'These are bigger': Translink launches double decker bus pilot project

Two new double decker buses will soon hit the road in Metro Vancouver in an effort to reduce overcrowding on busy routes.

Translinkunveiled its first double decker bus on Thursday, which will be one of two that takes to the road next week as part of a new pilot project.

"These are bigger," said Translink CEO Kevin Desmond, comparing them to current buses on the road.

The test run is in response to Translink's surging ridership. Having increased by six per cent over the last year, many popular long-distance routes are particularly overcrowded.

"We can't keep up with demand," said Desmond, citing the555 connecting Langley to Burnabyand the 301 connecting Surrey to Richmond, as two troubling examples.

"[The 301]chronically has at least 11 standees, and on a bus that's operating on a highway, 11 standees is a lotand that's not the most comfortable ride."

The buseswill service routes towards Vancouver from Langley, Surrey, White Rock and Deltaand have double the seats of current buses servicing those routes.

"These buses are part of our solution to crowdingand to attract and retain ridership with a more comfortableand, in this case, more of a fun ride," said Desmond.

Serviced routes

The buses will service the following routes during the three month trial run:

• 301 Newton Exchange to Brighouse Station.
• 311 Scottsdale Exchange in Delta to Bridgeport Station.
• 351/354 White Rock/South Surrey to Bridgeport Station.
• 555 Carvolth Exchange in Langley to Lougheed Station.
• 601/620 South Delta/Tsawwassen Ferry to Bridgeport Station.

Plans are toadd 30 more to the fleet by 2019but don't expect to see any popular urban routes, like the 99.

Those will continue to be serviced by long, articulated buses.

"We have a lot of life left on those articulate coachesThey really work better for the large numbers [of people moving] of on and off."