Just days after its business and operational plans were approved by TransLink, a new private, direct, express bus service between Surrey and the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus is now up and running.

The privately-operated Beyond-Shuttle (BS) service uses brand new small bus vehicles, similar to model of bus that TransLink uses for its community shuttles, but they come with creature comforts such as leather seats with seat belts and in-seat TV screens for onboard entertainment and free Wi-Fi.

Backpacks, luggage, and other belongings can be kept on the overhead racks above the seats.

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Riders must use the service’s free smartphone app – available on both iOS and Android – to book their trip in advance. The app also includes the ability to track the location of a bus so that there is no guessing game for when it will arrive.

Each one-way trip takes about 75 minutes and costs $10.00.

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There is no standing capacity, as all passengers are seated; BS says buses are only booked up to seating capacity.

However, there are some caveats, such as a no open food or drink to prevent sticky spills and bothersome smells. The buses are also not equipped to transport bikes.

BS departs 12 times in each direction per weekday – every hour over a 12 hour period – with the service starting in Surrey from the intersection of 152 Street and Highway 10 and ending at UBC at 6088 Walt Gage Road (near the UBC Law building).

Aside from the starting and terminus points, the bus only makes stops within the following Surrey locations: 152 Street/72 Avenue, 144 Street/72 Avenue, 138 Street/72 Avenue, 128 Street,72 Avenue, 122 Street/72 Avenue, Scott Road/84 Avenue, and 112 Street/Avenue.

The route runs on the Alex Fraser Bridge, Highway 91 and Highway 99 through Richmond, Oak Street Bridge, and Southwest Marine Drive in Vancouver.

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The first westbound trip departs Surrey at 5:45 am, and the last trip is at 4:20 pm. For eastbound travel, the first trip departs UBC at 7:05 am and the last trip is at 5:45 pm.

BS is about 30 to 60 minutes faster than TransLink-operated services, which requires bus travel plus a train ride on either the Canada Line at Bridgeport Station or the Expo Line at Surrey Central Station.

The private bus is about 15 minutes slower than a car traveling on the exact same route that BS uses.

See also