Coast Mountain Bus Company
| |
| Area served | Vancouver, B.C. |
| Founded | April 1, 1999 (from BC Transit) |
| Fleet size | 1298 (Conventional Bus) ~175 (Community Shuttle) 4 (Seabus) |
| Number of routes | 195 (Bus) 1 (Seabus) |
| Ridership | |
| Union | Unifor Local 111 (Operators) Unifor Local 2200 (Mechanics) |
Coast Mountain Bus Company, an operating subsidiary of Translink, provides bus and SeaBus service in the Metro Vancouver area. The company commenced service on April 1, 1999 when the Vancouver Regional Transit System was split from B.C. Transit, thus creating CMBC.
Overview and History (Incomplete)
The company was formed on April 1, 1999 when the Greater Vancouver division of BC Transit was split from the rest of the B.C. Transit network. Before its current name, it was called "BusLink" for 9 months during transition into TransLink.
Vancouver Trolley Crisis
Shortly after the delivery of the New Flyer E40LFRs, the company experienced a major bus shortage. There had been an apparent problem with the power steer of these buses. As a result, the fleet of 65 received trolleys were pulled out of service. Several buses from other garages were transferred to Vancouver Transit Centre to help with the shortage. In addition, a handful of buses that had been retired were sent to the garages that had donated their buses to Vancouver. Four buses were temporarily brought in from Abbotsford and Chilliwack (2 Orion Vs and 2 Orion Is).
September 2009 Service Changes
September 2009 saw the cancellation of all peak-hour express routes between Vancouver and Richmond, due to the recently built Canada Line. It was decided to run the Canada line under Cambie street as it had higher density in traffic and that there were more key destinations along Cambie street than Granville including Langara College and Oakridge Mall. In lieu of these cancellations, loosened up resources were relocated to existing routes to increase frequency. More info on these cancelled "400 series" routes are available in the given template below.
Service area
Coast Mountain Bus Company provides service in all 21 municipalities that make up Metro Vancouver (the former Greater Vancouver area). These are: Anmore, Belcarra, Bowen Island, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, City of Langley, Township of Langley, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver, and White Rock.
The company also operates three passenger ferries that move passengers from Waterfront Station, across the Burrard Inlet, to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.
Service is provided using a large fleet of conventional diesel, trolley, and community buses, as well as three passenger ferries that move passengers from Waterfront Station, across the Burrard Inlet, to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.
Fares
Coast Mountain Bus Company, as well as other Translink operating subsidiaries operate under a fare zone structure. With the exception of daily, monthly, or annual passes fares are valid for any direction of travel up to 90 minutes. Fares must be valid while on a Translink vehicle. Those without proper fare are subject to a $173 infraction.
Age catagories for fares: Adult, 14-64 Concession, 5-13, 65+, and 14-19 holding a Go Card (registered Middle/Secondary/High School student)
Compass Card
The Compass Card is a stored value smart card used for payment of public transport fares in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Testing began in 2012 and as of Summer 2015, university students enrolled in the U-Pass BC program, members of the Canadian National Institute of the Blind, West Coast Express customers, and those on welfare programs have successfully transitioned into the Compass Card.
On August 6, 2015, Translink decided to start distributing the Compass Card to the general public. They also announced the temporary elimination the current zone fare structure. As of October 5, customers of both adult and concession categories will be paying a single zone 90-minute fare for solely bus service. [1] This disables the ability to transfer from a bus to a skytrain using the same paper ticket. The only way this will be possible is through a compass card. It was also announced that passengers will not need to tap out of the system when exiting a bus. This will only be applicable when exiting the Seabus, West Coast Express, and Skytrain.
| Zone | Adult | Concession |
|---|---|---|
| All Zones | $2.75 | $1.75 |
Cash fares
Zones are not in effect after 6:30pm daily, and on weekends/holidays.
| Zones | Adult | Concession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.75 | $1.75 |
| 2 | $4.00 | $2.75 |
| 3 | $5.50 | $3.75 |
FareSaver
FareSavers include 10 transfers that are validated on the rider's first trip. Zones are not in effect after 6:30pm daily, and on weekends/holidays.
| Zones | Adult | Concession |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $21.00 | $17.50 |
| 2 | $31.50 | N/A |
| 3 | $42.00 | N/A |
Day Pass
Day-passes are valid from the start of the service day to the end of the service day. Service days are determined by bus departure times and not by clock time. On a typical weekday, the start of the service day starts when the first #10 bus departs Marpole Loop, and lasts until the last N10 Nightbus arrives in Richmond. Therefore, one can not transfer from a late night N10 to a #10 bus along Granville Street using the same daypass.
| Zones | Adult | Concession |
|---|---|---|
| All | $9.75 | $7.50 |
Monthly Pass
Zones are not in effect after 6:30pm daily, and on weekends/holidays.
| Zones | Adult | Concession | Employer Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $91.00 | $52.00 | $79.25 |
| 2 | $124.00 | $52.00 | $106.75 |
| 3 | $170.00 | $52.00 | $146.25 |
University Pass
All students at participating institutions buy into the U-Pass BC program. The U-pass fee is paid along with the student's tuition for a 4 month semester of 35$ {previously $30) each month. As of September 2015, students can load their Compass Cards through the Compass Card Website [2]. All students must carry their student ID for the case of fare inspections.
Current fleet summary
As of 2008, all buses are equipped with a voice announcement system to aid those who are disabled in their vision as well as those who are unfamiliar to the region. This also allows the operators to drive without having to make announcements. GPS technology is used to detect a buses' whereabouts in relation to its next stop.
Conventional Bus
On Order
| Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Destination sign | A/C? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15001-15021 | 2015 | NFI | XDE60 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Yes |
|
Trolleybus
Vancouver is the last city in Canada to operate trolleybuses in revenue service as of May 2009.
| Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Motor | Destination sign | A/C? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2101-2199, 2201-2289 |
|
2005-2007 | NFI | E40LFR | Škoda 19 ML 3550 K/4 |
Luminator Horizon | No |
|
| 2501-2540 | 
|
2007-2008 | NFI | E60LFR | Škoda 19 ML 3550 K/4 |
Luminator Horizon | No | |
| 2541-2574 | 
|
2009 | NFI | E60LFR | Škoda 19 ML 3550 K/4 |
Luminator Horizon | No |
|
Community Shuttle
Seabus
Coast Mountain Bus Company also operates 4 passenger ferries known as the Seabus fleet. Beginning operation in 1977, the 2-zone service connects the major transportation hub at Waterfront to the Lonsdale Quay. Service is 15 minutes from 6am-1pm Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes from 8am-11pm on Sundays and holidays. Weekend service frequency is increased in the summer months. The crossing takes around 12 minutes, and also offers a vast selection of scenery from multiple angles on the Burrard Inlet.
| Name | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Engine | Propellers | Notes |
| Burrard Otter | 
|
1977 | Vancouver |
| ||
| Burrard Beaver | 
|
1977 | Victoria |
| ||
| Burrard Pacific Breeze | 
|
2009 | Esquimalt Graving Dock (Victoria) |
| ||
| Burrard Otter II | 
|
2014 | Damen Shipyards Group in Netherlands |
|
Retired and Demonstrator Fleet Summary (Incomplete)
Conventional Bus
| Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Destination sign | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1158-1192 | 
|
1982 | Flyer | D901A | Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison V730 | Rollsign |
|
| 1205-1208, 1211-1223 | 1979 | Flyer | D800B (9635-6) |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N
|
Allison V730 |
| ||
| 1209-1210 | 1980 | Flyer | D800B (9635-6) |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N
|
Allison V730 |
| ||
| 3001-3021 | 
|
1991 | NFI | D60 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison HTB-748 | Rollsign |
|
| 3101-3199, 3201-3210 |
|
1991 | NFI | D40 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison HTB-748 | Luminator Super:MAX | |
| 3211-3257 | 
|
1992 | NFI | D40 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison HTB-748 | Luminator Super Matrix:MAX |
|
| 3258-3282 | 
|
1995 | NFI | C40 | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Allison B400R | Luminator Super Matrix:MAX |
|
| 3288, 3292, 3302, 3306-3308 |
|
1998 | NFI | C40LF | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus | Voith D863.3 | Luminator Super Matrix:MAX | 3283-3287, 3289-3291, 3293-3299, 3301, 3303-3305 are all diesel buses now. |
| 4101-4115 | 
|
1982 | GMDD | T6H-5307N | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V730 | Rollsign |
|
| 4116-4143 | 
|
1987 | GMDD | TC40-102N | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V731 | Rollsign | "Hillclimber" |
| 4144-4192 | 1989 | MCI | TC40-102N | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V731 | Rollsign | "Hillclimber" | |
| 4193-4199, 4201-4278 |
|
1990 | MCI | TC40-102N | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.3ADR | Rollsign | |
| 5501-5508 | 
|
1973 | GMDD | T6H-4523N | Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison V730 | Rollsign | Originally had Allison VS2-6 transmissions. |
| 5509-5521 | 
|
1976 | GMDD | T6H-4523N | Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison V730 | Rollsign | Originally had Allison VS2-6 transmissions. |
| 8606, 8608 | 
|
1990 | OBI | Orion V (05.501) | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison HTB-748 | Borrowed from BC Transit during the Vancouver Trolley Crisis of 2007 | |
| 6715 | 
|
1992 | OBI | Orion I 01.507 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.3 | Borrowed from BC Transit during the Vancouver Trolley Crisis of 2007 | |
| 6784 | 1989 | OBI | Orion I 01.507 | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison HTB-748 | Borrowed from BC Transit during the Vancouver Trolley Crisis of 2007 | ||
| 7244-7246 | 
|
1996 | NFI | F40LF | Cummins ISB | GM-Allison EP40 hybrid system |
Luminator Super Matrix:MAX |
|
| 7298 | 
|
1998 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins C8.3 | Allison B400R5 | Luminator MegaMax | Transferred to WVMT and renumbered 981. |
| 2008 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISL | Demonstrated with CMBC from May to June 2008. | ||||
| "SR1420" | 2009 | NFI | XDE40 | Cummins ISL | GM-Allison EP40 hybrid system |
Demonstrated with CMBC in May 2009. | ||
| 1001-1002 | 2005 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISL | ZF 5HP552C | Axion Orange LED |
|
Trolleybus
| Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Motor | Destination sign | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2701-2947 | 
|
1982-1983 | Flyer | E901A/E902 | General Electric | Rollsign | All retired from revenue service in March 2008
|
Community Shuttle
| Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Destination sign | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S001 | 2000 | Ford/Corbeil | E-350/minibus | Ford Powerstroke 7.3L | Ford TorqueShift | None | ||
| S002 | 2000 | Ford/Girardin | E-350/MBC-II | Ford Powerstroke 7.3L | Ford TorqueShift | None | ||
| S003-S005 | 2002 | Ford/Goshen | E-550/? | Ford Powerstroke 7.3L | Ford TorqueShift | |||
| S006-S017 | 2002 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar V | Ford Powerstroke 7.3L | Ford TorqueShift | |||
| S018-S056 | 2003 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar V | Ford Powerstroke 6.0L | Ford TorqueShift |
| ||
| S057-S061 | 
|
1996 | Ford/Champion | E-450/? | Ford Powerstroke 7.3L | Ford TorqueShift | ||
| S062-S098 | 2004 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar V | Ford Powerstroke 6.0L | Ford TorqueShift |
| ||
| S099-S102 | 2005 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar V | Ford Powerstroke 6.0L | Ford TorqueShift | |||
| S200-S236 | 
|
2005 | GMC/ElDorado | C5500/Aero Elite | GMC Duramax 6.6L | Allison 1000 with Telma retarder | Luminator Horizon | |
| S237-S257 | 
|
2006 | GMC/ElDorado | C5500/Aero Elite | GMC Duramax 6.6L | Allison 1000 with Telma retarder | Luminator Horizon | |
| 7130 (II) | 2009 | Yaxing | JS6830GHDP |
| ||||
| S400 | 2010 | GMC/Arboc | G4500/SOM28D | GMC Duramax 6.6L |
|
External links
- Coast Mountain Bus Company (Wikipedia)
- Official Coast Mountain Bus Company Website
- TransLink Website
Photo galleries
- BusShots (Chris Cassidy & Laura Wilby)
- Trans-Vancouver (David Lam & George Prior)
- Vancouver Transit Gallery (Bill Wong)
- TransLink Photos (Josh Novosad)
- Neopas's Gallery - Transit in British Columbia (neopasturquoise)
- Dennis's Gallery (Dennis Tsang)
- BusPics (Ernest Ng, William Chen, Elfren Ordanza, Christian Ordanza, Jimmy Yang)
Websites/blogs
- Buzzer Blog (Jhenifer Pabillano)
- Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board: BC Section
- Canada Line Photography (Tafyrn and Seamora Palecloud)
References
- ↑ Compass Project moves ahead this fall, translink.ca, retrieved 06-08-2015
- ↑ All U-Pass BC Schools have switched to Compass!, translink.ca, retrieved 05-09-2015
- ↑ Bus Drivers sick from exhaust fumes from Navistar Shuttles, cbc.ca, retrieved 15-09-2015
