electronic message boards will also be installed at each station before the fare gates.

These message boards, which already exist at the Evergreen Extension station concourse areas, provide real-time status information on the train system, including at times of service disruption so that passengers know what is going on before they attempt to ride the train.

Change is already afoot with TransLink’s bus stop signs, with small vertical ‘Bus Stop’ signs being gradually replaced with new square signs that provide more useful information, including the bus routes served by the stop and information on how to find the next bus times for the stop.

Desmond said a decision has been made to fast-track the installation of these new bus stop signs, with a goal of installing 6,000 new signs by the end of this year.

These SkyTrain and bus signage improvements are being funded by the 10-year Mayors’ Council plan.

See also