During each snowfall in Metro Vancouver, some of TransLink’s most problematic buses for traversing slick conditions are the articulated buses.
These are the longer 60-ft-long buses with a pivoting joint and three doors, and they are deployed on busy bus routes such as the 99 B-Line and RapidBus routes. In addition to the use of diesel-powered articulated buses, a sizeable proportion of the trolley-electric bus fleet is also articulated.
Articulated buses generally do not perform well in snow, especially on slopes, due to their uneven weight distribution. Additionally, the pivoting joint in the middle of the bus can make it more challenging to maintain control on slippery surfaces, with the rear section potentially sliding or jackknifing due to a loss of traction.
As well, when it comes to snow performance, another problematic feature of most articulated buses is that they use rear-wheel drive axles, with the powered wheels that propel the motion of the bus located at the back of the vehicle. This can make it difficult for an articulated bus to gain sufficient traction in slick conditions, especially when the back section is lighter than the front section.
New TransLink articulated bus in use on the No. 2 Dunbar Loop/Macdonald/Downtown bus route. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
For this reason, TransLink has acquired new articulated buses with dual-wheel drive axles — articulated buses with not only the standard rear-wheel drive axles, but also centre-wheel drive axles.
With two sets of wheels propelling the vehicle’s motion, including the additional centre-wheel drive axle next to where the pivoting joint is located, these new articulated buses are expected to provide better traction, stability, and steering control.
In an announcement today, TransLink states these new articulated buses will be used specifically on steep, slipper areas of the region.
This winter, 16 newly acquired articulated buses with dual-wheel drive axles — a first for TransLink’s bus fleet — are being deployed.
Upon inquiry, TransLink spokesperson Dan Mountain told Daily Hive Urbanized these buses were ordered as replacement vehicles earlier this year, and this was the entire order, with the intent to test how effective the technology is before ordering more.
Currently, some of the most problematic areas for articulated buses are the steep West 10th Avenue hill west of Alma Street in Vancouver, which is a key segment for the 99 B-Line route toward the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus, and the steep road terrain up Burnaby Mountain to reach the Simon Fraser University (SFU) campus.
TransLink’s R5 Hastings Street RapidBus operating in snowfall. (EJ Nickerson/Shutterstock)
In recent years, during significant snowfall, TransLink strategically switched out the use of articulated buses for the 40-ft-long two-door buses, given that these shorter buses have better traction performance.
It operated the “UBC Snow Shuttle” using the 40-ft buses between UBC bus exchange and the intersection of Alma Street and West Broadway, where the 99 B-Line route would terminate and short-turn during the snow-mode operations to avoid the West 10th Avenue hill.
Articulated buses may also be switched to the 40-ft buses to better traverse Burnaby Mountain to reach SFU, with these shuttle buses replacing the R5 Hastings Street RapidBus and No. 144 SFU/Metrotown, for example.
A TransLink No. 145 articulated bus stuck on slick roads during snowfall at SFU Burnaby Mountain. (Colin Fowler/Submitted)
A TransLink No. 145 articulated bus stuck on slick roads during snowfall at SFU Burnaby Mountain. (Colin Fowler/Submitted)
Additionally, another key change for TransLink’s winter weather operations this winter is the increased use of winter-grade bus tires.
Up to 600 buses, about 100 more than in 2023, will be equipped with Michelin Grip D tires on key bus routes. Such tires have a deeper tread pattern and carry the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating, which is the highest winter rating available for bus tires. According to the public transit authority, their previous testing of the Michelin Grip D tires show they perform effectively in snowy and rainy conditions.
While traction performance is a key consideration for TransLink buses in winter weather, the focus shifts to passenger comfort inside the buses during sweltering summer weather.
Since 2012, air conditioning has been a standard for TransLink’s procurement of new buses for fleet expansion and retirements. The proportion of buses with air conditioning reached 50% in 2021, and it is expected to further rise to 90% by 2026 and 100% by 2028.