BC Transit released its holiday schedule on Monday, a schedule that show the bus service will be extending its hours during the holiday season and running into the early morning hours of New Year's Day.
From Dec. 15-20 and again on Dec. 22 and 23, bus service on routes 51-55 will be extended until 10 p.m "to accommodate late-night shoppers and holiday celebrants". While there will be no bus service at all on Christmas day, bus service in Prince Rupert will be free between 6:45 p.m. and 3:30 a.m. on New Year's Eve.
For those in Port Edward, bus service connecting to Prince Rupert will be free on New Year's Eve. Buses will depart from Prince Rupert bound for Port Edward at 6:10 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:10 p.m., 1 a.m., 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. BC Transit notes the free service is possible "with added support from the District of Port Edward".
There will be no bus service on the North Coast during regular hours on Jan. 1, with regular service resuming on Jan. 2.