Long-running WilsonB次元官网网址檚 Transportation is looking at expanding its passenger bus services further into B.C. that Greyhound will leave open when it this fall.
What would WilsonB次元官网网址檚 founder Kello Wilson do?
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not sure he ever imagined this,B次元官网网址� said son John, CEO of the longstanding Saanich family business.
Kello is long retired but the company he started with a single delivery truck on Salt Spring Island in 1962 continues to grow. On Wednesday, Wilson confirmed the bus line is considering its first routes independent of Vancouver Island with service from Pacific Central in Vancouver to Whistler, Kelowna and Kamloops, in addition to other options.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a fast turnaround for WilsonB次元官网网址檚 as Greyhound only announced 48 hours earlier that it will terminate its bus and freight services in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba, keeping only the Vancouver to Seattle route in B.C.
Even faster, the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Passenger Transportation Board announced on Wednesday it will fast-track applications from operators to serve parts of B.C. B次元官网网址渓eft without commercial inter-city bus service as a result of Greyhound CanadaB次元官网网址檚 withdrawal from B.C. in October 2018.B次元官网网址�
The release said it would move inter-city bus applications to the front of the line, and give them priority status at each step in the process.
Both Wilson and B.C. believe that while many routes wonB次元官网网址檛 be replaced, the departure also opens the door to smaller inter-city bus companies to fill the routes where there is demand.
B次元官网网址淭he low-hanging fruit for us is the routes to Whistler, Kamloops and Kelowna, so our team is exploring that and we hope to make some decisions in the next few weeks,B次元官网网址� Wilson said.
WilsonB次元官网网址檚 is the largest motor coach and transportation company on the Island with more than 150 vehicles. Early in 2016 WilsonB次元官网网址檚 started the BC Ferries Connector, taking over the Victoria-to-Vancouver route based (via B.C. Ferries) out of the same 700 Douglas St. which was previously run by Pacific Coach Lines.
That route ends at Pacific Central Station in downtown Vancouver, where WilsonB次元官网网址檚 could offer service to Whistler, Kelowna and Kamloops.
B次元官网网址淲e are mindful that 415 people are losing their jobs and we need to be respectful of them,B次元官网网址� Wilson said. B次元官网网址淕reyhound is a company thatB次元官网网址檚 done some great work. WilsonB次元官网网址檚 will fill some gaps that we can.B次元官网网址�
It will be up to smaller, inter-city bus lines to fill in the gaps and only on sustainable routes, he said.
B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 expect a full swooping solution for all four provinces.B次元官网网址�
WilsonB次元官网网址檚 was already the agent for Greyhound Canada and can sell bus tickets from here to Halifax from the downtown depot on Douglas Street behind the Empress Hotel. The CEO noted that his business faces the same competition that led to what Greyhound cited as a drop in ridership of 41 per cent since 2010.
B次元官网网址淭he big challenge in the rural communities are cheaper flights, increased car ownership and the shared economy,B次元官网网址� Wilson said.
Freight routing remains an integral part of interline bus revenues, up to 40 and 50 per cent, including on the Island, which is something WilsonB次元官网网址檚 is looking to maintain.
B次元官网网址淣othing here is changing, itB次元官网网址檚 all status quo on the Island,B次元官网网址� Wilson said. B次元官网网址淭he [possible] change is in Greater Vancouver, and thatB次元官网网址檚 not until Nov. 1.B次元官网网址�
The company is based out of its eight-bay bus servicing station in Glanford.
