Wheels on the Greyhound bus might not go round and round in the near future.
Greyhound Canada announced that it has filed an application to cancel service on five routes, including the Nanaimo-to-Victoria route, with the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Passenger Transportation Board. The four other routes are located in northern British Columbia.
Peter Hamel, Greyhound CanadaB次元官网网址檚 regional vice-president for Western Canada, said ridership on the five routes has dropped by 51 per cent since 2010 and that the decision to submit a request to cancel the Nanaimo-Victoria route didnB次元官网网址檛 happen overnight.
B次元官网网址淔or the Victoria-Nanaimo route in 2013 we had an average passenger load of 16 [people]. As of 2017 we are seeing single digits, averaging around nine,B次元官网网址� he said.
Hamel said Greyhound has dealt with increased operating costs and competition from other transit services over the years and pointed to the popularity of ridesharing as another factor in the decision.
B次元官网网址淚f you were to just go onto Kijiji and type rideshare you will find numerous rides, not just specifically on the Nanaimo-Victoria corridor but any corridor in B.C., right overtop of our routes,B次元官网网址� he said.
Greyhound tried to make the route work over the last seven years by reducing frequency and in both Nanaimo and Victoria, said Hamel.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e no longer viable on this corridor,B次元官网网址� he said.
The PTB, an independent tribunal established in 2004 under the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Passenger Transportation Act, will need to approve GreyhoundB次元官网网址檚 request before service can be discontinued.
Hamel said itB次元官网网址檚 business as usual for the companyB次元官网网址檚 cargo and passenger operations until a decision is made. He said the company is willing to hold discussions with the provincial government.
B次元官网网址淲e are prepared to talk with any government officials and we are,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e will be meeting with officials through September.B次元官网网址�
Hamel said submitting a request to cancel the Nanaimo route was difficult and Greyhound doesnB次元官网网址檛 take it lightly.
B次元官网网址淭his has not been an easy decision. It impacts employees, it impacts communities and it impacts passengers,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淯nfortunately though we have been at an operating deficit in B.C. since 2004. We can no longer sustain the losses.B次元官网网址�
If approved, Greyhound anticipates the cuts to take effect in early 2018.
