Reindeer Buses and Santa Train in Vancouver

The Reindeer Buses are back this season, spreading joy to commuters around Metro Vancouver. The brightly decorated fleet, complete with antlers and red noses, enters service today, and the West Coast Express Santa Train is scheduled to run over two weekends in December.

Reindeer Buses and Santa Train in Vancouver

There’s even a Reindeer Bus Tracker!

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Toys for Tots, the long-standing tradition started in 1985 by a group of Bus Operators. Since then, it has grown and employees from Coast Mountain Bus Company, BC Rapid Transit Company, HandyDART, West Vancouver Transit, Transit Police, and TransLink offices have helped deliver more than 103,300 presents and over $59,000 to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau.

“When a Reindeer Bus pulls up to your stop, it’s impossible not to smile,” says TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn. “As we celebrate 40 years of Toys for Tots, our teams are ready to deliver even more holiday magic across Metro Vancouver, and I encourage you to help carry that spirit by making a donation to the important charities that serve families in need.”

Customers who would like to donate to Toys for Tots can drop off unwrapped toys at the following locations until Tuesday, December 16th:

• TransLink Customer Service Centre at Waterfront Station
• SkyTrain Customer Assistance Counter at Commercial–Broadway Station
• Lonsdale Quay SeaBus Terminal

West Coast Express Santa Train

The West Coast Express Santa Train returns this year for two Saturdays, on December 6 and 13. Families can ride for free by exchanging a new, unwrapped toy or cash donation for a West Coast Express return ticket on those mornings.

Donations collected through Toys for Tots will be delivered to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, while donations collected through the West Coast Express Santa Train will be delivered to SHARE Family & Community Services in the Tri-Cities, the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society, and the Christmas Bureau in Mission.