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Inter-city bus service & Victoria terminal


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#1 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 03 September 2009 - 09:36 AM

http://www.reuters.c...310752220090903

Greyhound Canada to cut bus routes to stem losses
Thu Sep 3, 2009 1:03pm EDT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Greyhound Canada will cease operations in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario and warned on Thursday it may end bus service across Western Canada unless it receives government assistance.

Canada's largest intercity bus line, which is a unit of Britain's FirstGroup (FGP.L), blamed federal and provincial government regulations for the cuts, saying it is forced to operate routes in rural areas at a loss.

"Our financial situation is dire and we are no longer in a position to absorb losses that are almost solely attributable to government policies," said Stuart Kendrick, senior vice president, said in a statement.

"Despite numerous attempts over the years to adjust this business model in order to gain a profitable footing, Greyhound Canada has now run out of options," Kendrick said.

The company said it wants governments to subsidize its rural operations, while a long-term plan is worked out to maintain bus service to those communities.

Greyhound did not say exactly when it will stop service in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. It said it is reviewing continuation of service in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. (Reporting by Allan Dowd, Editing by Peter Galloway)



#2 Linear Thinker

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Posted 03 September 2009 - 09:49 AM

This could solve BC Transit's shortage of bus drivers...

#3 Bernard

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Posted 03 September 2009 - 10:46 AM

There are locations in BC that are currently not served by an bus service at all. As an example, Lillooet. This is a community of 4500 people in the area. Seton Portage and Shalath (about 600) is also not served.

A part of the problem is that the rights to carry people between destinations is owned by specific companies, if they are not interested in offering the service, no one else is allowed to.

#4 Caramia

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Posted 03 September 2009 - 11:35 AM

That seems just wrong. And now they want taxpayers to subsidize it? In the rest of the world bus service to remote communities is often done by some guy with a van. His brother and cousin probably have a van too. Between them all you can get a ride if you need one. How can places like China and Croatia have this problem solved but Canada doesn't?
Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one's mistakes.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891

#5 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 03 September 2009 - 11:44 AM

That seems just wrong. And now they want taxpayers to subsidize it? In the rest of the world bus service to remote communities is often done by some guy with a van. His brother and cousin probably have a van too. Between them all you can get a ride if you need one. How can places like China and Croatia have this problem solved but Canada doesn't?


They want taxpayers to subsidize it, or drop all the stupid rules imposed on them.

#6 Caramia

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Posted 03 September 2009 - 11:53 AM

Fair enough. Drop rules protecting them as well though. Anyone should be able to operate a bus service if they have the appropriate class licence.
Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets are one's mistakes.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891

#7 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 17 September 2009 - 09:03 AM

http://www.cfax1070....hp?newsId=10559

CITY HALL ASKING BUS OPERATOR TO SPRUCE UP TERMINAL

Sep 17, 2009

VICTORIA CITY HALL IS GOING TO ASK PACIFIC COACH LINES TO INVEST SOME MONEY IN BETTER UPKEEP OF THE DOWNTOWN BUS DEPOT.

IT WAS COUNCILLOR SONYA CHANDLER WHO RAISED THE MATTER AT A GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING...

"To...just let them know that we're interested in seeing an investment in that building regardless of the fact that it may not be a permanent site. We're all aware there's contemplation for moving the bus depot elsewhere, but I think it's, ahh, we certainly don't want to see demolition by neglect."

CHANDLER SAYS THE BUS TERMINAL PROJECTS AN IMAGE OF VICTORIA INTERNATIONALLY, BECAUSE PEOPLE FROM SOME OVERSEAS CULTURES TEND TO USE BUSSES MORE FREQUENTLY THAN CANADIANS DO.

- fms

#8 Ms. B. Havin

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Posted 17 September 2009 - 09:08 AM

http://www.cfax1070....hp?newsId=10559

"...but I think it's, ahh, we certainly don't want to see demolition by neglect."


Yes, well, it's private property, so we can chastise the owners, if they practice "demolition by neglect."

In the case of public infrastructure - blue bridges, say - it's a different matter, I guess...
When you buy a game, you buy the rules. Play happens in the space between the rules.

#9 Mike K.

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Posted 17 September 2009 - 09:12 AM

Burn...

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#10 Mike K.

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Posted 17 September 2009 - 09:17 AM

Fair enough. Drop rules protecting them as well though. Anyone should be able to operate a bus service if they have the appropriate class licence.


Exactly. BC Transit is weary of "impacting" private bus services, and as such we have substandard transit between major transport terminals and downtowns. As one example, the new Canada Line in Vancouver cuts almost no time in travel between Tsawwassen and downtown Vancouver than the traditional bus only service offered.

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#11 aastra

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Posted 17 September 2009 - 09:36 AM

I'm always wary of weary executives.

#12 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 17 September 2009 - 09:45 AM

Yes, when I've spent all week trying to ram through a sketchy business plan, I become weary of wary executives.

#13 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 18 September 2009 - 11:18 AM

CFAX today:

Polls

Do you think Victoria's intercity bus depot is in the right location?
Answer Votes %
Yes 93 59%
No 65 41%
Total: 158 100%

#14 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 18 September 2009 - 02:13 PM

Isn't the Empress Hotel the property-owner?

http://cfax1070.com/...hp?newsId=10576

PCL WILLING TO UPGRADE BUS TERMINAL, BUT NEEDS LONG-TERM LEASE

Sep 18, 2009

MANAGEMENT AT PACIFIC COACH LINES SAYS IT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INTER-CITY BUS TERMINAL BEHIND THE EMPRESS HOTEL, BUT IT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE A LONG TERM LEASE FOR THE PROPERTY.

P-C-L VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS THOMAS CHOE SAYS THE COMPANY ACTUALLY SUB-LEASES FROM GREYHOUND, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY TENANT. BOTH FIRMS HAVE MADE OVERTURES TO THE OWNER FOR A LONGER TERM AGREEMENT THAT WOULD JUSTIFY INVESTMENT IN THE TERMINAL, BUT NO AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN REACHED.

CITY COUNCIL VOTED THIS WEEK TO APPROACH THE OPERATOR TO ASK FOR SOME UPGRADING SO AS TO PROJECT A BETTER IMAGE FOR VISITORS ARRIVING IN THE CITY BY BUS.

COUNCILLOR SONYA CHANDLER SAID THE CITY IS AWARE P-C-L HAS BEEN SCOUTING FOR ANOTHER LOCATION, BUT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE THE EXISTING TERMINAL FALL INTO DISREPAIR IN THE MEANTIME.

- fms



#15 Holden West

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Posted 18 September 2009 - 02:40 PM

The Empress wants to ditch that crappy bus depot and expand:


"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#16 Mike K.

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Posted 18 September 2009 - 02:50 PM

Westbank's canceled Crystalview project is depicted behind the plans showing the Empress expansion.

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#17 endayliner

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Posted 20 September 2009 - 07:28 PM

There are locations in BC that are currently not served by an bus service at all. As an example, Lillooet. This is a community of 4500 people in the area. Seton Portage and Shalath (about 600) is also not served.


Seton and Shalalth are served by the CN/BC Rail Rail Shuttle service from Lillooet. The only road is a dirt road that is impassible during the winter. The railroad is the only way in and out of those places.

I can't believe though that Lillooet doesn't have bus service. I thought that was one of the conditions when BC Rail cut the Budd Cars in 2002
Tyler
CN Hogger and displaced Victorian.

#18 endayliner

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Posted 20 September 2009 - 07:29 PM

The Empress wants to ditch that crappy bus depot and expand:


I'd like to see a combined bus/rail depot.
Tyler
CN Hogger and displaced Victorian.

#19 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 30 November 2009 - 02:28 PM

Pacific Coach Lines employees vote in favour of strike

By Darron Kloster, Times Colonist
November 30, 2009 1:02 PM


http://www.timescolo...6311/story.html

Bus drivers, ticket agents and other unionized employees at Pacific Coach Lines have voted in favour of a strike that could lead to “serious disruption” of services for the province just as ski season gets underway and with the Olympic Games just ahead.


[...]

#20 Bingo

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Posted 30 November 2009 - 10:55 PM

I'd like to see a combined bus/rail depot.

They seem to store many of the tour buses at Ogden Point, perhaps that might be a new location to consider.

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