|
Post by Hardy on May 16, 2008 10:10:44 GMT -8
They don't advertise it at all, but I did use that service twice last summer on forum trips. Having lived in Tsawwassen for many years of my life, I would guess that the "express" service mentioned is just a deadhead from Ladner Exchange into Downtown for that particular coach to do another run. As it is 'unadvertised' and therefore not highly utilized, the operator can still make his deadhead time even with a small scattering of pax. Note that this is strictly a discretionary thing by the operator (usually though they are some of the senior operators on those suburban routes) and if they start getting behind on their sheet for their turn-around they will stop taking on pax for the deadhead. I had plenty of occasion to ride "Not In Service" buses on their way to the garage or the next leg of their split runs. I also, as a frequent rider at the time, was able to have an 'express service' bus make an unscheduled stop on route so that I did not have to worry about making an extra transfer -- this became a problem on sick or vacation days as the relief operator would not 'play ball'. There are lots of quirks in the Translink system where there are buses running short-turn routes, or NIS to get to other legs of their sheets. Regulars/frequent riders can find these and take advantage of them, but don't ever expect Translink to acknowledge them...
|
|
|
Post by Balfour on May 16, 2008 11:10:45 GMT -8
But this is not a "Not is Service" run, The Coaches are signed as "601 Vancouver" when they go from the Terminal to Downtown.
|
|
|
Post by cohocatcher on May 16, 2008 11:11:43 GMT -8
If you go to the Translink trip planner and ask for the ferry terminal at TSA to downtown Vancouver they list three ways to do this on a Sunday evening. It is NOT secret nor discretionary.
|
|
|
Post by yvr72 on Nov 2, 2008 13:02:10 GMT -8
I think parallel passenger-only ferry is perfectly feasible if they run it from existing BC Ferries Vancouver Island terminal infrastructure to the new Waterfront Station downtown Vancouver.
The problem with this idea for new ventures has always been that using BC Ferry terminals means using BC Ferry employees and their collective agreement. So, they've gone their own way and incurred lots of extra labour and infrastructure expenses.
BC Ferries would have smaller incremental costs for operating this type of service. There would be no extra staff at terminals, and existing catering attendants/deckhands/officers could be cross-trained.
Crossing time from both Swartz Bay and Departure Bay to Waterfront Station would be 90 minutes or less on a fast ferry.
Great facilities exist at Swartz and Dep. for passenger pick up and drop off, ticket sales, waiting and food service. People would just choose which ferry they wanted and pay an extra fee for downtown service.
The problem that plagued Harbourlynx was mechanical issues. With this set-up, the regular ferry is right there as a back up. They'd just have to arrange coaches to meet the ferry in Horseshoe Bay to transfer passengers to Waterfront station.
And, at slow periods they can easily cut down on service and direct footies to the existing ferries with connecting coach service.
|
|
|
Post by Mike C on Nov 2, 2008 19:42:02 GMT -8
If you go to the Translink trip planner and ask for the ferry terminal at TSA to downtown Vancouver they list three ways to do this on a Sunday evening. It is NOT secret nor discretionary. We're not saying it's secret, we're saying it's unadvertised. What we mean by that is, it is not in the schedule nor listed on their website.
|
|