Trains.com

Greyhound to end western Canada service.

2193 views
12 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Greyhound to end western Canada service.
Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, July 9, 2018 9:33 PM

Ending service Oct 31.  VIA's spotty service certainly will not be a reliable alternative.  More importantly does this possibly mean Greyhound will remove service from parts of north western USA ? Is it possible that the date is due to Greyhound wanting to avoid next winter ?   

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/greyhound-canada-cancels-all-of-its-routes-in-western-canada-plans-to-cut-415-jobs-1.4006215 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Monday, July 9, 2018 9:48 PM

blue streak 1
Ending service Oct 31.  VIA's spotty service certainly will not be a reliable alternative.  More importantly does this possibly mean Greyhound will remove service from parts of north western USA ? Is it possible that the date is due to Greyhound wanting to avoid next winter ?   

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/greyhound-canada-cancels-all-of-its-routes-in-western-canada-plans-to-cut-415-jobs-1.4006215 

Flyover territory - don't need busses West of Sudbury or trains to Churchill

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    February 2016
  • From: Texas
  • 1,552 posts
Posted by PJS1 on Monday, July 9, 2018 11:01 PM

blue streak 1

Ending service Oct 31.  VIA's spotty service certainly will not be a reliable alternative.  More importantly does this possibly mean Greyhound will remove service from parts of north western USA ? Is it possible that the date is due to Greyhound wanting to avoid next winter ?   

Greyhound has to respond to changing markets.  If the market is insufficient to cover its costs and provide a return to the owner - First Group, it has to exit the market and redeploy its assets where it can generate a reasonable return.

Canada has several low cost airlines that probably have taken some of the folks that otherwise would ride Greyhound.  

Other carriers may fill the void being left by Greyhound.  This has happened in several areas of Texas, e.g. San Angelo to Dallas, Odessa to Presido, etc.  The schedules for these routes are shown on Greyhound's webpage, and tickets can be bought on-line, but Greyhound does not actually operate the routes. 

Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 575 posts
Posted by alphas on Monday, July 9, 2018 11:52 PM

In the North East MEGA Bus has become a major player that's impacted Greyhound.     I can't speak as to what's happening with bus service in the rest of the country or Canada.     Cheap air fares are definitely a problem for long distant bus and rail providers between major urban areas.

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 599 posts
Posted by azrail on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 2:25 PM

PJS1

 

 
blue streak 1

Ending service Oct 31.  VIA's spotty service certainly will not be a reliable alternative.  More importantly does this possibly mean Greyhound will remove service from parts of north western USA ? Is it possible that the date is due to Greyhound wanting to avoid next winter ?   

 

Greyhound has to respond to changing markets.  If the market is insufficient to cover its costs and provide a return to the owner - First Group, it has to exit the market and redeploy its assets where it can generate a reasonable return.

Canada has several low cost airlines that probably have taken some of the folks that otherwise would ride Greyhound.  

Other carriers may fill the void being left by Greyhound.  This has happened in several areas of Texas, e.g. San Angelo to Dallas, Odessa to Presido, etc.  The schedules for these routes are shown on Greyhound's webpage, and tickets can be bought on-line, but Greyhound does not actually operate the routes. 

 

You mean TNM&O runs those routes? (they are affiliated with Greyhound)

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • 6,449 posts
Posted by MidlandMike on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 8:28 PM

The article talks about competition from subsidized carriers.  Are they other bus lines, or a differnt mode?

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 6:44 AM

I would assume that since this is western Canada, the subsidized competition would be small feeder airlines.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    February 2016
  • From: Texas
  • 1,552 posts
Posted by PJS1 on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 8:55 PM

azrail
 You mean TNM&O runs those routes? (they are affiliated with Greyhound) 

I believe they are operated by All Aboard America.  But this is not the point.  There may be companies with lower cost structures that can fill the void left by Greyhound.  

Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Calgary
  • 2,047 posts
Posted by cx500 on Friday, July 13, 2018 12:42 AM

PJS1
Canada has several low cost airlines that probably have taken some of the folks that otherwise would ride Greyhound.

The cost of airfares has certainly dropped dramatically, and of course cut into the long haul travelers who can now afford to fly.  But, and it is a big BUT, that only is the case when flying between major centers where competition exists.  As part of the longhaul routes, Greyhound also services "flyover country" where the smaller cities and towns do not have airports with scheduled service.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 575 posts
Posted by alphas on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 8:40 AM

Depends as to what is defined as a "city".    There aren't that many places in the US anymore with 25,000-30,000 people in a municipality (and that doesn't include those who live in a close proximity to it-say 10 miles or so) that don't have some type of scheduled air service available to it in an hour's drive or so.    There are exceptions.      For example, the FL Keys which is as long an eastern seaboard section as I can think of between  commerical airports [Miami and Key West].      Marathon used to have scheduled air service but I don't believe it exists anymore.   

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 11:00 AM

Mentioning Miami-Key West reminded me that about 60 years ago, Greyhound had many trips a day. Now there are two.

Johnny

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,568 posts
Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 11:27 AM

I think there is still Coach Canada and Megabus. Cost of Loabor may be a issue on long routes up there.

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Calgary
  • 2,047 posts
Posted by cx500 on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 7:42 PM

In western Canada, Greyhound is about all there is, apart from some local service into the mountain National Parks (Banff and Jasper) from the nearest major airport/city.

CandOforprogress2

I think there is still Coach Canada and Megabus. Cost of Labor may be a issue on long routes up there.

 .

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy