Free public transit in Metro Vancouver on New Year's Eve

Are you going to a party or watching the midnight fireworks in downtown Vancouver? All public transit travel in Metro Vancouver on New Year’s Eve will be conveniently free for everyone to use.

The free rides on all services will begin at 5 p.m. on December 31, 2015 and end at 5 a.m. on January 1, 2016.

Buses will operate on their normal weekday schedules, and additional capacity will be added on some routes with extra evening and late-night trips after normal service schedules.

As well, both SkyTrain (Canada, Expo, and Millennium lines) and SeaBus services will be extended by one hour. The last trains and ferry will depart Waterfront Station just after 2 a.m. Trains will also be operating more frequently to accommodate the New Year’s Eve party and fireworks crowds.

The free transit service provides revellers with the ability to avoid going behind the wheel, particularly after ringing in 2016 with some celebratory drinks.

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Celebrations at the free downtown Vancouver waterfront festival begin at 6 p.m. and includes live music and entertainment, food trucks, sponsor activities, and a kids zone. There will be two high-aerial fireworks display launched from a barge in Coal Harbour: a 3-minute Early Eve Fireworks Countdown for families with young children at 9 p.m. followed by a more spectacular 11-minute Midnight Fireworks Countdown at the stroke of midnight.

Image: New Year’s Eve Vancouver

On New Year’s Day, January 1, 2016, transit services will operate on a Sunday/holiday schedule basis: a one-zone ticket is only needed for any travel across all zones and services. However, West Coast Express trains and TrainBus service will not operate on New Year’s Day.

As well, beginning on the first day of the New Year, the Compass Card is required for monthly passes. Paper transit passes will be discontinued after the current December 2015 issue.

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Free Transit on New Year’s Eve 2016

Free transit fares start at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2015 and go until 5 a.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2016.

• Bus service will run usual weekday schedules with some routes running additional evening/late-night trips after their normal schedules.
• SkyTrain will operate more frequent evening trains and will extend service by approximately one hour:
  • The last Millennium Line train to VCC-CLark will depart Waterfront Station at 2:16 a.m.
  • The last Expo Line train to King George will depart Waterfront Station at 2:20 a.m.
  • The final Canada Line train will depart Waterfront Station at 2:05 a.m. towards YVR-Airport Station and 2:15 a.m. towards Richmond-Brighouse Station
• SeaBus will extend service by about one hour with the last sailing departing from Lonsdale Quay at 2 a.m. and departing from Waterfront Station at 2:20 a.m.
• West Coast Express afternoon trains depart from Waterfront Station at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:20 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. All TrainBus trips will depart at their regular times with the exception of the 12:55 p.m. TrainBus.

New Year’s Eve 2016 Late Night Bus Schedule