TransLink is commemorating 75 years of trolly bus services in Vancouver, B.C., with the release of a new limited-edition Mini-Trolley Compass keychain and free tours riding one of city's first trolley buses on Aug. 16, the day of the 75th anniversary.
Trolley buses have been a familiar sight in Vancouver for the past 75 years. Since their first appearance in 1948, trolley buses have been providing vital zero-emission transit services to Vancouverites. Currently, more than100,000 zero-emission transit trips are taken on trolley buses every weekday. By running trolley buses instead of conventional diesel buses, more than 18,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions are saved every year, leading to less pollution and cleaner air.
Mini-Trolley Compass keychains
- Each Mini-Trolley Compass keychain works to tap at fare gates and on buses, just like a Compass Card.
- Each bus can be loaded with rider's favorite Compass pass or stored value and the headlights light up when tapped on a reader.
Trolley bus facts and history
- Vancouver is the only city in Canada with trolley bus service.
- With 262 buses, TransLink has the second largest trolley bus fleet in Canada and the U.S.
- Vancouver’s first trolley bus went into service on Aug. 16, 1948. It was operated by BC Electric Railway Company.
- The first trolley bus was a Canadian Brill T-44, which was built in Thunder Bay Ontario at the Canadian Car and Foundry bus manufacturing plant. The vehicles had a 140-horsepower motor and drew 550 volts of power from overhead wires.
- The first trolley bus route was called the Fraser-Cambie. It started service at Queen Elizabeth Park, went over the Cambie Street Bridge, through Chinatown and down to Marine Drive and Fraser Avenue.
- The last brill trolley bus was retired in August of 1976 after 28 years serving Vancouver streets. A total of 364 Brill Trolleys were in service over that period.
“For 75 years, trolley buses have shaped the transit landscape of Metro Vancouver. Trolley buses have delivered zero-emissions transportation options for generations of Metro Vancouverites and are a key part of regional climate action," said Kevin Quinn, TransLink CEO.
"Vancouver’s trolley bus system has been connecting people to the community for 75 years. This extraordinary milestone demonstrates the importance of public transit to the well-being of a city. We will continue to partner with local governments to ensure that as Vancouver continues to grow, it has the means to connect its residents to their workplace, to their neighborhood, and to one another," said Sean Fraser, Canada's minister of housing, infrastructure and communities.
