TransLink is testing the waters for the use of on routes that include long stretches between key stops 鈥� including that of the 351 and 354 in South Surrey.
A decommissioned bus fitted with a metal frame 鈥渢o simulate the profile鈥� of a double-decker made the rounds in South Surrey on Tuesday and Wednesday; it was in the Tsawwassen/Ladner area on Monday.
The runs were to identify 鈥渁reas of concern鈥� that would need to be addressed 鈥� such as low-hanging branches or cables 鈥� in advance of a pilot project anticipated for later this year, Chris Bryan, senior media adviser for TransLink, told Peace Arch News Wednesday.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at November right now,鈥� Bryan said of the pilot, noting it would use coaches on loan from manufacturer Alexander Dennis.
The double-deckers 鈥� which bring to mind the two-level red icons popular in England 鈥� are being considered as a means to improve the customer experience, Bryan said.
The standard highway coaches that currently serve the routes seat 47 passengers, and can leave rush-hour commuters standing for much of the high-demand journey.
鈥淎nybody who takes those trips knows there鈥檚 pretty high demand, for sure,鈥� Bryan said. 鈥淭he great thing about a double-decker, if you鈥檙e on a long trip, it鈥檚 pretty nice to get a seat.鈥�
Bryan said the double-deckers 鈥� which would be 鈥渕ore modern鈥� than the London Bus 鈥� have capacity for about 80 passengers.
Minutes from the July 27 Mayors鈥� Council meeting note the use of double-decker buses on specific routes was considered during discussion of a report that noted record ridership in 2016 and a 10 per cent increase in bus ridership growth south of the Fraser.
TransLink announced in July that in the first six months of 2017 over the same period of 2016, with 2.5 per cent of that on buses.
In August, it was announced that capacity would increase on three routes, including the 351, on Sept. 4.
If double-deckers are adopted to replace highway coaches on a permanent basis, Bryan said routes running them would also include the 555 that runs between 91原创鈥檚 Carvolth Exchange and Lougheed Station.
The pilot is to run for about two months, he said.
鈥淲hat we want to see is how does it work from a customer-experience perspective.鈥�
Last year, (GVHA) began operating fully electric double-decker buses on Vancouver Island.
