Columbia station (SkyTrain)
| Company type | Rapid transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | New Westminster , Canada |
| Products | Rapid transit services |
Columbia station is an underground stop on the Expo Line within Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid transit network. Situated along Columbia Street in New Westminster, British Columbia, it functions as a crucial interchange where the two Expo Line branches split just east of the station, leading toward King George station in Surrey and Production Way–University station in Burnaby.
History
Built between 1988 and 1989, Columbia initially served as the temporary endpoint of the system after taking over from New Westminster station. This role lasted until the line was extended to Scott Road station following the completion of the SkyBridge. The station was originally intended to be called "4th Street" but was ultimately named after Columbia Street.
In 2002, Columbia evolved into a significant transfer hub when the Millennium Line began sharing tracks with the Expo Line segment between Waterfront station and this location. At that time, regional bus connections from Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody were redirected to Braid station and Lougheed Town Centre station. Later, in 2016, Millennium Line service running between Waterfront and VCC–Clark via Columbia was replaced by an Expo Line branch operating from Waterfront to Production Way–University.
In February 2020, TransLink revealed initial proposals to upgrade Columbia station, aiming to improve accessibility and passenger circulation in recognition of its pivotal role within the transit system.
Structure and design
Constructed on a sloped site, Columbia station features a horizontal layout where the inbound platform lies underground to the north, while the outbound platform is mostly at ground level on the southern side. The tracks at both ends descend below Clarkson Street.
Since it was not originally designed as a major transfer hub, the station has side platforms that do not allow for cross-platform transfers. There is only one escalator providing access to the inbound platform; plans for a second escalator serving the outbound platform are included in Expo Line modernization efforts.
Entrances
- 4th Street entrance: positioned on the east side above platform level; lacks elevator or escalator access.
- Clarkson Street entrance: connects to Clarkson Street via stairs located at the north end of the lower street level.
- Columbia Street entrance: provides access from Columbia Street through a small shopping mall. Although an elevator is available inside the mall, it is privately owned and not managed by TransLink, resulting in occasional prolonged outages. An upward escalator serves only the inbound platform; passengers heading outbound must climb 36 stairs.
Transit connections
The following bus routes provide local service to Columbia station:
| Bay | Location | Routes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia Street Westbound |
|
| 2 | Columbia Street Eastbound |
109 Lougheed Station |
| 3 | 4th Street Northbound |
|