Small bus company to carry passengers in the western Kootenays, following Greyhound’s exit
Posted October 26, 2018 10:13 pm.
Last Updated October 26, 2018 10:32 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TRAIL (NEWS 1130) – Greyhound bus service is set to end in BC next Wednesday – and even earlier in the Kootenays, where the last bus will roar through towns this weekend.
A private bus company based in Trail has stepped up to the plate, and will have its inaugural run on Tuesday.
Silver City Stage Lines will operate between Nelson and Kelowna six days a week.
The company is owned by Fritz Keller, who had provided bus service as a contractor for Greyhound between Trail and Castlegar for the last nine years.
He says expanding his service made sense, after Greyhound announced its departure.
“I get a lot of compliments. I was the only one to offer any service. Otherwise, there would be no bus service beyond this Sunday. People would be really, really stuck.”
He predicts the elderly will be his target market.
“Lots of seniors. The roads, especially in the winter, are horrible out here. Flights are routinely cancelled. People can’t fly out.”
He feels badly about people living east of Nelson, who will be without any bus service, but he says if his routes are profitable, he may expand.
“There will be no service from Nelson to Creston and Cranbrook. We will see what the situation will be in the spring. Expansion is definitely a possibility.”
The service will operate from Sundays to Fridays, with a bus leaving Nelson at 6:30 a.m. and arriving in Kelowna at noon, and turning around at 1 p.m. and arriving in Nelson 6:30 p.m. Stops will include Castlegar, Trail, Grand Forks, and Rock Creek.
Silver City will operate a 14-passenger Sprinter bus, with an additional bus to accommodate more passengers during the Christmas season.
So far three other companies have been given approval to provide bus service in BC in Greyhound’s absence.
Rider Express will carry people along the TransCanada to Winnipeg.
Ebus will offer routes linking Vancouver, Kamloops and Kelowna.
Vancouver Island-based Wilson’s Transportation will travel between Kamloops, Kelowna and Vancouver.
Greyhound will continue to carry passengers between Vancouver and Seattle.
