Service and fares for the 2011 holiday season
Service and fares for the 2011 holiday season
It’s that time again to talk about holiday service changes. Please note that there are also December service changes. For info on these, check the print Buzzer that comes out tomorrow and the Transit Service Changes page on the TransLink website.
There is a main Holiday Service Schedules page on the TransLink site, but I’ve also copied the info below as well as added reroute info for the Santa Claus Parade in Vancouver this Sunday. I’ve added the applicable fare for each day. Expect as noted below, transit services will run their standard schedules according to the day of the week.
Don’t forget, for the very latest on transit service conditions or more detail on these items, check the TransLink Twitter account, call 604-953-3333 or try the TransLink Alerts page.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Weekend/holiday fares—only a single-zone fare is needed for travel in all zones all day.
The annual Rogers Santa Claus Parade takes place Sunday, December 4 in downtown Vancouver. Please check the alerts page before you plan a trip in and around the West Georgia and Burrard Street area on Sunday. I’ve been advised to tell people to leave early for their trips since there is a lot of traffic congestion.
SkyTrain customers can get right to the parade route at Burrard Station, where the elevator, which has been out of service due to faregate construction, will be put back into service for that day only. Customers on the Canada Line can also get off at Vancouver City Centre station and walk the three blocks to Burrard.
Buses are being re-routed away from the parade area. Buses that normally use Burrard will detour via Davie, Seymour, Pender and Richards; the #135 and #160 will use a temporary terminus at Howe and Hastings; North Shore buses will detour along Denman, Robson and Seymour (or Homer for West Vancouver buses). The re-routes will remain in effect from 10:30am until 5 pm.
SeaBus will provide 15-minute service between 11am and 6pm.
West Coast Express will not operate on Dec. 4.
Saturday, December 10, and Saturday, December 17, 2011
Weekend/holiday fares—only a single-zone fare is needed for travel in all zones all day.
The West Coast Express special “Santa Train” departs westbound from Mission at 10 a.m., arriving at Waterfront around 11:15 a.m. Eastbound train leaves Waterfront at 5 p.m., arriving in Mission around 6:15 p.m. (Open House at WCE Waterfront, 2:30 p.m.– 5 p.m; includes visits with Santa!)
Friday, December 23, 2011
Regular weekday fares in effect (after 6:30 p.m. only a single-zone fare is needed for travel in all zones).
West Coast Express afternoon trains depart from Waterfront at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:20 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. No 12:55 p.m. TrainBus; all other TrainBus trips depart at their regular times.
Christmas Eve – Saturday, December 24, 2011
Weekend/holiday fares—only a single-zone fare is needed for travel in all zones all day.
Bus and SeaBus services will be running usual Saturday schedules.
SkyTrain will run more frequent midday service on Expo and Millennium Lines for the last-minute shopping rush.
West Coast Express trains and TrainBus service will not operate.
Christmas Day – Sunday, December 25, 2011
Weekend/holiday fares—only a single-zone fare is needed for travel in all zones all day.
Buses will be running a Sunday/holiday schedule, but some routes will be adjusted from their normal schedules to reflect ridership levels.
Use the Trip Planner to check your route and bus times, or read our Christmas Day Schedule Adjustments service sheet for a list of bus routes that will adjust their normal Sunday/holiday schedules for December 25.
SeaBus and SkyTrain will operate on Sunday/holiday schedules.
West Coast Express trains and TrainBus service will not operate.
Boxing Day – Monday, December 26
Weekend/holiday fares—only a single-zone fare is needed for travel in all zones all day.
Buses will be running a Sunday/holiday schedule, but some routes will run more often. Additional late-evening trips will be added on some routes to connect with the last SeaBus and SkyTrain departures. Use the Trip Planner to check your route and bus times, or read our Boxing Day Schedule Adjustments service sheet for a list of bus routes that will provide more service hours and/or more frequent service on December 26.
SeaBus will operate regular Sunday/holiday service with extended evening trips. The last sailing will leave Lonsdale Quay at 1 a.m. and Waterfront at 1:22 a.m.
SkyTrain will run Saturday service with extra trains running midday to accommodate shoppers.
West Coast Express trains and TrainBus service will not operate.
Tuesday, December 27
Regular weekday fares in effect (after 6:30 p.m. only a single-zone fare is needed for travel in all zones).
Bus , SeaBus and SkyTrain will be running usual weekday schedules.
West Coast Express trains and TrainBus service will not operate.
Wednesday, December 28 to Friday, December 30
Regular weekday fares in effect (after 6:30 p.m. only a single-zone fare is needed for travel in all zones).
Bus , SeaBus and SkyTrain and West Coast Express will be running usual weekday schedules.
New Year’s Eve -Saturday, December 31
Transit Service is free of charge as of 5 p.m. today.
Bus service will run usual Saturday schedules with some routes running additional evening/late-night trips after their normal schedules. Use the Trip Planner to check your route and bus times.
SkyTrain will run usual Saturday schedules with more frequent evening trains and will extend service by approximately one hour on all lines. The last Expo Line train to King George leaves waterfront at 2:16 a.m.; the last Canada Line trains leave Waterfront at 2:05 a.m. (to YVR) and 2:15 a.m. (to Richmond-Brighouse).
SeaBus will operate a normal Saturday schedule but will extend service by about one hour with the last sailing from Lonsdale Quay at 2:00 a.m. and Waterfront at 2:22 a.m.
West Coast Express trains and TrainBus service will not operate.
New Year’s Day – Sunday, January 1, 2012
Weekend/holiday fares—only a single-zone fare is needed for travel in all zones all day.
Bus , SeaBus and SkyTrain services will be running usual Sunday schedules.
West Coast Express trains and TrainBus service will not operate.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Regular weekday fares in effect (after 6:30 p.m. only a single-zone fare is needed for travel in all zones).
Bus , SeaBus and SkyTrain services will be running usual weekday schedules.
West Coast Express trains and TrainBus service will not operate.
I say as a Christmas Gift from Translink December 25 should be free all day :)
I don’t know the parade route on Dec 4 and I find your blog unclear. Where would I board the 257 to Horseshoe Bay (usually would board at Burrard and Georgia) around 11 am?
Hi van: Good question. I spoke with a customer representative and they told me that you should be going early since there will be delays to the schedule because of the parade. The stop you’ll want to get your 257 will be at Robson and Burrard. Take a look at the map linked at the alerts page here – http://m.translink.ca/en/Mobile-Alerts.aspx for more info. I’ve also linked to the parade route in the blog post. Thanks!
RE: December Service Changes due Dec 5. The new Buzzer brochure was out for distribution at the Richmond Depot this a.m., and it clearly announces service increases as of Dec 5. This is NOT accurate!
For Vancouver and Richmond routes at least, if not the whole system, sheet change-seasonal service changes will not take place until Dec 12!!!
Occupy Vancouver really messed up the parade route this year and has forced routes along Davie.
http://rogerssantaclausparade.com/
In full honesty, in addition to leaving early…. I recommend you SKIP the Lions Gate and take the Seabus to rejoin the Horseshoe Bay service at Park Royal.
Hi Sean: This month of service changes are a little different. Indeed, sheet changes do occur on December 12th. They are very minimal this time around and are noted in the newsletter (see the renumber of (# 231). There were a few more minor adjustments to routes, but they were not included in the info sent to me from our planning department. Due to the injection of funds from the Moving Forward supplement, increases to service are kicking in as of Dec 5th for seven routes. This is why Service Changes are noted as happening December 5.
Thanks!
HI Robert… I read and understand your responce, but again disagree with the date of Dec 5th… If you click onto the any of those seven routes that are getting improved service, even their “new” timetables (available online) are clearly marked as of Dec 12, 2011…
Is CMBC going to run these new/extra peak hour trips off the spareboard for a week (as of Dec 5), until the new sheets kick in Dec 12???
I doubt it…
I STAND CORRECTED!
Sheet change is Dec 12, but Translink/CMBC is running extra peak hour trips on those 7 routes as of Dec 5…
It’s kind of rare for them to do that… usually they just wait for the Operators sheet change…