Greyhound will eliminate its daily bus route between Coquitlam and Pemberton in a move that earned opposition from governments and commuters in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Citing low ridership, the company received approval from B.C.'s Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) to nix the route, which carried passengers northbound in the morning and southbound in the afternoon.
As of Nov. 9, the full Coquitlam route will not exist. But in an effort to cover a portion of passenger needs, the company is adding a morning run from Squamish to Pemberton to mirror the end leg of the former route.
As of Nov. 9, the bus that leaves Pemberton at 5:25 a.m., stopping in Whistler at 6 a.m. and arriving at the Squamish depot at 7:05 a.m., will now turn around and head back north. The bus is scheduled to depart Squamish at 7:30 a.m., stop in Whistler at 8:30 a.m. and arrive in Pemberton a 9:25 a.m.
James Henderson, senior assistant operations manager for Greyhound Canada, said Tuesday (Oct. 20) said the company hopes to cover Squamish passengers with that trip.
Henderson said the company's application to the PTB did received letters from local travellers and groups. Local governments, including the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and Whistler and Squamish councils, sent letters opposing the move.
Grant Odsen, Greyhound's B.C. regional manager, said in May that the company was seeking to cancel the service due to its low ridership, especially between Squamish and Coquitlam.
"What we find over the course of the trip is our passenger loads are very low," he said, adding the company was looking into options to make up for the loss of the service and would be committed to having a back-up bus ready to pick up overflow if the 4:30 p.m. run fills up.
Greyound also cancelled its 3 p.m. Whistler to Vancouver run in early July, increasing ridership for the 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. services.
