York Region Transit route 318/319 'Wonderland Express'

	318/319 Wonderland Express
Number of Branches		2
Types of buses used		Orion V , New Flyer D40LF
Division		Southwest (Vaughan)
Related routes		None

318/319 Wonderland Express was an express bus route operated by York Region Transit in most of York Region.

Route Details

It was a seasonal weekend service that connected Canada's Wonderland to Markham/Richmond Hill (318) and Aurora/Newmarket (319).

This route was an express route, with stops at:

• Markville Mall, Highway 7/Leslie, Richmond Hill Centre, Vaughan Corporate Centre, Vaughan Mills Mall, and Canada's Wonderland (for 318).
• Newmarket Terminal, Yonge/Wellington, and Canada's Wonderland (for 319).

Routes 318/319 connected to VIVA during the 2006 operating season only. Route 318 connected with Viva Blue at Richmond Hill Centre, Viva Purple at McCowan/Highway 7, Leslie/Highway 7, and Richmond Hill Centre, and Viva Orange at Vaughan Corporate Centre. Route 319 connected with Viva Blue at Newmarket Terminal and Wellington/Yonge.

Branches

This route had 2 main branches:

• 318 Canada's Wonderland via Highway 407
• 319 Canada's Wonderland via Highway 400

History

• 2003 - Routes 318 and 319 were introduced for the summer 2003 season as demand surfaced on a direct weekend service from all corners of the region to Canada's Wonderland. Route 318 stopped at Interchange Way (via Highway 7, Interchange Way, and Jane Street), High Tech Road (via Yonge Street, Beresford Drive, High Tech Road, and Yonge Street), and Markville Mall (via McCowan Road, Highway 7, and Kennedy Road), using Highways 400 and 407 between stops.

• June 26, 2005 - Two additional stops were introduced: one at Leslie Street/Highway 7, and in Vaughan Mills Terminal. Route 319 performed a loop, starting at Wonderland and heading north on Highway 400, east on Highway 9 through Newmarket Terminal, south on Yonge Street to stop at Yonge/Wellington, west on Wellington Street, south on Dufferin Street, west on King Road (to stop in King City), and south on Jane Street to Canada's Wonderland.

• 2006 - After its success in earlier years, 2006 turned out to be an underperforming year. Not only did the introduction of Viva lessen demand for route 318/319, but demand also lessened due to a lack of frequency for the two routes (frequency was every 4 hours). In the end, ridership only achieved a total of 1,707. Also, local YRT service into Canada's Wonderland on routes 4, 165A, and the new 20 made it easier for long-distance riders to reach the park. With this, 318 and 319 were cancelled as of the end of 2006.

Vehicles

Orion Vs provided service on most days. Rarely, D40LFs provided service when the Vs are not available for service.

Route Maps

• 
  August 2003 (318)
• 
  August 2003 (319)

Summary

Historical Stops (318)

Major Stop	Branches		Notes
	318	318
Canada's Wonderland	318	318
Vaughan Mills Terminal		318
Highway 7 @ Interchange Way	318	318
High Tech Rd. @ Yonge St.	318	318
Leslie St. @ Highway 7		318
Markville Mall	318	318

Historical Stops (319)

Major Stop	Branches	Notes
	319
Canada's Wonderland	319
Yonge St. @ Wellington St.	319
Newmarket GO Bus Terminal	319

Service Summary (318)

Period

Branch

Weekdays

Saturday

Sunday

AM Peak

Midday

PM Peak

Early Evening

Late Evening

Early AM

Day

Evening

Early AM

Day

Evening

2006

318

2005

318

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2 Trips

2 Trips

1 Trip

2 Trips

2 Trips

1 Trip

2004

318

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2 Trips

2 Trips

1 Trip

2 Trips

2 Trips

1 Trip

2003

318

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2 Trips

2 Trips

1 Trip

2 Trips

2 Trips

1 Trip

Service Summary (319)

Period

Branch

Weekdays

Saturday

Sunday

AM Peak

Midday

PM Peak

Early Evening

Late Evening

Early AM

Day

Evening

Early AM

Day

Evening

2006

319

2005

319

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2 Trips

2 Trips

1 Trip

2 Trips

2 Trips

1 Trip

2004

319

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2 Trips

2 Trips

1 Trip

2 Trips

2 Trips

1 Trip

2003

319

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

2 Trips

2 Trips

1 Trip

2 Trips

2 Trips

1 Trip