![Surreycentralstationplatform](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Surreycentralstationplatform.jpg)
Surrey Central is an elevated station on the
Expo Line of
Metro Vancouver
The Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD), or simply Metro Vancouver, is a Canadian political subdivision and corporate entity representing the metropolitan area of Greater Vancouver, designated by provincial legislation as one of the 28 ...
's
SkyTrain rapid transit
Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be c ...
system. The station is located in the
Whalley / City Centre district of
Surrey
Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...
, British Columbia, Canada, just east of the North Surrey Recreation Centre. The station is within walking distance of the
Central City shopping centre
Central City (formerly known as Surrey Place Mall) is a mixed-use development that houses a shopping mall, a university campus and an office tower complex in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. It is owned by Blackwood Partners Management Corpora ...
, Surrey City Hall, and
SFU Surrey
Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a Public university, public Research university, research university in British Columbia, Canada, with three campuses, all in Greater Vancouver: Burnaby (main campus), Surrey, British Columbia, Surrey, and Vancou ...
, the Surrey campus of Simon Fraser University.
History
Surrey Central station was opened in 1994 along with two other stations when the
Expo Line was extended from
Scott Road station
Scott Road is an elevated station on the Expo Line of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid transit system. The station is located near the south end of the Pattullo Bridge in the South Westminster neighbourhood of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. ...
farther into
Whalley, to the "Surrey City Centre" district. Prior to the opening of the station, there was a bus loop on the site known as "Whalley Exchange", which opened in 1975. The station was briefly known as "Whalley Central" during planning; however, the name "Surrey Central" was chosen after an ad was placed in the local paper calling on residents to propose an appropriate name.
Over the years, the station has earned a reputation for being unsafe and a magnet for crime, including violence and drug trafficking. In 2009, it had the second-highest number of violent crimes in the SkyTrain system (with
Commercial–Broadway station
Commercial–Broadway (formerly two separate stations, Broadway and Commercial Drive) is a rapid transit station complex in Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain system in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It serves an elevated portion of the Expo ...
having the highest).
In an effort to combat the station's rundown image, and to show off experimental urban design, the City of Surrey and
TransLink Translink (or TransLink) may refer to:
* TransLink (British Columbia), the public transport operator in Vancouver, Canada
* Translink (Northern Ireland)
Translink is the brand name of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHCo), a ...
agreed to have Surrey Central station participate in the GVTA's Urban Transit Village program. The Transit Villages were defined by TransLink as "a new approach to station design and access." While the original schedule called for construction to be completed by the second quarter of 2007, nothing beyond design plans were completed. The Surrey Central plan specifically called for improvements in four areas: station access, street design, King George Boulevard, and land use.
Officers from the
Metro Vancouver Transit Police
The Metro Vancouver Transit Police (MVTP), previously the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service and formally the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service (SCBCTAPS), is the police force for TransL ...
can be found patrolling the bus loop and SkyTrain platform in an effort to reduce crime and disorder, with supplemental volunteers patrolling the area and reporting any suspicious or dangerous behaviour.
By the mid-2010s, with extensive police patrols and redevelopment of the area, violent crimes shifted from Whalley south to Newton, which has taken over the area's reputation of being the most dangerous part of Surrey.
In March 2017, station upgrades started on Surrey Central station to create two new entrances on the north side of the station at Central Avenue and City Parkway to reduce congestion. Accessibility and lighting was also improved with three additional escalators and an elevator. Construction work was completed in February 2019, and the new stationhouse opened to the public in March 2019.
Services
Surrey Central station is a transfer point for several bus routes that serve various areas of Surrey,
White Rock,
North Delta
North Delta (founded as Annieville) is a largely middle-class commuter town situated in the Lower Mainland, of British Columbia, Canada. The community is the most populous of the three communities (North Delta, Ladner, and Tsawwassen) that mak ...
and
Langley Langley may refer to:
People
* Langley (surname), a common English surname, including a list of notable people with the name
* Dawn Langley Simmons (1922–2000), English author and biographer
* Elizabeth Langley (born 1933), Canadian perfor ...
.
Station information
Station layout
Entrances
![Surrey Central lower concourse](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Surrey_Central_lower_concourse.jpg)
* North stationhouse : located at the corner of Central Avenue and City Parkway, the stationhouse provides access to
Surrey City Centre Public Library, Surrey City Hall and the
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is a public degree-granting undergraduate polytechnic university in British Columbia, Canada, with campuses in Surrey, Richmond, Cloverdale, Whalley, and Langley. KPU is one of the largest institutions by ...
Civic Plaza campus. Renovations on the north entrances started in March 2017 to improve circulation and accessibility and the new stationhouse opened in March 2019.
* Rec Centre entrance (east) : located on City Parkway and provides access to downtown Surrey and the North Surrey Recreation Centre.
R1 King George Blvd
The R1 King George Blvd is an express bus service with bus rapid transit elements in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Part of TransLink's RapidBus network, it travels along King George Boulevard and 104 Avenue in Surrey and connects G ...
stops are also located in front of this entrance.
* Bus Exchange entrance (southwest): located within the Surrey Central station bus exchange. An up escalator and stairs connect the bus exchange with the station platform via the concourse. This entrance also serves the
Central City shopping centre
Central City (formerly known as Surrey Place Mall) is a mixed-use development that houses a shopping mall, a university campus and an office tower complex in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. It is owned by Blackwood Partners Management Corpora ...
and
SFU Surrey Campus.
Transit connections
![Surrey Central bus exchange](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Surrey_Central_bus_exchange.jpg)
Bus bay assignments are as follows:
References
External links
*
{{TransLink Services
Expo Line (SkyTrain) stations
Railway stations in Canada opened in 1994
Buildings and structures in Surrey, British Columbia
Transport in Surrey, British Columbia
1994 establishments in British Columbia