MAPLE RIDGE – New Democrat MLAs Lisa Beare and Bob D’Eith say joint federal and provincial funding for the refurbishment of seven locomotives on the West Coast Express will make them run longer and cleaner.

“Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge will benefit from these upgrades for years to come,” said Lisa Beare, MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows. “Our government knows that investing in good public transit is essential for making sure that our communities can thrive as we look ahead to our post-pandemic world.”

“The West Coast Express has been servicing British Columbians’ for over 25 years. These upgrades will expand the lifespans of these locomotives, make them more environmentally friendly, and ensure that locals can continue to commute safely within our communities,” said Bob D’Eith, MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission.

The project will include refurbishing the engines of six of the seven locomotives to extend their lifespan by a projected 15 years. Additionally, all head end power units, which provide heat and lighting to the passenger cars, will be replaced to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency and allow operation of longer trains.

The Government of Canada is investing $10.2 million in this project through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of British Columbia is contributing $ 9.2 million and TransLink is contributing $1.5 million for this project.