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Media Release

Translink, July 21, 2003

Coast Mountain Bus Company, SkyTrain, SeaBus, West Vancouver Blue Bus and West Coast Express will offer extra services to English Bay during the Celebration of Light on July 30 and August 2, 6 and 9, 2003.

During the Celebration of Light there will be a number of road closures in the West End and Kitsilano. For easy access to the event, TransLink will provide the following travel-friendly options:

• Coast Mountain Bus Company will add extra buses to create extra service on strategic routes throughout the system.
• West Vancouver Blue Bus will offer extra trips to the fireworks starting at 6:30 p.m. Extra Blue Buses will return from Georgia Street at Denman Street following the show.
• SkyTrain will be running rush hour service on all event nights. Trains are expected to be especially busy mid evening, 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Early travel is advised. Augmented bus service to the West End will be available along Granville Mall. Passengers may exit the SkyTrain at Granville Station or walk from Burrard Station.

SkyTrain customers are reminded to carry proof of payment, ticket, valid pass or validated FareSaver. To avoid fare payment delays after the event, SkyTrain customers can pre-purchase their return tickets from uniformed SkyTrain staff at special fareboxes between 6 to 9 p.m. at Granville and Burrard Stations, valid until end of service. Exact change is required.

Public safety is paramount on TransLink services. Again this year, TransLink Security has joined forces with Vancouver Police Department, New Westminster Police, Burnaby and Surrey R.C.M.P. to help ensure passengers have a safe and enjoyable family experience. SkyTrain passengers can be assured special attention will be given to anyone in contravention of the law. This will include consuming alcohol in a public place, being intoxicated or causing a disturbance.

Lineups are expected at all downtown stations after the event. For added safety, SkyTrain staff will be on duty to assist passengers queued outside stations. This will avoid crowding inside stations and on platforms.

As an added measure of safety, no bicycles will be permitted on SkyTrain during the four days of the Celebration of Light from 3 p.m. till closing. Cyclists will still be able to board SkyTrain between 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the two Wednesdays, and from start of service till 3 p.m. on the two Saturdays.

The following arrangements will be in effect at 10 p.m. till the end of service:

• Waterfront Station: SkyTrain passengers must access the station from Howe Street only. There will be no entrance through the CP Station on Cordova Street except for passengers with disabilities requiring elevator service to the platform.
• Burrard Station: Please queue as directed by SkyTrain staff. No access will be permitted to the Waterfront direction platform. All passengers must board eastbound trains.
• Granville Station: The Seymour Street entrance will be closed. Access to trains is from Granville Mall queuing towards Dunsmuir. The Waterfront direction platform will be closed. All passengers must board eastbound trains. Customers are reminded there is no elevator service available at Granville Station.
• SeaBus will offer sailings every 15 minutes from 6:02 a.m. till 12:16 a.m. the next morning. Service every 15 minutes will extended beyond 12:16 a.m. if passenger loads continue to be heavy. After 10 p.m., SeaBus passengers should enter Waterfront station from Cordova Street. Passengers will not be able to enter through the SkyTrain platform from Howe Street.
• West Coast Express (WCE) will run normal services during the Celebration of Light offering a special train for the finale Saturday August 9, 2003. WCE will leave Mission City at 7 p.m. calling at all stations and arrive Waterfront at 8:13 p.m. On the return journey, the train departs Waterfront at midnight calling at all stations and arriving Mission City at 1:13 a.m.

If you require further information, please call TransLink Customer Information at 604-953-3333, the West Vancouver Blue Bus at 604-985-7777 or check the web site at www.translink.bc.ca. 

Contact:

Dave Geddes
Phone: 604-453-4622 or 803-3199 (cell)

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