As Greyhound discontinues routes in northern British Columbia and simultaneously ends passenger service in northern B.C., the B.C. government is launching a new, interim long-haul bus service to fill the void.
When Greyhound’s last passenger trip came and went on June 1, Premier John Horgan announced that the new service, called BC Bus North, will ensure that British Columbians living up north have access to safe and affordable travel from community to community.
“People in the North rely on transportation for their livelihoods, to access the health and education services they need and to visit family and friends,” said Horgan. “In the face of Greyhound’s decision, our job is to make sure northern communities and the people who live there are able to stay connected through safe, reliable and affordable public transportation.”
The service, which officially launched on June 4, just days after Greyhound discontinued their service, will include two round-trips per week, between Prince Rupert and Prince George, Prince George and Valemount and Prince George to Dawson Creek/Fort St. John, per a news release issued by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Furthermore, BC Bus North services will offer one round-trip per week from Fort Nelson to Dawson Creek/Fort St. John.
“BC Bus North will help make sure that people in the North, especially those in rural and remote communities, don’t feel stranded and isolated,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “Once the service is up and running, we’re going to take the next step by working with northern communities to find a long-term solution that delivers a sustainable, affordable solution for these communities.”
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Trevena directed BC Transit to work and collaborate with one of its service operators to provide a base-level service for transportation. Consequently, BC Bus North is being operated by Pacific Wester Transportation using four highway coaches that come fully equipped with luggage stowing capacity and washroom facilities.
“We’re looking forward to delivering a long-haul service for the first time to connect people and communities in northern B.C.,” said Erinn Pinkerton, interim president and CEO of BC Transit. “Our team has been working hard to find ways to make this interim solution meet the needs of customers in the North.”
Currently, a one-way fare on the BC Bus North will cost 35$ or 45$, depending on the length of the trip and how far an individual is travelling, as well as being large enough to accommodate 42 to 44 total passengers.
Per the news release, the implementation of this service is to counter Greyhound’s decision to eliminate service in northern B.C., but also to make sure that the unique transportation challenges, such as the generally large distances between communities and the remote geography, are addressed.
In February, Greyhound Canada’s request to end passenger service in Northern B.C. as well as between Victoria and Nanaimo was granted by the Passenger Transportation Board.
The B.C. government says that without some sort of transportation option for the residents of these communities, there is a severe risk of isolation, especially those without access to personal vehicles, people of low income, Indigenous communities, seniors and individuals who have disabilities, according to the news release.
As of now, the Province is planning on funding BC Bus North for 12 months, while the government will work and collaborate with local leaders in the impacted communities to evaluate the need and demand for this new service. Accordingly, the provincial government will work to develop and implement a transportation solution that works for the residents of northern B.C.
For more information concerning BC Bus North, visit bcbus.ca/ For information regarding BC Bus North’s fares and schedule, visit news.gov.bc.ca/files/BC_Bus_North_Map_Schedules_Fares_June_2018.pdf
