In 1986, the Waterfront skytrain station in downtown Vancouver was constructed as part of the Phase 1 Expo Line project. By 2021, the station and the electrical equipment were in need of replacement due to equipment life expectancy. The project aimed to resolve issues with the electrical system, including:
- Equipment: Track heaters needed to be permanently connected.
- Need for more power capacity: the existing 300/400 kVA ANN transformer was at its full capacity.
- Reliability of breaker operation: Some equipment needed replacement to increase reliability.
- Upcoming distribution updates: Alignment of station power with BC Hydro’s plans to update the distribution system from 12.47kV to 25 kV in downtown Vancouver.
TransLink engaged Ausenco as the prime consultant to lead and implement the power upgrades for the Waterfront station in 2021.
Client requirements
The objective of the project was to increase electrical capacity and reliability to efficiently power public transportation. This project will also help to reduce risks of potential train stoppages due to cold temperatures.
One of the first tasks of our team was to review the existing installation and to discuss the upgrade options with TransLink and BC Rapid Transit Corporation (BCRTC) engineers. Our project scope included:
- Replacement of the existing 15 kV circuit breaker.
- Replacement of the existing 300/400 kVA indoor substation with a 750 kVA outdoor substation.
- Replacement of the existing 15 kV Teck cable between the Waterfront substation and Waterfront station with a 25 kV cable. The cable length is approximately 1 km.
- Addition of a new 1200 A main distribution switchboard with system metering (for remote monitoring), and provision of a second incoming service for system redundancy.
- Adding a 100-kW diesel generator with 24-hour fuel capacity.
- Replacement of an existing Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS).
Our team implemented several ideas to reduce environmental impacts on the project, including the decision to change an old oil-filled transformer for a dry-type transformer. Power capacity was doubled, the risk of fire was reduced, and risk of water contamination from an oil leakage was also reduced. The new transformer was also installed outdoors, reducing the building footprint needed.
In addition, the maintenance lighting used is photocell and proximity controlled to use less electricity. The lighting is energized when it is dark and there is staff on the outdoor transformer platform.
Project challenges
There were several challenges on this brownfield power system upgrade project:
- Limited space for new or replacement equipment
- Interruption of power supply or work in the tracking area can only occur during non-revenue hours, when the trains are not operating
- It was critical that the station continued its normal operations
Our team mitigated these challenges by choosing a compact subunit which required a smaller footprint. We also analyzed different location options for the unit, so that we could use the limited space effectively.
In addition, we developed detailed plans for execution with contingency options each time the team scheduled power outages to connect equipment. This reduced the amount of downtime required for the upgrades.
Our team worked closely with local contractors to select the equipment and schedule the cutover sequence so that there were no unscheduled power interruptions throughout the project.
Outcomes and Achievements
The power upgrade at Vancouver’s Waterfront station will benefit the Expo Line, enhancing its capacity and ensuring a more dependable power supply. The upgrade project has significantly improved the station’s electrical infrastructure.
Our team received positive feedback from the client for our work on this project through different feedback sessions, including a lessons learned session.