Most Bus Routes Will Be Covered When Greyhound Ends Service

Oct 29, 2018 | 11:31 AM

Wednesday will be Greyhound’s final day of bus service in Western Canada, but the BC government says most of the routes are being picked up.

Transportation Minister Claire Trevena says there will still be safe, reliable and affordable bus transportation provided.

“83% of Greyhound’s current routes are going to be covered by about the end of the year. Some are already starting, others will be coming n in mid-November,” Travena told a news conference

Alberta’s EBus out of Edmonton, will be picking up routes from Kelowna and Kamloops to Vancouver, and from Kelowna to Kamloops with a stop in Vernon.

Ebus is targeting a start date Wednesday. Click HERE for more information.

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Vernon will have a stop by reservation only, by the Post Office on 32 Ave. and 31 Str. in front of the clock tower and fountain, while Kelowna’s site will be at the airport.

Trevena says she’s still working with communities and the private sector to find solutions for the other 17% without service.

The eight routes that will be without service are Cache Creek to Kamloops, Kamloops to Valemount, Valemount to the BC-Alberta border, Dawson Creek to the BC Alberta border, Salmo to Creston, Cranbrook to the BC-Alberta border Fort Nelson to the Yukon border, and the Hope-Princeton route.

“The province will issue a request for expressions of interest in the coming weeks to engage the private sector on solutions to fill these remaining gaps, ” says Trevena.

“Our government is going to work hard to make sure no communities or people are left behind. Reliable bus service is critical in making sure people feel secure in the communities they call home.”

Trevena isn’t aware of what each of the private operators will be charging.

“They are setting their own ticket price. This isn’t something that is regulated by the Passenger Transportation Board. They are going to be going to the market and seeing what the market can sustain.”

The BC government launched BC Bus North earlier this year to cover the majority of northern routes that Greyhound eliminated.

The cost is $35 to $45 per trip, with two round-trips per week between Prince Rupert and Prince George, Prince George and Valemount, and Prince George to Dawson Creek/Fort St. John and one round-trip per week from Fort Nelson to Dawson Creek/Fort St. John.

Elsewhere, Regina-based Rider Express Transportation started service today between Vancouver, Calgary and Winnipeg and will expand that service into Edmonton, Saskatoon and Regina later this week.

by Corey Fischer