Retro Vancouver trolleys to offer hop-on, hop-off service between Penticton, Naramata
The rolling hills of Naramata will be joining the steep streets of San Francisco as a destination where locals and tourists get around by hopping on and off a trolley.
Naramata entrepreneur Savannah Swaisland purchased two trolleys from Vancouver and plans on launching the Grape Savvy Trolley Co. next month.
Both trolleys were used for public by the City of Vancouver for several decades.
“Oh my goodness, these things are super nostalgic, it was an iconic service,” Swaisland said. “They have the original wooden benches, brass finishing – but they’re being completely rebranded. A lot of cosmetic updating, but we want to keep the retro and nostalgic integrity of these vehicles.”
In Naramata, she sees the trolley service as a way to break down many of the barriers that prevent some people from visiting the village and its wineries.
Swaisland also operates a private wine tour company, but she realizes not everybody can afford to go on one to experience the Naramata bench.
READ MORE: Touring wineries with your furry, four-legged friend
The road in and out of the village is 14 kilometres and two lanes the entire way. It can get pretty busy during the summer months.
“One goal is to eliminate as much traffic as possible,” she said.
The trolleys also gives people the opportunity to visit wineries and fully enjoy themselves without having to designate a driver.
There will be an app riders can use to check when the next trolley arrives and how many seats are vacant.
Although Naramata is renowned for its wineries, Swaisland encourages riders to also enjoy the shops in the heart of Naramata as well.
“I want people to be able to hop on regardless of whether they want a wine tasting or not.”
The exact route hasn’t been shared yet, but Swaisland said the turnaround points will be at a hotel in Penticton and the Naramata Inn, with three stops along the way.
The cost to ride all day will be $39. The first trip is expected to take place May 1 and frequency will increase during the busier months.
Although Swaisland won’t be operating the trolleys, as she continues to run her wine tour company, she did drive one of them herself from the coast to Naramata.
It was a “slow and steady” ride through the Coquihalla Highway, she said.
“We had a team of mechanics go through and basically give us the OK before we took the trolleys up the highest mountain pass in Canada.”
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