BC Transit's new double-decker buses begin to roll out in Victoria | Daily Hive

New double-decker bus in Victoria, March 2026. (BC Transit)

Residents in Greater Victoria are beginning to notice a new look on some of the region’s busiest bus routes, as BC Transit begins rolling out a brand new fleet of modern double-decker buses.

The first two vehicles entered service earlier this month, marking the initial rollout of a broader plan to introduce 39 new double-decker buses for the region’s public transit system.

According to the public transit authority, the new fleet will be used on higher ridership routes, such as the 95 Blink RapidBus route — which carries more than 11,000 passengers each day and links Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Saanich, and downtown Victoria — and the route linking BC Ferries’ Swartz Bay ferry terminal with downtown Victoria.

You might also like:

Each of the new buses can accommodate up to 104 passengers, with 80 seated and additional standing room on the lower level.

The vehicles also introduce a range of upgraded amenities and features intended to enhance the passenger experience. These include onboard USB charging ports at every seat, real-time tracking through BC Transit’s NextRide system, and full-colour digital screens showing route information, next stops, and service alerts.

Accessibility has also been improved, with upgraded spaces for mobility aids and clearer onboard announcements on both decks of the vehicle.

Other additions focus on safety and convenience, such as new exterior lighting that illuminates a bus stop area to improve visibility for passengers boarding and exiting the vehicle, a monitor indicating available seating on the upper deck, and bike racks capable of holding two bicycles.

BC Transit also highlighted improvements to vehicle maintenance systems and driver operations to support long-term reliability.

These vehicles are the Enviro 500 model of double-decker vehicle manufactured by Scotland-based Alexander Dennis, which is owned by Canadian bus manufacturing giant New Flyer. Alexander Dennis is internationally renowned for producing double-decker buses for major public transit systems in London and Hong Kong.

The majority of BC Transit’s incoming double-decker fleet — 29 buses — will replace older vehicles nearing the end of their service life, helping maintain consistent service levels. The remaining 10 buses will provide a net gain to the system’s capacity.

The entire new fleet of double-decker buses carries a combined total cost of nearly $76 million, with the provincial government providing $30.3 million, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission funding $24.4 million, and the federal government covering $21 million.

In 2000, BC Transit’s Victoria system became the first public transit system in North America to use double-decker buses, which were also built by Alexander Dennis. After very extensive use and growing age, the public transit authority began retiring those original double-decker buses in 2021.

TransLink’s fleet of double-decker buses are also manufactured by the same company.

BC Transit is also planning to rollout 80 battery-electric, regular-sized buses across the province by the end of 2026. The first 10 battery-electric vehicles are already in use in the Victoria region. These zero-emission buses are manufactured by New Flyer and Quebec’s Volvo-owned Nova Bus, and they will also be used in the Fraser Valley, Whistler, Sunshine Coast, Kamloops, Kelowna, and other select areas.

You might also like: