What would you do with a vintage SkyTrain car? TransLink is looking for proposals

Metro Vancouver's transit authority is seeking inventive proposals for what to do with 150 vintage SkyTrain cars that are reaching their end of life.

The Mark 1 SkyTrain cars with their distinctive white, red and blue design were introduced in 1986, when the SkyTrain system first came online during Expo 86. They still run on the region's Expo Line.

Over the next two years, though, they're going to be fully replaced with the newer Mark 5 variants, according to regional transit authority TransLink, which has put out a request for informationfor what to do with the retro trains.

Thor Diakow, a TransLink spokesperson, said the authority is looking for anyone with the capability to move the SkyTrain cars and who has an innovative idea for what to do with them.

"We're looking for input from interested community organizations, municipalities, developers, individuals, who can submit proposals, innovative ideas for how they think these Mark 1 Trains should be retired," he told CBC News.

"Community-driven ones, obviously, would be very beneficial, but there's no idea too small or too big," he added.

Diakow said that, across the world, old transit vehicles have been repurposedfor community displays, playgrounds, art installations, museums and even artificial reefs.

He added that the successful bidder will have to be able to move the trains from the TransLink operations and maintenance centre.

"There's a lot of SkyTrain fans in the city and they get very excited when they're on a Mark 1, because it is ahistoric vehicle," Diakow said.

"It is really part of the region's history and harkens back to a time when things were a little bit simpler, perhaps, and the city was very different."

CBC News went to Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain station on Friday to see if riders had ideas of their own for the Mark 1 vehicles.

"I've seen the old decommissioned dining cars become a thing. Housing is always a necessity in the city," said rider Andy Igel, who added his young son would probably love for the cars to be put in a playground.

The request for information is open until Dec. 6 of this year, and TransLink says applications will reopen at a later date once more trains are retired from service.

WATCH | TransLink looks for ideas regarding vintage SkyTrain cars:

TransLink seeks proposals to repurpose vintage SkyTrain cars

8 days ago

Duration 2:03

TransLink is asking for your help to find new ways to relocate and repurpose Metro Vancouver's original SkyTrain fleet. CBC's Janella Hamilton hopped aboard to hear what people think.