From transit icon to film star!

One of Metro Vancouver’s Mark I SkyTrain cars, which has retired from service, has found a new home integrated into a 180-degree LED stage for film and television productions.

Located at Lumostage Virtual Production in the Township of Langley, it’s Canada’s only standing subway set. The exterior of the car has been repainted silver, while the insides have seen its seats painted from blue to orange and yellow, to resemble a New York City subway car.

“Filming subway scenes in BC has always been a challenge — until now,” says Angus Luk-Ramsay, Chief Operating Officer at Lumostage.

“By working with TransLink and top motion picture engineers and artists, Lumostage has turned a retired SkyTrain car into a film-friendly, interactive subway train set that makes our province an even more attractive destination for motion picture and commercial productions.”

The challenge filming scenes on a subway lies in the fact that systems such as the SkyTrain have a limited window for filming after operating hours. Filming must be squeezed into an overnight window, after service ends, where essential track maintenance is the primary priority.

During a typical year at TransLink, our film program receives 34 general inquiries and 31 formal applications to film on or near transit, of which we process about 11 productions. Now, we have a SkyTrain car that will contribute to the film industry in the community at Lumostage.

“We’re thrilled to see one of our iconic SkyTrain cars enjoy a future which will preserve its legacy while supporting one of our strongest local industries,” says Kevin Quinn, TransLink CEO. “Since first rolling out nearly 40 years ago, the Mark I SkyTrain cars have carried millions of customers and become a defining symbol of Metro Vancouver’s transit system.”

Submit your proposal for a retired Mark I car

In the coming years, as the new Mark V cars enter service, more Mark I cars will need a “retirement home!” We’ll be looking for creative ideas to ensure these historic trains continue serving the region in fresh and innovative ways.

Until Nov. 28, we’re once again inviting proposals with creative ideas to relocate and repurpose the rest of the roughly 130 retiring Mark I cars. Interested individuals, businesses, developers, community organizations, and municipalities can submit through a new Request for Information (RFI). This follows an initial call for idea submissions in November 2024.

Accepted applicants are responsible for funding the transport of the cars from SkyTrain’s Operations and Maintenance Centre, near Edmonds Station, as well as covering all the future costs of repurposing the cars.

Additional opportunities will open at a later date, as more vehicles are phased out of service.