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In the News: Expanded Transportation Makes Games Travel Easier
When the 2010 Winter Games begin in Vancouver next February, smooth transportation systems could make the difference between a frustrating experience and top-notch Games memories for visitors.
Moving people around and ensuring that tourists and residents alike don’t get bogged down in long lines and traffic jams will be a huge undertaking considering that Games venues and attractions are strung along a busy 120 kilometre-long corridor between Richmond and Whistler.
That’s why transportation providers – from ferries to bus lines to air carriers – are gearing up now to welcome the world to the British Columbia. Translink alone is expecting daily ridership on Lower Mainland transit to increase by 33 per cent to 1 million people during the Games period. In anticipation of the heavy traffic, the transit authority will increase capacity and hours of service to all competition and non-competition venues. It has invested $150 million to augment its fleet of electric trolleys, diesel buses and diesel-electric hybrids.
BC Ferries is also ramping up service and schedules for the Games. Reservations are now being accepted for special early and late sailings between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland between Feb.12 to Feb. 28, 2010.
The new Coastal Celebration will leave Swartz Bay at 6 a.m. daily and depart Tsawwassen at midnight for Swartz Bay. Bus service will increase to coincide with these extra sailings.
There will also be additional midnight sailings between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo and daily 11 p.m. sailings on the Langdale ferry from Horseshoe Bay.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="445" caption="Extra Ferries to Nanaimo During 2010 Olympic Games"]
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Greyhound Canada is another major transportation player anticipating full coaches travelling in and out of Vancouver next winter. The bus line is working closely with VANOC, the City of Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler to keep up to date with re-routings, road closures, access to restricted areas, and a planned pick-up/drop-off location in Whistler. As a so-called capacity-flexible carrier, Greyhound can add buses at short notice to existing routes so will be monitoring demand as the Games unfold.
Canada’s major airlines will also be boosting flights to Vancouver for the Olympic period. West Jet recently announced that it will schedule more flights from its 55-city network to the Vancouver and Abbotsford airports, bringing the number of flights to the Lower Mainland to more than 350 for the two-month period.
Air Canada plans to follow suit.
"On peak days for travel to and from the Games, we will be increasing the number of flights and size of aircraft that we'll operate," says Isabelle Arthur, a spokesperson for Air Canada. "We will also add additional non-stop services to a number of our European gateway cities."
Last summer Rocky Mountaineer Vacations announced that it had signed an agreement with brand.LIVE, an international event management company, to operate a VIP corporate hospitality train during February of 2010 on behalf of the Province of Alberta and its clients. Rocky Mountaineer will run its luxury train daily between North Vancouver and Whistler during the Games period.
With less than year left before the Games begin, transportation operators are in full planning mode for one of the busiest travel windows the West Coast has ever seen.
For more information on travelling to and around Games destinations, check out 2010DestinationPlanner.com
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Greyhound Canada is another major transportation player anticipating full coaches travelling in and out of Vancouver next winter. The bus line is working closely with VANOC, the City of Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler to keep up to date with re-routings, road closures, access to restricted areas, and a planned pick-up/drop-off location in Whistler. As a so-called capacity-flexible carrier, Greyhound can add buses at short notice to existing routes so will be monitoring demand as the Games unfold.
Canada’s major airlines will also be boosting flights to Vancouver for the Olympic period. West Jet recently announced that it will schedule more flights from its 55-city network to the Vancouver and Abbotsford airports, bringing the number of flights to the Lower Mainland to more than 350 for the two-month period.
Air Canada plans to follow suit.
"On peak days for travel to and from the Games, we will be increasing the number of flights and size of aircraft that we'll operate," says Isabelle Arthur, a spokesperson for Air Canada. "We will also add additional non-stop services to a number of our European gateway cities."
Last summer Rocky Mountaineer Vacations announced that it had signed an agreement with brand.LIVE, an international event management company, to operate a VIP corporate hospitality train during February of 2010 on behalf of the Province of Alberta and its clients. Rocky Mountaineer will run its luxury train daily between North Vancouver and Whistler during the Games period.
With less than year left before the Games begin, transportation operators are in full planning mode for one of the busiest travel windows the West Coast has ever seen.
For more information on travelling to and around Games destinations, check out 2010DestinationPlanner.com
Stay in Nanaimo and travel via the new expanded ferry system to the Olympics and save money! Staying on the island will be a lot cheaper than staying in Vancouver during the 2010 Games. Check out the Painted Turtle Guesthouse for a great accommodation option for singles, couples, families and large groups travelling together.
Article Reprint: Tourism British Columbia
Photo credit: BC Ferries
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