June 26, 2025 is the 135th anniversary of the first Vancouver electric streetcar to roll down Westminster Avenue (now called Main Street), back in 1890.
A Big Day in Transit History
On that exciting summer day, hundreds of people gathered to watch the streetcar make its first test run. It was powered by electricity, making it a cutting-edge piece of technology for its time. Just two days later, regular service began. Anyone could hop on board for a mere five cents (around $1.80 in today’s currency).
On July 1, 1890 Vancouver’s shiny new streetcars led the Dominion Day parade showing off the city’s latest pride and joy. Captured on the day, an archival photo shows the parade heading along Cordova Street.
A Race Between Cities
Vancouver wasn’t the first city in BC to get electric streetcars. That honour goes to Victoria, where the National Electric Tramway and Lighting Company Limited had launched its system four months earlier. Vancouver’s streetcars were operated by the Vancouver Electric Railway and Lighting Company, who were determined not to be left behind!
Later in 1891, a third company, the Westminster and Vancouver Tramway, opened a line through thick forested land to connect Vancouver and New Westminster. This became the region’s first interurban railway. Fun fact: the same route is still used today as part of the Expo Line SkyTrain.
Tough Times and Big Changes
The 1890s weren’t easy for these early transit companies. Money troubles led to them merging together. By the end of the decade, they became part of one new company: the British Columbia Electric Railway Company (BCER). The BCER would run transit services in the province for over 60 years, from 1897 to 1960.
A Legacy of Transit
Communities grew and expanded along BCER streetcar and interurban lines, creating a legacy that still influences how and where we live, work, and play in the region today. The BCER company went on to form the basis of two familiar companies that many of us deal with regularly: Translink and BC Hydro.
To learn about our local transportation heritage, visit the Steveston Tram, open daily from 10am-5pm.
Photo: City of Vancouver Archives photo AM1376-: CVA 1376-375.20. July 1st 1890, Cordova Street.
