The essential how-to guide for riding TransLink to Taylor Swift in Vancouver
The essential how-to guide for riding TransLink to Taylor Swift in Vancouver
Welcome to Vancouver, it’s been waitin’ for you!
TransLink is Metro Vancouver’s transit system and it’s prepared for swift travel to BC Place with the SkyTrain just steps away.
Plus, no surge pricing for transit with fares starting at just $3.20 for adults and kids 12 and under ride free. In fact, we even have ways to save! Read on to find out how.
Checklist before you go
- Contactless credit or debit card — that’s it! That’s all you need to ride transit.
Riding transit to BC Place
BC Place is a five-minute walk from the Expo Line’s Stadium–Chinatown Station and a 15-minute walk from the Canada Line’s Vancouver City Centre Station.
Start by planning your trip on popular apps such as Google Maps and Apple Maps, or use TransLink’s Trip Planner at translink.ca/tripplanner. Simply tell us where you’re starting from and we’ll find the best route for you to BC Place.
Extra transit service
We’ve added bus, SkyTrain and SeaBus service on all three nights, and a special Rogers West Coast Express train on Saturday, Dec. 7. For full details, please visit translink.ca/servicechanges.
Bus service
Please note there are road closures and anticipated congestion in downtown Vancouver, which means buses may be rerouted and longer than usual waits for your bus. Stay up to-date on disruptions, updates, or changes to your journey with Transit Alerts at translink.ca/alerts sign up and we’ll text or email you of any changes.
Paying your transit fare
The easiest way to pay your transit fare and is by tapping your contactless credit or debit card at the Compass fare gates and readers to pay an adult cash fare. We accept Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Interac Debit — both the contactless card or on a mobile wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
Be sure to remove your contactless card from your wallet before you tap to ensure the right card is charged. If you tap in using your mobile wallet, make sure you use it again to tap out and not your physical card, and vice versa.
Other ways of paying for transit:
Compass Card: A favourite for locals and available at Compass Vending Machines at SkyTrain stations, SeaBus terminals and select retailers for a $6 refundable deposit. Load your Compass Card with Stored Value to pay-as-you-go at a discount. You can find more information about where to buy a Compass Card at translink.ca/wheretobuy.
DayPass: If you plan to do a lot of travelling on transit in the day – purchase a DayPass! It can be loaded onto a Compass Card or purchased as a single-use Compass Ticket, and provides unlimited travel across all modes until the end of the service day, excluding West Coast Express.
Compass Tickets (single use): If you’re paying cash or need to buy more than one single-use Compass Tickets, pre-purchase your return fare before the event to avoid long ticket machine lines. Purchased and unused Compass Tickets remain valid until the end of the service day.
Helpful tips and information
- Tap in and out for the SkyTrain, SeaBus, and West Coast Express. Tap in only for bus.
- If you are starting your transit trip on a bus, we recommend paying with a contactless credit or debit card, or a Compass Card or Ticket as paper transfers issued on buses do not open the faregates at the SkyTrain station.
- Fares are good for 90-minutes from the time you first tap into the system. You can transfer between bus, SkyTrain, and SeaBus on the same fare.
- There are three fare zones for the SkyTrain and SeaBus. The number of fare zone boundaries you cross on SkyTrain and/or SeaBus during your trip determines your fare.
- All journeys across the system starting after 6:30 p.m. weekdays and all travel on weekends (Saturday, Sunday, and holidays) are a 1-Zone fare.
- The bus is a 1-Zone fare at all times.
- Kids 12 and under ride free. For SkyTrain, SeaBus, and the West Coast Express, kids must be accompanied by a fare paying customer in order to tap through the fare gates.
- Passengers who are eligible for discounted concession fares include: seniors 65 and older, and youth 13 to 18 years with valid photo ID proving age.
- Each person over 12 years old must have their own proof of payment, so you can’t use one Compass Card or contactless credit card to pay for multiple people.
Riding transit home from BC Place
The SkyTrain comes as often as every 90 seconds! But with everyone leaving BC Place at the same time, please be prepared to wait. We encourage riders dress warmly and for the elements as you will likely have to queue for the SkyTrain.
If you are riding the SeaBus back to the North Shore, consider walking to Waterfront Station to catch the SeaBus.
Other ways to travel to BC Place
Park & Ride
Planning to drive or just want to save? Avoid downtown traffic by leaving your vehicle at one of our Park and Ride lots then take transit to the venue. Park all day for as little as $2.
Find one near you at translink.ca/parkandride.
Arrive early as the lots can get full, especially the smaller ones. Our largest Park and Ride lots are at Scott Road Station (Expo Line) and Coquitlam Central Station (Millennium Line).
Cycling
- Pick up a bike from Mobi by Rogers, Vancouver’s docked bike share network, and ride to BC Place.
- Have access to your own bike? Ride it to a Bike Parkade, then connect to the SkyTrain.
Tips for a smooth ride
- Give yourself extra travel time to navigate the transit system given the large crowds.
- Sign up for personalized Transit Alerts to get updates about your trip via email or text, or visit translink.ca/alerts.
- Last train and bus times vary depending on the day of the week. Don’t miss your ride home!
- Have your payment ready before boarding to save time, and make sure you get your return fare in advance to skip lines after the show.
- Don’t forget your Cardigan to stay cozy.
- Please note: Stadium–Chinatown Station’s only accessible entrance is from Beatty Street. There is no elevator at the Expo Boulevard entrance.
Download the Rider Guide
Are you visiting from out of town or new to using public transit? Need a quick refresher? Our Eras Tour Rider Guide is here to help! This comprehensive guide provides all the essential information you’ll need to navigate your way to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour shows smoothly and efficiently. Download it today to ensure a seamless transit experience!
Have questions? We’re here to help
There will be Transit Volunteers and extra staff — including SkyTrain Attendants, Transit Supervisors, Transit Security officers, and Metro Vancouver Transit Police officers — on the system to help you get where you need to go.
Need trip planning help? Call our Customer Information team at 604.953.3333 or message @TransLink on X, formerly Twitter. Visit translink.ca/contactus for our hours of operation. You can also pick up the Customer Information phone at a SkyTrain station.
Yellow silent alarm strips are available on every train, and red emergency phones are available at platforms. Feeling unsafe on transit? Contact Transit Police by phone at 604.515.8300 or text 87-77-77 (standard message rates apply). For emergencies, always call 911.