SkyTrain network changes could snarl Monday's commute for some

Changes tothe SkyTrain network that took effect this weekendcould make for a headache Monday as a crush of commuters lineup for the system.

"Like with any change, some people need a little more assistance," saidVivienneKing, president and general manager of theB.C. Rapid Transit Company.

"You'll notice we have a lot more staff around, particularly the stations where the change has happened."

The Millennium Line no longer travels to Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver.Instead, it runs east-west from Lougheed Town Centre in Burnaby to VCC-Clark in Vancouver.

Customers can transfer between Expo and Millennium lines at Commercial-Broadway, Lougheed Station or Production Way-University.

TransLink says thosetransferring between the Expo and Millennium lines at Production WayUniversity can hop off one train and onto another on the same platform without having to takestairs, escalators or elevators.

• SkyTrain network changes start today
• Changes are coming to the SkyTrain network

When the Evergreen Extension opens, which will be sometime before Christmas, the Millennium Line will run from VCC-Clark to Lafarge Lake-Douglas in Coquitlam without requiring a transfer.

TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond told CBC News the changes are part of a testing program to get ready for the extension.

Expo Line changes

There are also changes fortheExpo Line, which is nowsplit into two branches.

One will travel between Waterfront and Production Way-University in Burnaby.

The second will travel between Waterfront and King George Station in Surrey.

TranksLink says the frequency of Millennium Line trains will increase, but the Expo Line will remainroughly the same.