PNE Fair: Double the delight with our double-decker bus onsite!
PNE Fair: Double the delight with our double-decker bus onsite!
The first of 32 new double-decker buses have arrived!
And it debuts at the PNE Fair, August 17 to September 2 (closed Mondays except Labour Day). It’s part of the Transport 2050 Expo, bringing you the past, present and future of transportation in Metro Vancouver.
Starting in the fall, these sparkling vehicles will enter service on selected routes in Metro Vancouver, replacing their aging highway coach ancestors. The buses will help with overcrowding and provide a more comfortable and exciting transit experience for our customers.
The first buses will enter service on the 301 Newton Exchange / Richmond-Brighouse Station and the 620 Bridgeport / Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal routes.
Surrey, Langley and Coquitlam passengers can expect to see the double-decker bus on the 555 Lougheed Station / Carvolth Exchange route in January 2020.
Then in the fall, an order of 25 more double-decker buses is expected to arrive, bringing our double-decker fleet to 57 buses! This will allow us to expand the double-decker bus to more routes throughout the region.
Cool double-decking features
These buses include:
- Almost double the seats of a highway coach
- Plug-in USB charging outlets
- Panoramic views from the upper deck
- A wide, well-lit staircase with handrails to maximize safety
- A screen allowing customers to see vacant seats before going upstairs
- Full accessibility with a low floor and boarding ramp
Don’t forget! We’re boosting transit service to make it easier for you to get to the PNE Fair. It’s also 2-for-1 adult admission on the Fridays with your Compass Card, Ticket or Wristband.
Do these buses have luggage racks? If not, then I’m at a loss as to why Translink is putting these on the 620 ferry bus? People with luggage (which is most people travelling from or to the ferry) are not going to want to go upstairs. It makes no sense.
Instead, why isn’t translink putting on articulated buses with luggage racks on the 620? I know you have them but they never seem to run on the 620 at all anymore.
Do you know when these will appear on the 311, 351, 354 and 601? Will the 601 even use these double-deckers?
Will these appear on the 257 Horseshoe Bay/Vancouver Express?
Will the 410 get the double decker buses too?
Hi Caitlin, the double-decker buses will be servicing the 301 route (Newton Exchange/Richmond-Brighouse station) and the 620 (Bridgeport/Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal) starting this fall. The 555 (Lougheed Station/Carvolth Exchange) will receive these buses starting January 2020.
I took a look at the double decker bus on display at the PNE and it does look nice. However the upstairs roof is too low. I’m 6ft tall and I have to duck low to avoid hitting my head. Can you not make these higher? The average height for people is going up.
Hi Rainier, thanks for your feedback and checking out our double-decker bus at the PNE. There are seats on the main floor with more space and that these buses will go out to 2 routes (301 and 620) starting this fall, with another route (555) receiving some of these buses in Jan 2020.
I hope Translink will pick these routes with care. I live in Richmond and have buses stopping every 15 minutes on the road the the rear of my little townhouse. The bus stop is directly adjacent to my small back yard and twenty feet from my back windows. At the moment the fence obcures most of the view of my windows – but if there are to be double deckers my whole private life will be on view. I think these buses ae mor appropriate for routes running through the ALR or commercial/industrialfrontages but will be very intrusive for small private homes on residential lots. Just sayin’.
Will the bus drivers actually wait for the people upstairs to make their way down to get off at their stops? Or just stop for two seconds and taking off like they normally do and have people yelling to let them off? Especially if the bus is crowded. Do the drivers have a screen to see if people are trying to get down from the upstairs?
Any reason why only USB ports are available for charging of devices and not 120v outlets as well? There are devices that only charge off 120v and many usb devices charge way faster on a 120v outlet rather than a USB port
Do the double decker buses run on the weekend? My dad and I tried to take one yesterday on the 301 route, but did not see a double decker in an hour.☺
Hi Henry and Shawn, they’re still undergoing testing and commissioning, so they’re not in service yet. Our social media channels will share the news when they’re in service. You can also contact Customer Information on Twitter (@TransLink) or by calling 604.953.3333.