With colder, wetter weather in the Lower Mainland forecast this winter, TransLink says bus and SkyTrain operators are better prepared for lousy conditions in coming weeks and months.
Better bus tires and communications are among strategies announced by the transit authority at Surrey Transit Centre in Newton on Wednesday (Nov. 19), a day when TransLink crews were out salting and sanding roads and de-icing trolley wires to prep for colder weather ahead.
Seven of every 10 TransLink buses now have deeper-tread tires for improved traction on Lower Mainland roads — close to 500 more buses in the fleet than last year.
Testing over the past three years shows Michelin Grip D tires perform better in snowy and rainy weather, according to Shirley Samujh-Dayal, director of operations at Coast Mountain Bus Company.
“Our goal is to transition the entire fleet to those tires, and we’re moving as quickly as they supply us,” Samujh-Dayal said. “We don’t change our tires for the winter, we use winter tires all year long,” she noted.
Other winter-weather tactics employed by TransLink include spreading anti-icing solution on overhead trolley wires, using brass cutters on some trolley buses to prevent ice buildup on wires, and replacing some articulated buses with conventional 40-foot buses on some hilly routes.
For SkyTrain, staff will continue to use hockey sticks to clear ice and snow buildup on frozen doors as trains arrive on platforms.
“This was a solution that came from our maintenance team with the recognition that the curvature of the blade is actually the ideal shape for that specific job,” noted Will Steep, director of SkyTrain operations and West Coast Express at BC Rapid Transit Company.
When winter weather arrives, Steep said parts of the SkyTrain system are naturally more vulnerable to snow and ice.
“This is because so much of our network is elevated and exposed to the elements,” he said. “This differentiates us from most other typical metro systems.
“Now, having said that, SkyTrain has performed quite well during the snow, particularly over the past several years. We’re very proud of this and in the interest of maintaining that performance, we have reviewed and updated our plans. But we have a dedicated team ready to keep us moving during the winter season.”
Overnight, empty trains will run to clear snow from tracks. During the day, trains are equipped with a de-icing solution to keep the system running.
“During severe weather,” Steep added, “our fully-automated drive the system gets a little more manual. We in fact put staff on the front of those trains (to monitor) the guideway in real time. We turn off our intrusion system alarms and those staff are prepared to manually apply the braking system should it be required. Otherwise, falling clumps of snow and ice could result in the triggering of those alarms, causing engagement of the emergency break and disrupting the system.”
A rare look inside the T-comm centre at Surrey Transit Centre that controls 1,730 buses in @TransLink system.
TransLink is ready for winter with better bus tires, hockey sticks and communications.
My story: https://t.co/32NlFB0eFE via @SurreyNowLeader @thordiakow pic.twitter.com/173glEWO5w
— Tom Zillich (@TomZillich) November 18, 2025
At Surrey Transit Centre, in Newton on 132 Street, an expanded T-Comm bus control centre oversees the Coast Mountain fleet of 1,730 buses, and employs a “snow desk” when necessary.
A dedicated team facilitates “fast-paced, real-time conversations between bus operators, municipal and municipal snow-clearing dispatchers,” Samujh-Dayal explained.
“We’ll also have customer information sitting in the room so they can update all of our customer information online, routes, so customers know what’s happening,” she added. “Third, we’ll also have media staff in here, so they can communicate.”
The T-Comm centre was relatively calm Wednesday, with zero calls waiting.
“But on a busy snow day, it would be a very, very different situation, very hectic,” Samujh-Dayal added. “This is the place where operators would be calling in for any type of information, that they may be stuck in snow, they need assistance, medical emergencies, road blockages.”
TransLink’s online Winter Travel Guide includes tips for bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus, West Coast Express and HandyDART services. Riders can sign up for personalized transit alerts delivered by text message (SMS) and/or email, about disruptions, updates, or changes to transit services.
The phone service (call 604-953-3333) is available in more than 300 languages. To prepare for snowfall, riders are urged to build in extra travel time and plan commutes using Trip Planner.