Tofino Bus Services Inc. has applied to expand its service into Campbell River and Courtenay, a move that would limit the passenger disruption felt by Greyhound Canada’s decision to reduce service to those areas.
Greyhound’s bid to eliminate its service for Campbell River, Courtenay and Mount Washington was approved this week by the Passenger Transportation Board. The routes will be eliminated from Greyhound’s schedule as of Feb. 6.
Tofino Bus president Dylan Green is awaiting word on his application, which was filed in October. He did not expect to hear a decision until the Greyhound application was passed, Green said.
Green has applied to take over Greyhound’s morning departures to Victoria from Campbell River and Courtenay, and Greyhound’s afternoon run to Victoria from Nanaimo.
“We were immediately concerned because some of the schedules [Greyhound] were proposing to eliminate were some of the schedules that connected with our bus to Tofino,” he said. “Some of the schedules to Campbell River and between Victoria and Nanaimo are the busiest on the Island.”
Tofino Bus has not applied to take over Greyhound’s Mount Washington route, Green said.
Smith Transportation Ltd. provides daily service connecting Victoria, Nanaimo and Mount Washington.
Tofino Bus goes as far north as Parksville. If approved, Green’s application would expand Tofino Bus’s reach into Campbell River and Courtenay.
© Copyright 2013
