A Guide to Vancouver Public Transit: Buses, SkyTrain, SeaBus & More

Vancouver public transit is run by a regional transportation authority, TransLink, which integrates buses, rapid transit and passenger ferries to provide coverage over the Greater Vancouver Area. This system connects from West Vancouver in the north to as far south as Tsawwassen and White Rock all the way to Pitt Meadows in the east. The West Coast Express even brings in commuters from as far out as Mission.

Learning to get around Vancouver is all about learning where the major public transit conduits run through the city, and how to get to them easily. These include the Vancouver SkyTrain Lines, SeaBus, West Coast Express Trains and the B-Line express Vancouver bus routes.

These major transit routes are fed by a bus system with plenty of bus stops spread over Greater Vancouver, with 85%* of residents having a bus stop within 400 metres of their home.

Vancouver Public Transit Overview

› Vancouver SkyTrain Lines
› Vancouver SeaBus
› B-Line Express Vancouver Buses
› Other Express Buses in Vancouver
› Night-time Vancouver Buses
› The West Coast Express (WCE)
› HandyDART

Using Vancouver Public Transit

› Transit Fares
› Checking Vancouver Transit Schedules
› Vancouver Park & Rides
› Vancouver Public Transit Safety & Etiquette
› Bikes on Vancouver Public Transit


Vancouver SkyTrain Lines

The Vancouver public transit system has three high capacity SkyTrain routes that run throughout the region and connect in downtown Vancouver. These include the Expo Line, Millennium Line and the Canada Line. The three SkyTrain lines act in concert with the B-Line express Vancouver bus routes to make mass transit one of the easiest ways to commute to and from the downtown core.

Expo Line: Runs from Waterfront station in downtown Vancouver out to King George station in Surrey crossing through the cities of New Westminster and Burnaby.

Millennium Line: An expansion of the original Expo Line extending SkyTrain service with an additional loop through north Burnaby.


Expo Line/Millennium Line SkyTrain Frequency

Time of day	Expo Line	Millennium Line	Combined Service
Peak Hours	Every 2-4 min.	Every 5-6 min.	Every 2-3 min.
Mid-day & evenings	Every 6 min.	Every 6 min.	Every 3 min.
Late night	Every 8-10 min.	Every 8-10 min.	Every 4-5 min.
Saturday & Sunday	Every 6-8 min	Every 6-8 min	Every 3-4 min.

Canada Line: Runs from Waterfront station in downtown Vancouver south to Richmond where it splits, connecting to Vancouver’s International Airport (YVR) and continuing down to Richmond Centre station.


Canada Line SkyTrain Frequency

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Vancouver SeaBus

Vancouver is connected to the North Shore on the other side of the Burrard Inlet by the SeaBus, a passenger ferry. There is one terminal in downtown Vancouver’s Waterfront Station, which connects to the SkyTrain, West Coast Express, and regular buses. The second terminal, Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver, connects to an extensive network of North Shore buses.


Vancouver SeaBus Frequency

Departing Waterfront		Departing Lonsdale Quay
Monday – Friday		Monday – Friday
6:16am-7:46pm	Every 15 min.	6:02am-7:32pm	Every 15 min.
7:46pm-12:46am	Every 30 min.	7:32pm-12:32am	Every 30 min.
Then last sailing at 1:22am		Then last sailing at 1:00am
Saturday		Saturday
6:16am-10:16am	Every 30 min.	6:02am-10:02am	Every 30 min.
10:16am-6:46pm	Every 15 min.	10:02am-6:32pm	Every 15 min.
6:46pm-12:46am	Every 30 min.	6:32pm-12:32am	Every 30 min.
Then last sailing at 1:22am		Then last sailing at 1:00am
Sunday/Holiday		Sunday/Holiday
8:16am-10:16am	Every 30 min.	8:02am-10:02am	Every 30 min.

10:16am-6:46pm	Every 15 min.	10:02am-6:32pm	Every 15 min.
6:46pm-11:16pm	Every 30 min.	6:32pm-11:02pm	Every 30 min.

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B-Line Express Vancouver Buses

There are numerous express buses in the Greater Vancouver area, but important ones are the 99 and 97 B-line buses. The B-line buses are rapid transit lines that run at increased intervals during peak times and have limited stops.

97 B-line. Connects Coquitlam Central Station on the West Coast Express to the Lougheed Town Centre on the SkyTrain Millennium line. The bus route serves Burnaby, Port Moody and Coquitlam and is an important link for the east side of Metro Vancouver.

99 B-line. Connects the University of British Columbia to Commercial/Broadway SkyTrain station. It runs along Broadway, a major east-west thoroughfare in the city of Vancouver.

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Other Express Buses in Vancouver

There are number of express buses that run between major population centres during peak rush hour times. These buses often have less capacity, fewer stops and use the highways. Some of them connect with more distant areas that aren’t connected by the major transit lines.


Night-time Vancouver Buses

There are 12 night bus routes, which offer limited bus service after 1:00am. These routes are designated by an ‘N’ before their number. In the interests of safety, bus drivers are usually willing to drop people off between normal bus stops so they don’t have to walk as far in the dark. If you want to do this, ask your driver when you first get on and sit close to the front so he or she doesn’t forget.

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The West Coast Express (WCE)

The West Coast Express (WCE) is a Monday-to-Friday commuter rail service operating during peak rush-hour times. It runs from Mission to Waterfront station in Downtown Vancouver. The WCE stops at the following stations, in order from east to west: Mission City, Port Haney, Maple Meadows, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam Central, Port Moody, and Waterfront (downtown Vancouver). On the weekends, a TrainBus service runs the same route, at a reduced schedule using highways and coach buses.

WCE Schedule

Weekday (Mon. to Fri.) Westbound Schedule
Departing Mission City	5:25am	5:55am	6:25am	6:55am	7:25am
Arriving at Waterfront	6:40am	7:10am	7:40am	8:10am	8:40am
Weekday (Mon. to Fri.) Eastbound Schedule
Departing Waterfront	3:50pm	4:20pm	4:50pm	5:30pm	6:20pm
Arriving at Mission City	5:05pm	5:35pm	6:05pm	6:45pm	7:35pm

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HandyDART

HandyDART is a door-to-door, shared-ride service for people with physical or cognitive disabilities who are unable to use public transit without assistance. All HandyDART vehicles are designed to carry passengers with disabilities.

The lifts on HandyDART vehicles can accommodate wheelchairs, scooters, etc, that can fit within the following measurements: 94 cm wide by 122 cm long, weighing up to 364kg with the chair/scooter occupied and including the HandyDART driver.

HandyDART operates two types of services. One is a subscription service for passengers that take regular trips either daily or weekly. The other service is an on-demand service for one-time trips. Both services pick up passengers at their residence and drop them off at their destination. Call 604-575-6600 to book a trip.

No pets are allowed on HandyDART, except assistance animals like guide dogs.

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Transit Fares

Greater Vancouver is divided into 3 zones. Tickets are valid for 90 minutes within the purchased zone(s), and can be used on SkyTrain, SeaBus and regular buses. You need to purchase your fare based on how many zones you’re crossing. 1-zone passes are for travelling within a single zone. 2-zone passes are for traveling from one zone into another. 3-zone passes are for when you start in one zone, pass through a second zone, and finish in a third zone. For more on prices and different types of fares and ways to save money, read Vancouver Bus Fares, Tickets, & Monthly Pass Prices.

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Checking Vancouver Transit Schedules

All Vancouver transit schedules are posted on TransLink’s website. Specific route stop times are also posted at major stops.

You can also use your phone to get Vancouver Transit Schedule information. You can call the phone number that is listed on the bus stop and follow the automated system prompts to find schedule times.

If you have Web browsing on your phone, go to m.translink.ca and enter the stop number that’s listed in the upper left corner of the sign in the box. The site will provide the next scheduled times for the buses that stop.

You can also send a text message to 33333 with your bus stop number. You’ll then receive times for the next six buses. If you want the schedule for a specific bus, add a space after the stop number and enter the bus number.

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Vancouver Park & Rides

Throughout the Greater Vancouver Area, there are Park & Ride locations. These places offer inexpensive or free parking next to major transit hubs. It’s a great way to connect to main transit lines without having to worry about connecting bus routes. Prices, number of parking spots, and hours of operation vary based on the Park & Ride, and unless otherwise noted, none offer overnight parking.


Vancouver Public Transit Safety & Etiquette

With such a large transit system, TransLink has made great efforts to ensure passenger safety. They even have their own police force. You can read more about it in A Guide to Transit Safety. They also have a number of standard etiquette practices to make everyone’s rides safer and more comfortable. See A Guide to Transit Etiquette for details.


Bikes on Vancouver Public Transit

Mass transit in Vancouver is very bike friendly. If you plan to use your bike as part of your transit commute, read Bikes on Public Transit in Vancouver.

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*Statistic supplied by TransLink.