The trains have been ordered as part of the first phase of the $C 2bn 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transportation, which is being funded jointly by the Canadian federal government (50%) the province of British Columbia (33%), TransLink, and authorities in the Vancouver region.

The new trains are due to enter service by early 2019 and will be used on the Expo and Millennium Lines, increasing the SkyTrain fleet to 314 cars.

TransLink ordered seven Mark III trains in December 2012 to expand the fleet in readiness for the opening of the Evergreen Extension. The aluminium-bodied articulated trains, which are based on Bombardier’s Innovia 300 platform, are equipped with full-width gangways and each car accommodates up to 134 passengers at 4 passengers/m2.