Victoria Regional Transit System
The Victoria Regional Transit System is the public transit provider in Greater Victoria, Sidney and Sooke in British Columbia, formerly known as the Capital Region Transit System Transit service levels, routes, fares, and budget are determined by the Victoria Regional Transit Commission. Management for whole system and operations are provide by BC Transit with input from Victoria Regional Transit Commission. The regular service is provided by BC Transit; while, HandyDart systems are contracted out to First Transit.
History of the Victoria system
- National Electric Tramway and Lighting Company begins streetcar service on 22 February 1890. [1]
- Company renamed Victoria Electric Railway and Lighting Company Limited on 06 April 1894.[2]
- Bought by Consolidated Railway Company (owner of Mainland systems) 01 May 1896.[3]
- Streetcar involved in Collapse of Point Ellice Bridge on May 26, 1896, killing 55 passengers. Consolidated Railway Company forced into Bankrupcy as a result
- British Columbia Electric Railway Company purchases franchises systems and fleet on 15 April 1897[4]
- Blue Line Transit begins operating motor bus service between Victoria and Oak Bay in 1928.
- Vancouver Island Coach Lines begins urban transit operations between Saanich and Victoria late 1920s.
- BCER begins its motor bus route in 1928,
- BCER demonstrates trolley bus technology in 1945, Motor buses are ultimately chosen to replace the street car system.
- First Post war delivery of CCF/Brill gas buses arrives in 1946.
- BCER buys Blue Line Transit franchise, routes and fleet Sept.1946. [5]
- Last Street Car service in 1948.
- BCER buys VICL's Saanich transit routes in 1949; BCER operation of routes commences Spring 1950.
- BCER bought by provincial Government and renamed BC Hydro and Power Authority on 30 March, 1962, transit operations rebranded as BC Hydro[6]
- Victoria system becomes Capital Region Transit System on Sept.1, 1973. [7]
- first major service expansion since early post war era with introduction of fastBUS routes 927 Gordon Head, 928 Majestic and 26 Crosstown and 28 Majestic local routes in Feb. 1974
- 919 Carey and 930 Douglas fastBUS routes introduced Dec. 1975; 919 discontinued in 1977.
- Rural commuter services formerly operated by private operators South West Coach Lines (Western Communities and Sooke) and Pacific Commuter Ltd(Cordova Bay and Saanich Peninsula) are taken over by provincially owned Vancouver Island Transit Ltd in 1975, operated under contract by BC Hydro
- BC Hydro operates system under contract to CRTS Sept 1, 1973-March 30, 1980[8]
- BC Hydro Fleet and facilities transferred to Urban Transit Authority on April 1 1980. [9]
- Major service expansion to Saanich Peninsula and Western Communities. replacing VITL services in January 1981.
- CRTS renamed Victoria Regional Transit System on 01 April 1983. [10]
- Metro Transit Operating Company operations merged into BC Transit in 1985. [11]
- First 40' Low Floor buses in North America introduced in 1992.
- provided extra transit services for 1994 Commonwealth Games using equipment loaned from Lower Mainland and Provincial systems.
- First North American system to operate Dennis Trident 3 axle Double Decker Buses in 2000.
Transit Centres
- Victoria Transit Centre - 520 Gorge Rd E, Victoria, BC V8W 2P3. This Transit Centre is charge of routes in Victoria, UVic, Esquimalt, Oak Bay and Saanich Peninsula. This Transit Centre is main transit centre for BC Transit while they can do major repair or mid life rebuilds on all buses across the Province of British Columbia excluding the Metro Vancouver buses which are owned by TransLink. Head office for BC Transit is also operated out of here.
- Langford Transit Centre - 1000 Henry Eng Pl, Langford, BC V9B 6B2. In charge of routes operating on the South Shore.
- Saanich Transit Centre - 4206 Commerce Cir, Victoria, BC V8Z 6N6. This Transit Centre is HandyDart maintenance and operator dispatch which operated by First Transit. Plans are in work to covert this facility into third Conventional Transit Systems garage.
Routes
Victoria, UVic, Esquimalt & Oak Bay
- 1 South Oak Bay / Downtown
- 2 James Bay / South Oak Bay / Willows
- 3 James Bay / Royal Jubilee
- 4 UVic / Downtown
- 6 Royal Oak Exchange / Downtown
- 7 UVic / Downtown
- 8 Interurban / Tillicum Centre / Oak Bay
- 9 Royal Oak Exchange / UVic
- 10 James Bay / Royal Jubilee
- 11 Tillicum Centre / UVic
- 12 University Heights / UVic
- 13 Ten Mile Point / UVic
- 14 Victoria General / UVic
- 15 Esquimalt / UVic
- 16 Uptown / UVic
- 17 Cedar Hill
- 21 Interurban / Downtown
- 22 Victoria General / Hillside Centre
- 24 Cedar Hill / Admirals Walk
- 25 Maplewood / Admirals Walk
- 26 Dockyard / UVic
- 27 Gordon Head / Downtown
- 28 Majestic / Downtown
- 30 Royal Oak Exchange / Downtown
- 31 Royal Oak Exchange / Downtown
- 32 Cordova Bay / Royal Oak Exchange
- 35 Ridge
- 39 Westhills / Interurban / Royal Oak / UVic
West Shore
- 43 Royal Roads via Belmont Park
- 46 Dockyard / Westhills
- 47 Goldstream Meadows / Downtown
- 48 Happy Valley / Downtown
- 50 Langford / Downtown
- 51 Langford / UVic
- 52 Colwood Exchange / Bear Mountain
- 53 Colwood Exchange / Langford via Atkins
- 54 Metchosin
- 55 Happy Valley
- 56 Thetis Heights / Langford Exchange
- 57 Thetis Heights / Langford Exchange
- 58 Goldstream Meadows
- 59 Triangle Mountain
- 60 Wishart
- 61 Sooke / Langford / Downtown
- 63 Otter Point
- 64 East Sooke
- 65 Sooke / Downtown via Westhills
Saanich Peninsula
- 70 Swartz Bay / Downtown via Highway 17
- 71 Swartz Bay / Downtown
- 72 Swartz Bay / Downtown via Saanichton
- 75 Saanichton / Royal Oak / Downtown
- 76 Swartz Bay / UVic
- 81 Brentwood / Saanichton / Sidney / Swartz Bay
- 82 Sidney / Saanichton via Stautw
- 83 Sidney / Brentwood / Royal Oak Exchange
- 85 North Saanich
- 87 Saanichton / Sidney via Dean Park
- 88 Airport / Sidney
Active Roster
Conventional
HandyDART
- Operations contracted to First Transit.
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2342-2344, 2347-2351, 2369, 2370, 2372-2374 |
2012 | Chevrolet/Arboc | 4500/SOM28D | GMC Duramax 6.6L | |||
2346 | 2012 | Mercedes-Benz | Sprinter MiniBus | ||||
2399, 2429, 2431, 2440-2441 | 2013 | Chevrolet/Arboc | 4500/SOM28D | GMC Duramax 6.6L | |||
2450 | 2011 | Mercedes-Benz | Sprinter MiniBus | ||||
2455-2456, 2458-2459, 2478-2481, 2483, 2536-2537, 2541-2549, 2555 |
2014 | Chevrolet/Arboc | 4500/SOM28D | GMC Duramax 6.6L | |||
2558, 2561-2562, 2611-2614, 2616 |
2015 | Chevrolet/Arboc | 4500/SOM28D | GMC Duramax 6.6L | |||
2631-2636 | 2016 | Chevrolet/Arboc | 4500/SOM28D | GMC Duramax 6.6L | |||
2688-2700 | 2020 | Chevrolet Girardin |
4500 Micro Bird/G5 |
Vortec 6.0L | |||
2757-2773 | 2021 | Chevrolet Girardin |
4500 Micro Bird/G5 |
Vortec 6.0L |
On order
Conventional fleet
Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(15) | Grande West | Vicinity 30' CNG | Cummins B6.7N | Voith DIWA.6 |
HandyDart
Fleet number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(17) | 2021 | Chevrolet Girardin |
4500 MBC-II |
Vortec 6.0L |
Leased/Demonstrator Roster
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission/Power Delivery System | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7118 | 1997 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins C8.3 | Allison B400R | ||
7119 | 1998 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins C8.3 | Allison B400R |
| |
7120 | 1998 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins C8.3 | Allison B400R | ||
7122 | 1997 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins C8.3 | Allison B400R | ||
7130 | 2009 | Yaxing | JS6830GHDP | Cummins ISB | ZF 6HP504C |
| |
7132 | 2013 | New Flyer | MiDi 35' | Cummins ISB6.7 | Allison B300R |
| |
9092 | 2016 | BYD | K9 | BYD TYC90A 180 kW | BYD FADMD7315 Lithium iron phosphate batteries |
| |
9601 | 2008 | New Flyer | H40LFR | Siemens ELFA 85 kW | Ballard HD6 150 kW fuel cell hybrid system |
|
Transferred/Retired Roster
Conventional
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0104-0107 0110 0112 |
2001 | TransBus | Dart SPD (35')/Pointer 2 | Cummins ISB | Voith D823.3E |
| |
0221-0230 0236-0237 |
2002 | TransBus | Dart SPD (35')/Pointer 2 | Cummins ISB | Voith D823.3E |
| |
600-609 | 1990 | OBI | Orion V 05.501 |
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison HTB-748 |
| |
610 | 1991 | OBI | Orion V 05.501 |
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.3 |
| |
746-753 | 1963 | GMDD | TDH-4519 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71 | Allison VH |
| |
754-761 | 1965 | GMDD | TDH-4519 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71 | Allison VH |
| |
762-771 | 1966 | GMDD | TDH-4519 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH |
| |
772-779 | 1969 | GMDD | T6H-4521 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH |
| |
780-781 | 1970 | GMDD | T6H-4521 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
782-784 | 1970 | GMDD | T6H-4521 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH |
| |
785-789 | 1972 | GMDD | T6H-4523N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
787-793 | 1976 | GMDD | T6H-4523N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH9 |
| |
790-799 | 1973 | GMDD | T6H-4523N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
800-816 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
817-826 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
827-831 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
832-834 | 1976 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
835-836 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
837-865 | 1981 | GMDD | T6H-5307N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison V730 |
| |
866-879 | 1982 | GMDD | T6H-5307N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison V730 |
| |
900 | 1963 | GMC | TDH-5303 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH9 |
| |
902-904 906-907 909 911 |
1964 | GMC | TDH-5303 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH9 |
| |
920-928 | 1988 | MCI | TC40-102N Classic |
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V731 | ||
929-940 | 1989 | MCI | TC40-102N Classic |
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V731 | ||
941-956 | 1991 | MCI | TC40-102N Classic |
Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison VR731 | ||
950-953 | 1967 | GMC | SDM-5302 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 8V71N | Spicer 4-speed manual |
| |
954-955 | 1968 | GMC | S8M-5303A New Look |
Detroit Diesel 8V71N | Spicer 4-speed manual |
| |
956-958 | 1964 | GMC | SDH-5302 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VH9 |
| |
959-960 | 1965 | GMC | SDM-5302 New Look |
6V71N | Spicer 4 speed manual |
| |
961 | 1966 | GMC | SDM-5302 New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Spicer 4 speed manual |
| |
959-962 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
963-967 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
968-972 | 1974 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
973-975 | 1976 | GMDD | T6H-5308N New Look |
Detroit Diesel 6V71N | Allison VS2-6 |
| |
4058 4060-4061 |
2017 | Grande West | Vicinity 30' | Cummins B6.7 | Voith D864.6 |
| |
4400 | File:BCTransit 4400 3.JPG | 2017 | Grande West | Vicinity 35' | Cummins B6.7 | Voith D864.6 |
|
4456-4458 | 2018 | Grande West | Vicinity 35' | Cummins B6.7 | Voith D864.6 |
| |
6000 6002-6004 6006-6012 |
2017 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins L9 | Voith D864.5 | ||
8001-8009 | 1991 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.3 | ||
8010-8025 | 1992 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.3 | ||
8026-8028 | 1993 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.3 | ||
8029-8033 | 1992 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Voith D863.3 | ||
8034-8048 | 1994 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 | ||
8049-8065 8070 8072, 8077-8079 8082 8084, 8086-8090 8092 |
1995 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 | ||
8095-8117 | 1996 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 |
| |
8901-8904 | 1989 | MCI | TC40-102N "Classic" | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V731 |
| |
8905-8910 | 1987 | GMDD | TC40-102N "Classic" | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V731 |
| |
8911-8915 | 1989 | MCI | TC40-102N "Classic" | Detroit Diesel 6V92TA | Allison V731 |
| |
9001-9010 | 2000 | Dennis Duple Metsec |
Trident DM5000 |
Cummins ISM | Voith D864.3E | ||
9051-9078 | 2000 | TransBus | Dart SPD (35')/Pointer 2 | Cummins ISB | Voith D823.3E |
| |
9081-9085 | 2001 | TransBus | Dart SPD (35')/Pointer 2 | Cummins ISB | Voith D823.3E | ||
9088 9090-9091 |
2000 | TransBus | Dart SPD (35')/Pointer 2 | Cummins ISB | Voith D823.3E |
| |
9102-9104 | 2005 | New Flyer | DE40LF | Cummins ISL | GM-Allison EP40 hybrid System |
| |
9211-9220 9223 |
2006 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISL | Voith D864.5 | ||
9245-9254 9261 |
2007 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISL | Voith D864.5 | ||
9319-9339, 9400-9402, 9416 | 2009 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISL | Voith D864.5 |
| |
9464, 9478-9479, 9482 | 2015 | Nova Bus | LFS | Cummins ISL9 | Voith D864.5 | ||
9702-9706 9734 9737 9746 9748 |
1996-1997 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 | ||
9750-9760 | 1995-1996 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Allison B400R |
| |
9815-9816 9818, 9820-9828 |
1998 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 | ||
9831-9839 9845-9846 9848-9852 |
1998 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 |
| |
9862-9864 9866-9868 9871 9873-9877 |
1998 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 |
| |
9881-9885 9888-9891 |
1998 | New Flyer | D40LF | Detroit Diesel Series 50 | Voith D863.3 |
Community Shuttle
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C971-C974 | 2003 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar |
| |||
2001-2006 | 2005 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar | ||||
2040, 2045, 2058-2063 |
2006 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar |
| |||
2077-2084 | 2007 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar | ||||
2122-2129, 2132-2133 | 2008 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar |
| |||
2196 | 2009 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar |
| |||
2334-2339, 2371 | 2012 | Chevrolet/Arboc | 4500/SOM28D | GMC Duramax 6.6L | |||
2401-2402, 2405-2409, 2413-2417, 2423-2424 | 2013 | Chevrolet/Arboc | 4500/SOM28D | GMC Duramax 6.6L |
| ||
2490-2495, 2502-2508, 2534-2535 | 2014 | Chevrolet/Arboc | 4500/SOM28D | GMC Duramax 6.6L |
|
HandyDART
Fleet number(s) |
Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C441-C442 | 1999 | Ford/Corbeil | E-350/? | ||||
C443-C447, C449-C455, C458 |
2000 | Ford/Corbeil | E-350/? | ||||
C460-C463 | 2001 | Ford/Corbeil | E-350/? | ||||
C927, C930, C941, C944, C946 |
2001 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar III | ||||
C464 | 2002 | Ford/Girardin | E-350/? | ||||
C467-C471 | 2003 | Ford/Corbeil | E-350/? | ||||
C991-C994 | 2005 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar | ||||
B008, B015, B017-B018 | 2005 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar | ||||
2054-2056, 2076 | 2006 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar | ||||
2102-2103, 2120 | 2007 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar | ||||
2143-2151 | 2008 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar | ||||
2228-2235 | 2009 | Ford/CBB | E-450/Polar | ||||
2301-2302, 2306-2307 | 2010 | Chevrolet/Arboc | 4500/SOM23D | GMC Duramax 6.6L | |||
2311 | 2009 | Chevrolet/Arboc | 4500/SOM28D | GMC Duramax 6.6L |
| ||
2359 | 2012 | Chevrolet/Arboc | 4500/SOM28D | GMC Duramax 6.6L |
| ||
2368 | 2012 | Mercedes-Benz | Sprinter MiniBus |
| |||
2427 | 2013 | Chevrolet/Arboc | 4500/SOM28D | GMC Duramax 6.6L |
|
References
- ↑ [[1]],All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt Victoria, British Columbia, retrieved 10-20-2018
- ↑ [[2]],All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt Victoria, British Columbia, retrieved 10-20-2018
- ↑ [[3]],All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt Victoria, British Columbia, retrieved 10-20-2018
- ↑ [[4]],All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt Victoria, British Columbia, retrieved 10-20-2018
- ↑ [[5]] Daily Colonist, page 1, Sept 5 1946, retrieved 10-20-1946
- ↑ [[6]],All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt Victoria, British Columbia, retrieved 10-20-2018
- ↑ [[7]],All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt Victoria, British Columbia, retrieved 10-20-2018
- ↑ [[8]],All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt Victoria, British Columbia, retrieved 10-20-2018
- ↑ [[9]],All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt Victoria, British Columbia, retrieved 10-20-2018
- ↑ [[10]],All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt Victoria, British Columbia, retrieved 10-20-2018
- ↑ [[11]],All-Time List of Canadian Transit Systems by David A. Wyatt Victoria, British Columbia, retrieved 10-20-2018
- ↑ [[12]],BC Transit | Masks Mandatory on Twitter: "🚌🎥 Hold on to your popcorn #YYJ, this #DoubleDecker trailer is about to get epic 🤩 @ADLbus #VictoriaBC. Retrieved 23/02/2021