I find it funny that we consider spending $22 million on getting the railway upgraded to run a train once a day up the Island, while at the same time Greyhound announces cutting services do to losing $14 million on operating the routes on Vancouver Island.
Has anyone ever thought of just letting the rail line sit as it is for future use, instead of upgrading a useless train?
Let’s think about purchasing three medium-sized buses for $100,000 each. This would bring the $22 million down to 21.7 million. Now, invest that money at a interest of three per cent — they should be able to get that amount — for a annual interest of $651,000.
Run the busses three to four times between the city’s of Campbell — Nanaimo — Victoria.
Now, let’s hire four drivers to do that at a annual salary of $50,000 each for a total of $200,000. Pay the commercial insurance for the buses, $100,000 a year.
Let’s put in the fuel cost at $800 a day for a total of $292,000 a year.
Throw in maintenance on the buses of $60,000 a year.
That’s a total cost of total cost of of $652,000 a year — it would break even even if the service would be free.
That would be money well spent and it would also create at least four jobs that are steady.
Hans Stussi
Qualicum Bay
