Coast Mountain Bus Company 9201-9276
Coast Mountain Bus Company 9201–9276 were a set of 76 Orion Bus Industries V 05.501 Suburban units built in 2000–2001.

Engine | Transmission | Seating | Destination Sign |
---|---|---|---|
Detroit Diesel S50EGR 275 hp | Allison World B500R6 6 speed | 47 – Otaco 2003 Recliner | Balios Orange LED |
History
They were purchased for $29 million, or approximately $380,000 per unit, to offer smoother, quieter and comfortable rides on long-distance routes along the Highway 99 corridor. As part of the Strategic Transportation Plan to connect regional town centres, they provide greater passenger amenities for commuters between Vancouver, Delta, South Surrey and White Rock.[1] They were referred to interchangeably as Express Buses or Express Coaches, but both terms were dropped over the years.[2]

As part of the April 2001 service changes, the following routes were rebranded as ExpressBus routes as part of the rollout of these coaches to replace previous buses used. Previous buses used on these routes were a mix of older suburban coaches being phased out or other coaches in urban configuration:
- 310 Scottsdale/Vancouver
- 311 Scottsdale/Vancouver
- 351 Crescent Beach/Vancouver
- 352 Ocean Park/Vancouver
- 354 White Rock South/Vancouver
- 601 South Delta/Vancouver
- 602 Tsawwassen Heights/Vancouver
- 603 Beach Grove/Vancouver
- 604 English Bluff/Vancouver
- 606 Ladner Ring
- 608 Ladner Ring

These coaches wore a yellow and blue suburban livery on a white background. Unit 9201 had its blue stripe replaced with a purple stripe in 2003 for use as the West Coast Express TrainBus, however, a small portion of the blue stripe remained underneath its side advertisement panels. After refurbishment, they received an updated suburban paint scheme with a grey background.
In 2009, passenger voice announcement and display systems by INIT were introduced. However, unit 9258 did not receive a digital display but retained its original next-stop display. Compass Card readers were gradually installed starting in late 2012 and through 2013.
For a brief period in the early 2010s, some units were deemed surplus and were placed into storage at Oakridge Transit Centre. All units in storage returned to service in 2012, with most being sent to Surrey.
From August 2014 to January 2015, units 9258 and 9266 and unit 8125 were part of an advertisement campaign by TELUS to promote the launch of their public Wi-Fi service. These buses became the first in the system to have Wi-Fi.
On March 25, 2023, unit 9228 was chartered by a group of transit enthusiasts. It was taken around the Lower Mainland ahead of its retirement. Within a month, units 9228 and 9276 were retired. 9228 was the last to be retired running on a morning tripper on route 352 on April 11, 2023, marking the complete decommissioning of all 2001 Orion V coaches in the fleet. Since 9228's retirement, it has been placed into storage at Richmond Transit Centre and used for parts.
West Coast Express TrainBus
See also: West Coast Express
For a brief period between January 6, 2003, and September 2004, unit 9201 was used as the West Coast Express TrainBus. This was a bus service that provided service between Waterfront Station and Mission City Station, stopping at all West Coast Express stations when the trains were not running. For a significant portion of the service's existence, the service was subcontracted out to third-party operators. After the program was briefly suspended due to funding shortfalls in 2001, Coast Mountain Bus Company was the designated operator of the TrainBus service despite not having coaches that had amenities comparable to West Coast Express trains such as washrooms.
Unit 9201 was used for the service with 9203 as the spare.
Port Mann Express
On December 1, 2012, the 555 Port Mann Express running between Carvolth Exchange and Braid Station was introduced. The introduction of this service saw the return of the ExpressBus branding. While the name was used at the time of the launch of Orion V coaches on Highway 99 services, it did not appear physically on coaches until the launch of the Port Mann Express. The units that were originally allocated to the service – units 9202, 9204, 9208, 9217, 9218, 9219, 9220, 9258, and 9262 – received this branding.
Deployment
This series was entirely based out of Richmond and were commonly found on the following suburban services:
- 352 Ocean Park
- 354 White Rock South/Bridgeport Station
- 601 South Delta/Bridgeport Station
- 602 Tsawwassen Heights/Bridgeport Station
- 603 Beach Grove/Bridgeport Station
- 604 English Bluff/Bridgeport Station
- 606 Ladner Ring
- 608 Ladner Ring
From time to time depending on operational requirements, these units were also on any conventional bus route operated by Richmond depot. They would also be occasionally found on other suburban routes that run with double-decker buses such as:
- 301 Newton Exchange/Brighouse Station
- 311 Scottsdale/Bridgeport Station
- 340 Scottsdale/22nd Street Station
- 351 White Rock Centre/Bridgeport Station
- 555 Port Mann Express
Initially, they were found exclusively on the following routes:
- 310 Scottsdale/Vancouver
- 311 Scottsdale/Vancouver
- 351 Crescent Beach/Vancouver
- 352 Ocean Park/Vancouver
- 354 White Rock South/Vancouver
- 488 Garden City/Burrard Station
- 490 Steveston/Burrard Station
- 491 One Road/Burrard Station
- 492 Two Road/Burrard Station
- 496 Railway/Burrard Station
- 601 South Delta/Vancouver
- 602 Tsawwassen Heights/Vancouver
- 603 Beach Grove/Vancouver
- 604 English Bluff/Vancouver
- 606 Ladner Ring
- 608 Ladner Ring
Later, they also made their way onto other routes outside of Highway 99 services such as:
- 301 Newton Exchange/Brighouse Station
- 394 White Rock Centre/King George Station
- 503 Aldergrove/Surrey Central Station
- 555 Port Mann Express
While this series was based on Richmond for most of their operational lives, a handful spent time in other depots as well. The following units were allocated to Surrey Transit Centre:
- 9209 from April 2008–February 2012
- 9219–9219 from August 2007–September 2009 and again from April–November 2012
- 9220 from April–November 2012
- 9221–9235 from May 2012–September 2019
- 9257–9259 from April 2008–September 2009
- 9260–9273, 9275, 9276 from August 2007–September 2009
The initial transfers in the summer of 2007 were due to the reallocation of resources for Highway 99 suburban services from Richmond to Surrey. The second group of transfers in 2012 was to introduce Orion V coaches on routes 301, 340, and 394. The units that were part of the 2012 transfer were previously in storage at Oakridge Transit Centre after being deemed surplus. Regular appearances of Orion V coaches on route 340 were short-lived as it was later deemed operationally inefficient with only a single door for loading and unloading. Units 9234 and 9235 returned to Richmond in March 2013 but would return to Surrey in the fall of 2016.
In June 2014, the Orion V coaches based in Surrey were used on the 503 Aldergrove/Surrey Central Station express service.
All remaining Orion V coaches in Surrey returned to Richmond by September 2019 after the 503 changed its vehicle type to 60-foot articulated buses and the 301 to double-decker buses.
Port Coquitlam Transit Centre maintained a fleet of Orion V coaches for service on the 555 Port Mann Express from its introduction in December 2012 until January 2020 when its vehicle type changed to double-decker buses. Originally, units 9202, 9204, 9208, 9217, 9218, 9219, 9220, 9258, and 9262 were allocated to Port Coquitlam for route 555, but other units began to shuffle between Port Coquitlam and Richmond. At the time that Orion V coaches were being phased out of Port Coquitlam, units 9201, 9204–9208, 9211–9214, 9240, 9241, and 9250 were the ones allocated to Port Coquitlam.
From the spring of 2018 through to the end of 2019, Port Coquitlam Orion V coaches made regular appearances on a variety of local routes during peak hours due to bus shortages.
Details
Interior amenities on these coaches included individual reading lights, high-back reclining seats, and luggage racks. These coaches were also air-conditioned. Until the arrival of their 2008 counterparts and the 12000 series articulated buses, they were the only buses in the fleet with air conditioning.
These were also one of the few buses in the fleet to have tinted passenger windows. However, some coaches had a mix of tinted and non-tinted windows due to the interchanging of window and glass pieces with 2008 units throughout the years during maintenance work.
Unlike the 2008 Orion V coaches, the 2001 units are not governed and can reach a top speed of 140 km/h. Another difference with the 2008 units was the front doors, which used two glass pieces instead of four. However, some units were fitted with door pieces from 2008 units due to the interchanging of doors during maintenance work.
Fleet Number |
Thumbnail | Paint | Date | VIN | License Plate | Transit Centre | Status/Disposal | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9201 | ![]() |
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2000 | 1VH5H6M26Y6501257 | MV 8808 (prev. DP 1375, 5060 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – November 2022 |
|
9202 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M28Y6501471 | EC 6357 (prev. 2772 EV) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – April 2019 |
|
9203 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2XY6501472 | HA 0052 (prev. 2700 EV) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – September 2019 |
|
9204 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M21Y6501473 | JC 7873 (prev. DP 1376, 2701 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – March 2023 |
|
9205 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M23Y6501474 | KX 3005 (prev. EC 6256; 2702 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – October 2022 |
|
9206 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M25Y6501475 | HA 0053 (prev. DB 3896; 2703 EV) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – July 2019 |
|
9207 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M27Y6501476 | HA 0054 (prev. DB 3897; 2704 EV) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – November 2019 |
| |
9208 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M29Y6501477 | LG 4879 (prev. EF 3764; 2705 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2020 |
|
9209 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M20Y6501478 | EA 1451 (prev. 2706 EV) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – December 2018 |
|
9210 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M22Y6501479 | 2697 EV | Richmond | Retired – August 2011 |
| |
9211 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M20Y6501481 | MK 6450 (prev. HA 0055; DP 1377; 2713 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – April 2022 |
|
9212 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M22Y6501482 | NK 2456 (prev. HA 0076; 2714 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – February 2020 |
| |
9213 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M24Y6501483 | KX 3027 (prev. DB 3898; 2715 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – July 2022 |
| |
9214 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M26Y6501484 | KX 3028 (prev. HA 0077; 2716 EV) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – October 2019 |
|
9215 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M28Y6501485 | KX 3029 (prev. EC 6352; 2717 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – February 2020 |
|
9216 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2XY6501486 | NG 5674 (prev. HA 0078; DB 3899; 2718 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – February 2023 |
|
9217 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M21Y6501487 | NG 5711 (prev. DP 1384; 2719 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – August 2019 |
|
9218 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M23Y6501488 | DP 1385 (prev. 2720 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2019 |
|
9219 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M25Y6501489 | DP 1386 (prev. 2721 EV) |
Surrey | Retired – January 2019 |
|
9220 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2916501503 | DB 3900 (prev. 2772 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – November 2019 |
|
9221 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2016501504 | ET 7808 (prev. 2773 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – February 2023 |
|
9222 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2216501505 | DP 1387 (prev. 2774 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – December 2019 |
|
9223 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2616501507 | DT 3091 (prev. 2775 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2019 |
|
9224 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2816501508 | DP 1388 (prev. 2776 EV) |
Surrey | Retired – December 2018 |
|
9225 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2X16501509 | 2777 EV | Richmond | Retired – August 2004 |
|
9226 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2616501510 | DP 1389 (prev. 2778 EV) |
Surrey | Retired – May 2019 |
|
9227 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2816501511 | EA 1410 (prev. 2779 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – July 2022 |
|
9228 | ![]() |
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January 2001 | 1VH5H6M2X16501512 | DB 3901 (prev. 2780 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – April 2023 |
|
9229 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2116501513 | NG 5675 (prev. DP 1390; 2781 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – December 2022 |
|
9230 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2316501514 | DP 1391 (prev. 2782 EV) |
Surrey | Retired – December 2018 |
|
9231 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2516501515 | DP 1392 (prev. 2783 EV) |
Richmond | Retired – August 2022 |
|
9232 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2716501516 | DP 1424 (prev. 7313 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – March 2020 |
|
9233 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2916501517 | DB 3902 (prev. 7294 FD) |
Surrey | Retired – September 2019 |
|
9234 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2016501518 | DP 1425 (prev. 7314 FD) |
Surrey | Retired – November 2018 |
| |
9235 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2216501519 | DP 1361 (prev. 7295 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – September 2022 |
|
9236 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2916501520 | KX 3030 (prev. DB 3903; 7296 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – November 2019 |
| |
9237 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2216501522 | KX 3031 (prev. DP 1426; 7297 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2019 | ||
9238 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2416501523 | KX 3032 (prev. DB 3904; 7298 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – February 2019 |
|
9239 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2616501524 | KX 3016 (prev. DB 3905; 7299 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – February 2020 | |
9240 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2816501525 | KY 8275 (prev. HA 0079; DP 1427; 5009 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – February 2022 |
|
9241 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2X16501526 | LL 9721 (prev. DB 3906; 7300 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – March 2023 |
|
9242 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2116501527 | KY 8276 (prev. DB 3907; 7301 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – December 2022 | ||
9243 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2716501533 | KY 8277 (prev. DB 3908; 7302 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – October 2019 |
|
9244 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2916501534 | KY 8278 (prev. HA 0080; 7303 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – April 2021 |
|
9245 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2016501535 | KY 8279 (prev. DP 1428; 7304 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – December 2018 |
|
9246 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2216501536 | KY 8280 (prev. HA 0081; DP 1429; 7305 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2019 |
| |
9247 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2416501537 | KY 8281 (prev. HA 0082; DB 3909; 7306 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2020 |
|
9248 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2616501538 | KY 8282 (prev. DB 3910; 7307 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – November 2019 | |
9249 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2816501539 | KY 8283 (prev. DP 1430; 7308 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – February 2019 |
|
9250 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2416501540 | KY 8284 (prev. HA 0083; DP 1431; 7309 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – November 2022 |
|
9251 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2616501541 | KY 8285 (prev. HA 0084; DP 1432; 7310 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – February 2021 |
|
9252 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2816501542 | KY 8286 (prev. DB 3911; 7311 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2019 |
| |
9253 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2X16501543 | KY 8287 (prev. EJ 7637; 7312 FD) |
Richmond | Retired – August 2019 |
|
9254 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2116501544 | DB 3912 (prev. 4985 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – February 2020 |
| |
9255 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2716501547 | KY 8288 (prev. DP 1433; 5010 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – June 2020 |
|
9256 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2916501548 | KY 8400 (prev. HA 0085; DB 3913; 4987 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – March 2019 |
|
9257 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2016501549 | KY 8401 (prev. DJ 1583; 4986 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2019 |
|
9258 | ![]() |
![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2216501553 | KY 8402 (prev. DP 1450; 4988 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2019 |
|
9259 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2616501555 | KY 8403 (prev. DB 3914; 4989 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – May 2020 |
| |
9260 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2816501556 | KY 8404 (prev. HA 0102; AS 5946; 4990 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – July 2022 |
| |
9261 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2X16501557 | KY 8405 (prev. HA 0103; DB 3915; 4991 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2019 |
| |
9262 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2116501558 | LL 9722 (prev. DT 3120; 4992 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – July 2022 |
|
9263 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2316501559 | KY 8406 (prev. AS 5947; 4993 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – October 2019 |
|
9264 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2X16501560 | KY 8407 (prev. HA 0104; DB 3916; 4995 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – December 2018 | |
9265 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2116501561 | KY 8408 (prev. HA 0105; DB 3917; 4994 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2019 | ||
9266 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2316501562 | LL 9723 (prev. KY 8409; EJ 7641; 4996 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – March 2020 |
|
9267 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2516501563 | KY 8410 (prev. HA 0106; DP 1451; 4997 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – November 2019 |
|
9268 | ![]() |
2001 | 1VH5H6M2716501564 | KY 8411 (prev. HA 0107; DP 1452; 4998 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2019 |
| |
9269 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2916501565 | KY 8412 (prev. HA 0108; 4980 FF) |
Richmond | Retired - January 2022 |
|
9270 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2016501566 | KY 8413 (prev. DP 1453; 4999 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – February 2019 |
|
9271 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2216501567 | KY 8414 (prev. AS 5948; 5000 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2019 | |
9272 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2416501568 | KY 8426 (prev. AS 5949; 5001 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – February 2020 |
|
9273 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2616501569 | KY 8427 (prev. HA 0109; 5002 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2019 |
|
9274 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2216501570 | KY 8428 (prev. HA 0110; 5003 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – October 2019 | |
9275 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2416501571 | KY 8429 (prev. DP 1454; 5004 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – January 2020 |
|
9276 | ![]() |
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2001 | 1VH5H6M2616501572 | KY 8430 (prev. DW 1567; 5005 FF) |
Richmond | Retired – April 2023 |
|
References
- ↑ New Express Buses Offer A Smoother Ride For Long Distance Travel on Highway 99 translink.bc.ca, archived on Web Archive, retrieved 15-02-2021
- ↑ Express Coach translink.bc.ca, archived on Web Archive, retrieved 15-02-2021
- ↑ https://www.abbynews.com/news/updated-medical-condition-caused-translink-bus-crash-in-aldergrove/, retrieved 02-17-18
- ↑ http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/translink-bus-involved-in-accident-on-hwy-99, retrieved 11-12-2017
- New Express Buses Offer A Smoother Ride For Long Distance Travel on Highway 99, translink.bc.ca, retrieved 09-24-09
- UPDATE: Bus crash sends 20 to hospital; minivan sought. www.bclocalnews.com, retriieved 10-02-2011
- Several people hurt in bus crash on Highway 99, www.news1130.com, retrieved 10-02-2011