I was at the Surrey Archives today, and while going through a *ton* of documents, I came across an old timetable from the BC Electric Railway’s Interurban Line. Here’s a quick rundown of what I found from the 1924 timetable:
- Service ran three times a day in both directions, for a total of six runs both east and westbound, all the way from Chilliwack to New West and back again. There was additional runs leaving from Jardine (in Langley), and from Cloverdale (in Surrey).
- Times were spaced out throughout the day, rather than the rush hour commuter service the West Coast Express provides.
- Westbound from Chilliwack to New West: 8:05A, 1:40P, 6:20P
- Eastbound from New West to Chilliwack: 12:15P, 5:50P, 9:00P
- From New West, it took:
- 24 mins to Newton
- 40 mins to Cloverdale
- 53 mins to Langley City
- 1 hour and 40 mins to Abbotsford
- 2 hours and 40 mins to Chilliwack
Nathan Pachal, former writer of the VALTAC blog, started up his own site today. I found some more recent timetable information on his Document Archive. This rundown covers Interurban service in 1950, just before it was shut down:
- Service ran three times a day in both directions, for a total of sux runs both east and westbound all the way from Chilliwack to Vancouver and back again. Service was express from Vancouver to New West – local service on this stretch was provided by the Central Park Line (the equivalent of the Expo Line SkyTrain).
- Westbound from Chilliwack to Vancouver: 8:00A, 1:30P, 6:10P
- Eastbound from Vancouver to Chilliwack: 8:25A, 1:20P, 5:30P
- There was special early runs on Fridays, and late night runs on Saturdays (i.e. leave Vancouver at 11:33P, leave Langley at 1:50A)
- From Vancouver, it took:
- 45 mins to New West
- 1 hour and 9 mins to Newton
- 1 hour and 25 mins to Cloverdale
- 1 hour and 38 mins to Langley City
- 2 hours and 25 mins to Abbotsford
- 3 hours and 25 mins to Chilliwack
I personally find it fascinating that we were able to run a regional rail service, throughout the day, back in the 20′s, compared to our terrible lack of service today. I suppose that’s what happens when your rip up a transportation network – it takes a while to rebuild.
I can hardly imagine how much of a boon restoring service on the Interurban would be, even just for my transportation needs. My main places of travel are Cloverdale, Newton, Whalley, Fleetwood, Langley, Burnaby, and Vancouver – and the Interurban would serve five, possibly six, of them! That’s nearly everywhere I go.
That said, it doesn’t really help the denser areas in North Surrey. However, it would be huge to communities east in the Valley! I can’t even imagine how convenient and enjoyable a rail ride would be, going from Cloverdale to Langley in 13 mins, Cloverdale to Newton in 16 mins. Having a direction connection from downtown Vancouver to Surrey, without all the stops that the SkyTrain necessitates, would be AMAZING!
Please. Bring back the Interurban. I’ll do anything. Just give me my rail service!
Cool! I know, when I found out how far you could get on that old system it was pretty amazing .
I wrote a post over on Metblogs about the unearthing of some old tracks a few years ago and found out a bit more about the light rail of old in these parts (mostly in the comments :-P)
Hey Paul, cool that you found that schedule. I was wondering about that.
Sounds like you’re onboard with the Rail for the Valley movement! Downtown Vancouver to Surrey express service is very doable with light rail, and wouldn’t it be sweet.
I’ve added a link to your blog on railforthevalley.com.
Me too! Me too!
Ooh, express… yes yes, that would be awesome. I’m actually going to be working steps from the Westcoast Express but that doesn’t uh, help much… :)
Actually today (yesterday?) I saw an AMTRAK train in Vancouver near the VCC-Clark station, and then saw an engine just sittin kind of randomly off Terminal.
@ Erika. Amtrak does the Cascades route – two trains a day to Seattle I believe. That’s the route that Amtrak and the US government want to upgrade to high speed rail eventually all the way down to Portland.
@ John. Thanks for the kind words and the link.
@ Rebecca. If only our politicians were bold enough to rebuild the system, can you imagine how good transit would be here?!
Pingback: What will it take to bring the Interurban back? | paulhillsdon.com
Is it just me or does it seem like they were more advanced in the 1920s? I live in the Fraser Valley and I know I would use this system at least once a week and most likely 3times a week if the times were convenient! PLEASE BRING RAIL BACK! there’s nothing to do in this town… I need to get out and have a night life. I am willing to put in the work and help with getting this system running.
SIGN THE PETITION
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/rail-for-the-valley
As “fascinating” as you seem to find BC Electric’s Inter-Urban service to CHWK, please also take into account that:
a) The population was miniscule.
b) Auto ownership/availability was a helluva lot lower
c) The route was serpentine – go take a look at the Ewert map. That rail line still exists as the Southern Railway of BC
d) The route crosses umpteen roads/streets that are heaviliy used — e.g. it crosses Scott Road THREE times within ~five km.
e) It took ~3 hr 15 min/3hr 30 min to travel between CHWK and Vancouver
Who ever let the Interurban or a modern version of it get away was very short sighted. The Interurban roadbed still exists through most of the Fraser Valley. Keeping that service going and up-to-date would have created a very effective transportation system. s
BRuce