Starting October, customers can hop on a brand-new double-decker bus when traveling through Richmond, Delta and Surrey. Following a successful four-month pilot, the first of 32 double-deckers on order have arrived to expand the current fleet, replace aging highway coaches and provide a less crowded and more comfortable experience for customers.
The first double-deckers will service the 301 Newton Exchange / Richmond-Brighouse station and the 620 Bridgeport / Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. The 555 Lougheed Station / Carvolth Exchange route will be added January 2020.
Customers travelling on a double-decker will benefit from:
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
Twenty-five more double-deckers are scheduled to arrive by Fall 2020 expanding to more routes throughout the region.
“The double-deckers are one way we are elevating the customer experience,” says TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. “This addition to our fleet not only improves capacity on our busier long-haul routes, but also provides a unique experience to our customers.”
The addition of the double-decker buses to the fleet is made possible by contributions from the Federal Government through the Federal Gas Tax (90 per cent) and TransLink (10 per cent).
“Modern efficient public transit infrastructure plays an important role in building strong sustainable communities,” said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “These new double-decker buses will help Metro Vancouver meet immediate needs and provide convenient, accessible transportation options that will improve the quality of life for residents today and contribute to a greener future.”
For your first chance to board a double-decker, one will be available for viewing at TransLink’s PNE exhibit. From August 17 to September 3, you can tour the exhibit which features a double-decker bus as well as an immersive Virtual Reality experience, a 3D animated model “MicroCity” of Vancouver, and much more.
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