TransLink to add 28 new SkyTrains with aluminium body by 2019

<p>South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink) signed a $C 93m ($US 69.5m) contract with Bombardier for 28 Mark III light metro cars for Vancouver&rsquo;s SkyTrain- an&nbsp; automated light metro network with aluminium body, on December 16.<br /><br />The first few aluminium trains are expected to enter service by early 2019 and will be added to TransLink&rsquo;s existing fleet of 314 rapid transit trains, which will allow for more frequent service along the Expo and Millennium Lines.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/image.jpg" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /><br />The purchase is part of TransLink&rsquo;s recently-passed $2 billion Phase One transit plan, with the Canadian federal government paying for half the cost, the province of British Columbia providing 33 per cent and TransLink and municipalities kicking in the rest.<br /><br />{googleAdsense}<br /><br />In December 2012, TransLink ordered seven Mark III trains to expand the fleet in readiness for the opening of the Evergreen Extension. The train features aluminium bodies based on Bombardier&rsquo;s Innovia 300 platform and are equipped with full-width gangways having accommodation capacity of up to 134 passengers.</p>