TransLink equips 100 more buses with new winter tires (2024)

More transit buses will be equipped with newer-model winter-rated tires this season as part of TransLink’s efforts to make sure Metro Vancouver’s transit system doesn’t freeze up when winter storms arrive.

Article content

Article content

On Thursday, TransLink said 100 more buses will be equipped with Michelin Grip D tires on key routes, bringing the total to 600 buses, or roughly more than a third of its entire fleet.

Article content

All Coast Mountain Bus Co. buses already use winter-rated tires with the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol, the highest winter rating available for buses, said TransLink.

Last season, it switched 500 of its buses to the new tires, which were new to market and have a more aggressive tread pattern, after a trial run on Mount Seymour in the spring showed the new tires worked well.

TransLink said it will continue to evaluate the tires’ performance.

Heavy snowfall and icy temperatures have caused significant disruptions to TransLink’s operations in recent winters, paralyzing buses and stranding passengers.

As part of its winter preparedness tactics, TransLink also plans to add 16 new articulated buses with dual-drive axles.

Standard articulated buses are equipped with rear-drive axles and are more difficult to manoeuvre and control in snowy, slippery conditions.

The new buses will also have centre-drive axles that’ll provide better traction, stability and steering control, said TransLink. They will be deployed to routes with steep hills.

On other hilly routes, articulated buses with only rear-drive axles will be replaced with conventional 40-foot buses when it snows.

In addition to the tires and new buses, TransLink said it will co-ordinate with municipalities on snow-clearing on priority routes, use anti-icing solution on overhead trolley lines, and use brass cutters on some buses to prevent ice buildup on wires.

SkyTrain also uses de-icer trains to keep power rails free from buildup and runs trains overnight to prevent snow from sticking to the tracks.

It assigns SkyTrain workers at the front of trains to limit emergency braking triggered by heavy snowfall and on platforms to clear ice and snow build-up on SkyTrain doors.

chchan@postmedia.com

Article content