This was a north-south express route connecting the Pacific Coliseum and 29th Avenue Station. Service ran during figure skating and short track speed skating events at the Pacific Coliseum during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games from February 12–28, 2010. This was part of a TransLink-operated Olympic bus network that supplemented the regular transit service, not to be confused with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic bus network operated by the Vancouver Organizing Committee. The Games Express supplemented the 16 29th Avenue Station/Arbutus and ran with New FlyerD40 units based out of Oakridge Transit Centre set aside for Olympic operations. Northbound trips ran directly to the Pacific Coliseum, stopping only at Renfrew Station for pick-up only. Southbound trips ran directly to 29th Avenue Station, stopping only at Renfrew Station for drop-off only.[1]
Games Express operations coincided with the start and finish times of events and the frequency of the service ran as-needed depending on the demand, with buses often running back-to-back in convoys as long as 10 buses. Street parking along significant portions of E. Pender Street near the Pacific Coliseum and on E. 29th Avenue at 29th Avenue Station was restricted to bus layover parking. At least two dozen buses were required for the operation of the Games Express. In the morning prior to events, two buses ran the service before increasing to 15 in the afternoon. At the end of events, 35 additional buses serviced the route.
Northbound trips departed 29th Avenue Station heading east on E. 29th Avenue, north on Nootka Street becoming Boyd Diversion and Renfrew Street, east on E. Pender Street, north on Windermere Street, and west on E. Hastings Street to a temporary terminus at E. Hastings & Renfrew Street.
Southbound trips departed from the Pacific Coliseum heading west on E. Hastings Street, south on Renfrew Street, west on E. 22nd Avenue, south on Slocan Street, and east on E. 29th Avenue to 29th Avenue Station.[2]
Renfrew Station (Bay 1 – Games Express to Coliseum) (Bay 2 – Games Express to 29th Avenue Station)
Hastings Park
Pacific Coliseum (Bay 1)
History
February 13, 2010 - Service introduced, running as a direct SkyTrain to Pacific Coliseum bus connection on the first day of short track speed skating at the Pacific Coliseum[3]
February 27, 2010 - Final day of Pacific Coliseum Olympic events
Dates of operation
Figure skating competitions were usually held as early as 4:15 p.m. until as late as 9:05 p.m. while short track speed skating events were held as early as 5:00 p.m. until as late as 8:15 p.m.
February 13: Short track speed skating (event finals)
February 14: Figure skating
February 15: Figure skating (event finals)
February 16: Figure skating
February 17: Short track speed skating (event finals)
February 18: Figure skating (event finals)
February 19: Figure skating
February 20: Short track speed skating (event finals)
February 21: Figure skating
February 22: Figure skating (event finals)
February 23: Figure skating
February 24: Short track speed skating (event finals)
February 25: Figure skating (event finals)
February 26: Short track speed skating (event finals)