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Transferring and AddFare

Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain Station

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    Transferring

    • If you have a Compass Card or Compass Ticket, you can transfer across all modes of transit (bus, SeaBus, SkyTrain, and HandyDART) on a single fare for up to 90 minutes, or up to 120 minutes for West Coast Express services.

    • Your travel time begins when you first tap your Compass Card, Compass Ticket, or contactless payment to enter a fare-paid zone.

    • If you travel using a Compass Card or Tap to Pay, your card will automatically deduct the appropriate amount for your trip.

    • For Compass Tickets, purchase a ticket for the correct number of zones, or upgrade your ticket at a Compass Vending Machine if your travel needs change.

    • When travelling by bus or HandyDART, keep in mind that fares paid with cash are not transferable onto SkyTrain, West Coast Express, or SeaBus. To transfer between buses or HandyDART on a cash fare, show the operator your cash fare transfer.

    • All buses and HandyDART are a 1-Zone fare. For all other fare zones, visit the Pricing and Fare Zones page.

    Children aged 12 and under can ride transit for free. When transferring, children travelling without an accompanying fare paying customer will need to travel with a Compass Card or Ticket. Learn more on the Fare Pricing and Zones page.

    AddFares

    What are AddFares?

    AddFares are fare upgrades for additional costs not covered by the initial fare cost. These additional fare costs are incurred when travelling outside of the zone(s) that were initially paid for.

    Where to Buy AddFares

    If you travel using a Compass Card or contactless payment, your card will automatically deduct the appropriate amount for your trip. If you need to add stored value to your Compass Card to cover the cost of an AddFare, this can be done online at compasscard.ca or in person at a Compass Vending Machine.

    AddFare Prices

    Note: On July 1, 2024, annual fare increases came into effect. Fares have increased by an average of 2.3%.

    Upgrade Adult Fare Stored Value Concession Fare
    1 Zone to 2 Zone $1.45 $1.25 $1.00
    1 Zone to 3 Zone $3.15 $2.30 $2.20
    2 Zone to 3 Zone $1.70 $1.05 $1.20

    To understand the total cost of your fare plus AddFare, please refer to the Pricing and Fare Zones page for prices of all fare types.

    Stored Value
    If you're travelling with Stored Value on a Compass Card, you never have to worry about upgrading your fare—Compass will calculate the appropriate fare when you tap out. Just make sure you have enough Stored Value on your card in advance to complete your trip, otherwise your card will go into negative balance and you'll need to top it up before entering the system again.

    Monthly Pass
    If traveling on a one- or two-zone Monthly Pass, we recommend adding Stored Value to your card before your trip, so you can transfer seamlessly into extra zones. When Monthly Pass holders travel into extra zones, the system automatically debits the AddFare amount from your Stored Value balance. AddFares to a Monthly Pass are charged at the cash rate (see AddFare Prices table above), and can't be done at a Compass Vending Machine.

    Compass Ticket
    If you've purchased a one- or two-zone Compass Ticket and need to travel into extra zones, you must upgrade your ticket with an add fare at a Compass Vending Machine (CVM) before you cross the boundary into another zone. Just follow the prompts on the CVM to upgrade your Compass Ticket.


    YVR Airport AddFare

    Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain Station

    An additional $5 charge is added to some trips that start at the YVR Airport, Sea Island Centre, and Templeton Canada Line stations. There is no YVR Airport AddFare for journeys to the airport. Find below when this fare is applicable and when it's exempt.

    This charge, called YVR Airport AddFare, is used to support the cost of running SkyTrain’s Canada Line. We collect all fares, including AddFare. Vancouver Airport Authority does not receive any YVR Airport AddFare revenue.

    AddFare is charged on eastbound trips that start at YVR Airport, Sea Island Centre, or Templeton, and end at any station from Bridgeport onwards.

    AddFare is added to the following fare types (including concession fares):

    • Single-use tickets and DayPasses purchased from YVR Airport, Sea Island Centre, and Templeton stations

    • Compass Card Stored Value trips

    • Tap to Pay (e.g., contactless Interac Debit, American Express, Mastercard, and Visa credit cards along with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.)

    YVR Airport AddFare is automatically deducted from the contactless card or the Stored Value on a Compass Card. See below who is exempt.

    Some exemptions — for certain fare types, journeys, and residents — apply. AddFare does not apply to the following:

    • Monthly Pass holders

    • Compass Tickets and DayPasses not purchased from Compass Vending Machines at YVR Airport, Sea Island Centre, and Templeton stations

    • Travel between the three stations on Sea Island: these trips are free. Charges are refunded when you tap out your Compass Card or contactless card at one of these three stations.

    • Burkeville resident program card holders: Burkeville residents with proof of residency can apply for a resident’s Compass Card at the TransLink Customer Service Centre at Waterfront Station. The card is valid for five years.