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!

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