The West Coast Express commuter service from Mission to Waterfront and return
You may have heard of the West Coast Ex- press, but what do you really know about this form of transit? This article will provide an overview of what you need to know about the West Coast Express.

What is the West Coast Express?
The West Coast Express, or WCE, is a diesel commuter train that stretches for approximate- ly 69 kilometres for a one-way trip. On board each two-story train there is a bathroom as well as plenty of seating to make your 75-minute commute as comfortable as possible. 

When do trains run?
Unlike the other trains in the city, the West Coast Express only runs 10 single-direction trains during the morning and evening. In the morning, 5 trains leave from Mission and go to Waterfront, and then in the evening 5 return from Waterfront to Mission. This means there are five different times you can catch the train. While this is very useful to passengers who are travelling that route, it means that it has a lot less applicability than, say, the Expo Line, which runs trains throughout the city all day in either direction.

Where are the stations?
The West Coast Express has a total of 8 stops all spread out throughout the Lower Main- land of BC. 

Waterfront
This is probably the most well-known stop along the West Coast Express, right in the downtown of Vancouver. When you get off of your train, you will be on a long platform next to the Waterfront train yard. From there, a brief walk will take you to the Waterfront Station, with connections to the Canada Line, Expo Line, and SeaBus, as well as food options. 

Port Moody
The second stop along the West Coast Express is Port Moody. Like most stops on the West Coast Express, it is a covered open-air train station that is close to multiple food options, parks, buses, and even the Moody Centre train station. For those who drive to the WCE in the morning, there is a parking lot to leave your car while you venture off to the city for the day. 

Coquitlam Central|
Coquitlam Central is the next stop along this route. If you choose to get off the train or this is your destination, you are greeted by a nice open-air station sheltered by trees. But no more than five minutes away are a few food op- tions and connections to the Millennium Line as well as buses. A huge perk at this stop is the spacious parking lot so you can park and go.

Port Coquitlam
The Port Coquitlam station is an open-platform station that sits adjacent to both a bus loop and a train yard. This does mean that it can be fairly noisy at times. For commuters driving to this station, the lot fills up quickly on weekday mornings, so arrive before 7 AM if you want a parking spot close to the platform.

Pitt Meadows
The middle point of the journey is the Pitt Meadows station. It’s well-situated right off the Lougheed Highway and a short walk from a handful of cafes, restaurants, and shops. The parking lot is decently sized, but it can fill up on busy weekdays.

Maple Meadows
Maple Meadows station is a simply designed station with a single open platform. It's located near several industrial businesses, though you won't find much dining or shopping nearby the stop. The parking lot is reasonably sized and tends to have spots available even mid-morn- ing, which is a nice change from busier stations along the line.

Port Haney
The second-to-last stop is Port Haney. When you get off the West Coast Express, this sta- tion is covered and has a nice lookout onto the Fraser River. However, once you leave the stop, you won't find any shops, cafés, or major attrac- tions within walking distance of the station.

Mission City
The final stop along the route on the WCE is Mission. When you exit the train, there isn’t a station to go to, but there is instead a platform that is beside a street. While this does feel a little anticlimactic for the last stop, there is a pedestrian overpass and a thrift store close by.

Theoretical route
Say you wanted to ride the West Coast Express. Here is a hypothetical route from Mission to Waterfront. The second train departs at 5:55 am, so you drive to the Mission train station for 5:45. After parking your car for only $3.00, you walk over to the station and pay at one of the two Compass Card readers at the entrance. After a short wait, the train arrives. 75 minutes later, the WCE arrives in downtown Vancouver at 7:10 am, and you’re ready to start your day.

How much does it cost to ride it?
Due to the West Coast Express travelling much farther than a city train, it also means that its prices are affected. For a 5-zone fare from Mis- sion to Vancouver and back, you are looking at about $27. While this price may seem extreme at face value, when you compare it to the cost of parking a car downtown, it comes out look- ing more favourable. This fact may be why 2.6 million people use this form of transportation a year to commute to Vancouver.

While the West Coast Express is an under-utilized service, the future seems promising. With trains running through the Lower Mainland, we can get more people travelling than ever before. While Translink has not announced any plans for ex- pansion on this route, it is undeniable that many would benefit from full-day access to this service. For the time being, though, you are now informed on the ins and outs of the West Coast Express.