Columbia Station
Encyclopedia
Columbia Station is located in the short underground section of the Expo Line in New Westminster, British Columbia
, Canada
. It is a part of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain
rapid transit
system, and one of two transfer points to the newer Millennium Line
.
) until it was extended to Scott Road
the following year, following the completion of the Skybridge. During planning and construction, it was known as 4th Street Station.
Originally, the station served as a secondary transfer point for regional buses from Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam. After the opening of Millennium Line
in 2002, the station became a major transfer point between the two SkyTrain lines and the regional bus connections moved north along Millennium Line to Braid
and Lougheed Town Centre
Stations. Currently, the station connects only to local bus and shuttle routes servicing the New Westminster area.
The station was not planned to be a major transfer point during construction. Cross-platform transfer is not possible as the station is side-platformed, and there is only one up-escalator provided at the station's inbound platform. A second up-escalator is proposed for the outbound platform as part of the Expo Line upgrade.
Clarkson Street Entrance connects Clarkson Street with the station through a series of stairs. The entrance is located at the north end of the lower street level, on the opposite side of Columbia Street entrance.
Fourth Street Entrance is located at the east side of the station. Unlike the other two entrances, the entrance from 4th Street is located above the platform level. Neither elevator nor escalator is provided for this entrance.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is a part of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain
SkyTrain (Vancouver)
SkyTrain is a light rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. SkyTrain has of track and uses fully automated trains on grade-separated tracks, running mostly on elevated guideways, which helps SkyTrain to hold consistently high on-time reliability...
rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system, and one of two transfer points to the newer Millennium Line
Millennium Line
The Millennium Line is the second rapid transit line built in the SkyTrain light metro rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The line is owned and operated by TransLink. Millennium Line uses the colour yellow on route maps, wayfinding and station signage.-History:When...
.
Location
Columbia Station is located near the corner of 4th Street and Carnarvon Street in New Westminster, and is named after Columbia Street one block south. The station was built horizontally on a slope, so that the inbound platform in the north is underground while the outbound platform in the south is predominantly at grade. The track at both ends of the station dips underground below Clarkson Street.History
Columbia Station was built between 1988 and 1989, and served as the system’s temporary terminus (replacing New Westminster StationNew Westminster Station
New Westminster Station is located at Columbia Street and 8th Street in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada, and was the original eastern terminus of SkyTrain until 1989 prior to the partial completion and opening of the phase two extension of SkyTrain to Surrey.-History:The station was...
) until it was extended to Scott Road
Scott Road Station
Scott Road Station is located on an elevated portion of the Expo Line, a part of Vancouver, British Columbia's SkyTrain rapid transit system. The station itself is in northern Surrey.-Location:...
the following year, following the completion of the Skybridge. During planning and construction, it was known as 4th Street Station.
Originally, the station served as a secondary transfer point for regional buses from Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam. After the opening of Millennium Line
Millennium Line
The Millennium Line is the second rapid transit line built in the SkyTrain light metro rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The line is owned and operated by TransLink. Millennium Line uses the colour yellow on route maps, wayfinding and station signage.-History:When...
in 2002, the station became a major transfer point between the two SkyTrain lines and the regional bus connections moved north along Millennium Line to Braid
Braid Station
Braid Station is an elevated station of the Millennium Line, a part of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid transit system. The station itself is located in eastern New Westminster, near the Coquitlam border.-Location:...
and Lougheed Town Centre
Lougheed Town Centre Station
Lougheed Town Centre Station is a station on the Millennium Line, part of the SkyTrain rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia.-Location:...
Stations. Currently, the station connects only to local bus and shuttle routes servicing the New Westminster area.
The station was not planned to be a major transfer point during construction. Cross-platform transfer is not possible as the station is side-platformed, and there is only one up-escalator provided at the station's inbound platform. A second up-escalator is proposed for the outbound platform as part of the Expo Line upgrade.
Station layout
| S | Street Level | 4th Street entrance |
|---|---|---|
| T | Train Level | |
| M | Mall Level | Columbia Street entrance Connect to lower street level for platform access |
| S | (Lower) Street Level | Clarkson Street entrance Connect inbound and outbound platforms |
Station entrances and connections
Columbia Street Entrance connects the west side of station with Columbia Street, half level above, through a small shopping mall. An elevator is provided by the mall for station access. However, since this elevator is not a property of TransLink, the reliability of this accessible entrance is not garenteed and it had been reported that the elevator was out of service for an extended amount of time. An up escalator is provided between the lower street level and the platform for inbound (westbound) only. Passengers accessing the outbound (eastbound) platform must climb up a full flight of 36 stairs.- Local transit connection is provided on Columbia Street in front of the entrance:
-
- 321 New Westminster Station (limited service)
- C3 New Westminster Station
- C4 New Westminster Station
- C9 New Westminster Station
- C9 Lougheed Station
- N19 Downtown Night Bus
Clarkson Street Entrance connects Clarkson Street with the station through a series of stairs. The entrance is located at the north end of the lower street level, on the opposite side of Columbia Street entrance.
Fourth Street Entrance is located at the east side of the station. Unlike the other two entrances, the entrance from 4th Street is located above the platform level. Neither elevator nor escalator is provided for this entrance.
- Transit connection to uptown New Westminster is available on the opposite side of 4th Street:
-
- C3 Fraserview
- C4 Uptown