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Is BC Transit and TransLink the same?

BC Transit is a Crown corporation that coordinates the delivery of public transportation across B.C. with the exception of those areas serviced by TransLink (Metro Vancouver).



No, BC Transit and TransLink are two separate entities that manage public transportation in different parts of British Columbia. TransLink is the regional authority specifically for Metro Vancouver, managing the SkyTrain, SeaBus, West Coast Express, and all bus services within the 21 municipalities of the Vancouver area. BC Transit, on the other hand, is a provincial crown corporation responsible for coordinating and funding public transit systems in all other parts of the province, including Victoria, Kelowna, Nanaimo, and over 130 other communities. While they are both public systems, they use different branding, different fare structures, and different technology. For example, while you can use a "Compass Card" to travel throughout the TransLink network in Vancouver, it is not currently compatible with the BC Transit systems in Victoria or other cities (though BC Transit has moved toward its own "Umo" digital payment system in 2026). They are distinct organizations serving different geographic "jurisdictions."

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SkyTrain is the medium-capacity rapid transit system serving the Metro Vancouver region in British Columbia, Canada.

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TransLink is responsible for various modes of transportation in the Metro Vancouver region as well as the West Coast Express, which extends into the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD).

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Established July 1998 (BC) as Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority and renamed TransLink 01 April 1999. On 01 April 1999 Coast Mountain Bus Company (originally to be Coast Mountain BusLink) assumed responsibility for bus operations in the Vancouver area, excluding the West Vancouver “Blue Buses”.

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Expo Line connects Downtown Vancouver with the cities of Burnaby, New Westminster, and Surrey. Millennium Line takes you from East Vancouver through to Burnaby and into Port Moody and Coquitlam. Canada Line travels between Downtown Vancouver, the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Richmond.

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2021): 466 diesel-electric hybrid buses. 401 low-emissions diesel buses. 299 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.

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Taking transit and don't have a Compass Card? No need to print a ticket. Save time, skip lines, and go straight to the gate! Our card readers accept contactless Interac Debit, American Express, Mastercard, and Visa credit cards along with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

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