Local passengers left looking for alternatives as Greyhound closes

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Fellow passenger Christian Ivyson, also of Calgary, admits the loss of service will be hard to adjust to.

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“Is there going to be another replacement or how will people get around?” wonders Ivyson. “I use the service pretty often, I travel to Quebec and I’m in Red Deer for business. I think they should continue because it’s a cheaper way to travel.”

On Wednesday, Alberta Transportation announced rural communities throughout the province will have options when it comes to rural bus service.

A government news release says more than 82 per cent of Greyhound’s existing routes are being covered by private carriers that have already enhanced their operations to serve rural and urban communities.

Additionally, the Alberta and federal governments will invest up to $2 million per year, over two years, to provide service to small and rural communities.

The cost-sharing agreement between the two governments will act as an incentive to draw proposals from private carriers to fill remaining service gaps. 

“For Albertans in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, bus services have been a lifeline to work, school, vital health care, family and friends,” Brian Mason, Minister of Transportation says in the release. “That’s why our government will be working with companies to ensure that service continues across the province. We said we will not leave people stranded by the side of the road.”

On July 9, Greyhound Canada announced it would end its service across the West on October 31. Since then, government officials say several other private sector carriers have announced plans to expand their services along some of the more populated routes. These companies include Red Arrow/E-Bus (Diversified Transportation), Northern Express Bus Line, Cold Shot and Regina-based Rider Express.

Six new pilot projects across the province are also said to have received funding through the Rural Transportation Pilot Program to provide more transportation options for people in rural Alberta.

According to the Canadian Press, Greyhound is laying off about 420 employees and will move 70 or 80 of its 110 western buses to its ongoing operations in Eastern Canada and sell or scrap the rest.