TransLink Reindeer Buses 2026: How to Track One, Toys for Tots & Santa Train

Last updated: October 16, 2026. TransLink has not announced the 2026 season yet, so the details below are based on 2025 and will be updated when the announcement lands.

Most Vancouver Christmas attractions ask you to buy a ticket and pick a time slot. This one asks you to wait at a bus stop. If you have ever seen a regular TransLink bus roll past with antlers on the roof and a glowing red nose on the front, you already know why people pull out their phones. It is a small thing, and it still gets a smile out of a crowded rush-hour stop.

The Reindeer Buses are one of Metro Vancouver’s most loved low-key holiday traditions, and they come with a real cause attached: the Toys for Tots drive, which has supported the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau for four decades. Here is how it all works, how to track a bus down, where to donate, and what else TransLink runs for the season.

TransLink Reindeer Buses: Quick Facts

What Are the Reindeer Buses?

The Reindeer Buses are ordinary TransLink buses dressed up for the holidays. Volunteer transit staff, the “elves” at Coast Mountain Bus Company depots, add the antlers and red noses, and the result is a small fleet that stands out immediately on a grey December day. In 2025 the fleet had seven buses.

Because they run in regular service, there is no special stop, no booking and no queue. You catch one the same way you catch any bus. That is part of the charm, and also the catch: you cannot count on a particular route.

How to Find and Ride a Reindeer Bus

This is the part most visitors get wrong. The buses are assigned to routes through the depots, and the routes change from day to day. Waiting at one stop in the hope that a reindeer shows up can end in a cold half hour.

• Use the tracker. TransLink runs a real-time Reindeer Bus tracker at translink.ca/reindeerbus. Check it before you head out, and again when you are close to a stop, since a bus can be on the other side of the region in an hour.
• Pick a route that suits your day. If you are already commuting or heading to a holiday outing, see whether a Reindeer Bus is on your line and plan around it.
• Look for the red nose. Antlers and a bright red nose make the buses easy to spot from a distance.
• Bus spotters take note. In 2025 the fleet numbers were 909, 9683, 9540, 9543, 9798, 18330 and 21504. The 2026 lineup may differ.
• Share your photos. TransLink uses the hashtag #ReindeerBus on social media.

The fare is the normal TransLink fare for your trip. If you are traveling with kids, check the current fare rules for their age so you are not caught off guard at the farebox.

When Do the Reindeer Buses Start in 2026?

As of mid-October 2026, TransLink has not announced the season’s dates, the fleet size or the Toys for Tots deadline. For reference, here is how the last season unfolded:

• The Reindeer Buses entered service on November 25, 2025, announced the same day.
• The Toys for Tots donation deadline in 2025 was Tuesday, December 16.
• The West Coast Express Santa Train ran on Saturdays, December 6 and 13.

If 2026 follows the same rhythm, expect an announcement in the last week of November. We will update this page as soon as TransLink publishes the details.

Toys for Tots: The Tradition Behind the Buses

The antlers get the attention, but the Toys for Tots drive is the real story. It was started in 1985 by a group of TransLink bus operators, and 2025 marked its 40th anniversary. Over the years, employees from Coast Mountain Bus Company, BC Rapid Transit Company, HandyDART, West Vancouver Transit, Transit Police and TransLink offices have delivered more than 103,300 presents and over $59,000 in cash to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau.

The Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau supports families across the region during the holidays, and the gifts collected through Toys for Tots go directly to it. That is why you will often see the Reindeer Buses described as “collecting toys”: they are the fun face of a drive that quietly delivers tens of thousands of gifts.

Where to Donate Toys

Based on the 2025 program, new, unwrapped toys were accepted at three TransLink locations:

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

A few practical points if you are donating:

• Toys must be new and unwrapped. This is the rule TransLink sets for every drop-off location, so skip the gift wrap.
• Locations and the deadline can change. The 2025 deadline was December 16. Check TransLink’s announcement for the 2026 list before you go out of your way.
• Cash donations count too. TransLink has accepted cash donations alongside toys in the past, so check the current options if toys are not practical for you.
• Think of the whole age range. Gifts for teens are often the hardest to fill, so a gift card or a teen-appropriate toy is a thoughtful choice if you are not sure what to bring.

West Coast Express Santa Train

Alongside the Reindeer Buses, TransLink runs a once-a-year Santa Train on the West Coast Express. In 2025 it ran on two Saturdays, December 6 and 13, between Mission City and Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver.

• How it works: Families get a free West Coast Express return ticket by donating a new, unwrapped toy or a cash donation. Each donation covers one ticket.
• 2025 timing: The train left Mission City at 10:00 AM, arrived at Waterfront Station at 11:15 AM, and made the return trip at 4:00 PM.
• Where the donations go: SHARE Family and Community Services in the Tri-Cities, the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society, and the Christmas Bureau in Mission.
• 2026 details: Not announced yet. The West Coast Express schedule is posted at translink.ca/wce.

The Santa Train is a seasonal event with a limited schedule, so if it is on your list, plan around the specific Saturdays once they are posted.

TransLink Holiday Merchandise

If you want a souvenir, TransLink sells holiday items through its online store at translinkstore.ca. In 2025 the Reindeer Bus line included a sweater, a scarf and a toque. Stock and designs change each year, so check the store for what is available in 2026.

Tips for Riders and Families

• Do not plan your whole day around one bus. Routes change daily, so treat a Reindeer Bus ride as a bonus on a trip you were making anyway.
• Check the tracker twice. Once before you leave, and once at the stop.
• Pick your timing for kids. A short ride is plenty for younger children, and a Reindeer Bus is a good excuse for a Saturday outing on transit.
• Bring a toy if you can. If you are passing Waterfront Station, Commercial-Broadway Station or Lonsdale Quay anyway, dropping off a toy takes a minute.
• Dress for waiting. Metro Vancouver in December is damp. A raincoat or a good umbrella matters more than a festive sweater.

Accessibility

TransLink’s regular buses are low-floor and designed to be accessible for riders using wheelchairs and strollers, and the Reindeer Buses run as normal buses in regular service. TransLink’s announcements do not spell out accessibility details for individual holiday events, so if you have a specific need, contact TransLink Customer Information before you plan a trip around the Santa Train or a donation drop-off.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the TransLink Reindeer Buses start in 2026?

The 2026 dates have not been announced. In 2025, the buses entered service on November 25. TransLink usually announces the season in late November.

How much does it cost to ride a Reindeer Bus?

Standard TransLink fares apply. There is no extra charge, and no special ticket is needed.

How do I find a Reindeer Bus?

Use the real-time tracker at translink.ca/reindeerbus. Routes change daily, so check it before you go and again at your stop.

How many Reindeer Buses are there?

There were seven in 2025. The 2026 number has not been announced.

What is the Toys for Tots program?

It is a holiday drive run by TransLink and its partner organizations to collect new toys and cash donations for the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau. It began in 1985 and marked its 40th anniversary in 2025.

Where can I donate toys?

In 2025, toys were accepted at the TransLink Customer Service Centre at Waterfront Station, the SkyTrain Customer Assistance Counter at Commercial-Broadway Station, and the Lonsdale Quay SeaBus Terminal. Confirm the 2026 locations once TransLink announces them.

What is the West Coast Express Santa Train?

It is an annual Saturday train service between Mission City and Waterfront Station. Riders get a free return ticket in exchange for a new, unwrapped toy or a cash donation.

Are the Reindeer Buses accessible?

They are regular TransLink buses in normal service. If you have specific accessibility needs, contact TransLink before you travel.

Sources: TransLink Reindeer Bus page; TransLink news release, November 2025; The Buzzer, TransLink’s official blog.