Regional and Intercity Bus\Rail Transportation

[roger1818]

It is interesting, looking at the schedule, megabus is running 1 bus a day, 5 days a week (Thursday to Monday). The buses leave Ottawa at 10:30 AM and arrive in Toronto at 3:35 PM. The return journey leaves Toronto at 4:30 PM and arrives in Ottawa at 9:35 PM. There are two intermediary stops in Kingston and Scarborough.

The odd thing about this schedule is that either they are having the bus sit idle in Ottawa between runs or they are deadheading a bus to Ottawa. I guess it is possible that with COVID schedule reductions, they have extra equipment that isn't being used and they were able to hire a driver who lives in Ottawa (which could explain the 5 days a week).

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Very true. Keep in mind a few dozen people a day would commute regularly on the Montreal-Ottawa route. (including a colleague of mine that lives on the West Island and would commute into downtown Ottawa 3x/week). Given Quebec bus routes are still regulated, the Quebec government will decide on who gets Ottawa-Montreal, which was undoubtedly Greyhound's most profitable route. I bet Orléans Express is a front runner.

Speaking of regulation, I wonder if megabus had been planning on introducing this Ottawa-Toronto bus in July, once deregulation comes into effect in Ontario, but were able to accelerate it after the Greyhound announcement. It seems like they were able to announce and introduce the service extremely quickly.

[tv-man]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Very true. Keep in mind a few dozen people a day would commute regularly on the Montreal-Ottawa route. (including a colleague of mine that lives on the West Island and would commute into downtown Ottawa 3x/week). Given Quebec bus routes are still regulated, the Quebec government will decide on who gets Ottawa-Montreal, which was undoubtedly Greyhound's most profitable route. I bet Orléans Express is a front runner.

"Autocars Orléans Express inc. (Orléans Express) introduit à la Commission des transports du Québec, le 28 avril 2021, une demande visant la délivrance d’un permis temporaire de transport par autobus, transport interurbain, d’une durée de 45 jours (le permis visé), qui se lit comme suit :"

Voir le PDF pour la suite:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...3D90352&usg=AOvVaw1hUuCxZri_KChPiJlOBNh0

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

Very true. Keep in mind a few dozen people a day would commute regularly on the Montreal-Ottawa route. (including a colleague of mine that lives on the West Island and would commute into downtown Ottawa 3x/week). Given Quebec bus routes are still regulated, the Quebec government will decide on who gets Ottawa-Montreal, which was undoubtedly Greyhound's most profitable route. I bet Orléans Express is a front runner.

Honestly, these people should be on trains. These are exactly the kind of riders HFR should be targeting.

[PHrenetic]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

There was a Megabus circling St Laurent station today for apparently training purposes. Double decker. The stop will likely be at the far east end.

Good Day. FYI :

I was passing through St.Laurent bus platforms today (Saturday May 29) and spotted a Megabus.com flag at Platform E (far east end, south side, facing west).

Definitive !

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by PHrenetic

Good Day. FYI :

I was passing through St.Laurent bus platforms today (Saturday May 29) and spotted a Megabus.com flag at Platform E (far east end, south side, facing west).

Definitive !

Stop E was added just for Megabus. You'll notice that it's just a flag on a light standard, not a freestanding stop flag like A-D.

[PHrenetic]

Originally Posted by Catenary

Stop E was added just for Megabus. You'll notice that it's just a flag on a light standard, not a freestanding stop flag like A-D.

Good Day.

True, per se, but these things have moved around so much in the last few years that I just stopped noticing.

My point was that they have a flag, and I pointed out specifically where. They are, per se, official.

They're here, They're here, let the flags fly and everybody cheer, They're here !

[Truenorth00]

I'm impressed by how quickly they spun up and worked out something with OC Transpo.

[J.OT13]

I wonder how much revenue this will bring OC. Also curious what will happen when they have to rebuild the upper deck of the station. Might they include a more substantial structure for intercity buses?

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I wonder how much revenue this will bring OC. Also curious what will happen when they have to rebuild the upper deck of the station. Might they include a more substantial structure for intercity buses?

This probably is (and should be) a rather temporary arrangement. I get the sense that there are probably discussions on where to build an intercity bus terminal in the future.

I wonder whether Megabus would want to co-locate at Tremblay or whether that would be seen as competition.

[DEWLine]

I am inclined to agree with Mr. Moscrop.

[BenYOW]

Per their Facebook page, Rider Express Transportation is to begin providing services between Ottawa and Toronto as of June 28. The comments section also notes that services will be operated from the VIA Rail station, and that services between Ottawa and Montreal are coming soon.

[Truenorth00]

Turns out we didn't need Greyhound and the bus terminal....

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Turns out we didn't need Greyhound and the bus terminal....

I always said someone will fill in the gap for the more popular routes. The question is what will happen to the less popular routes.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by roger1818

I always said someone will fill in the gap for the more popular routes. The question is what will happen to the less popular routes.

Their towns will need to pony up and subsidize shuttle services.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Their towns will need to pony up and subsidize shuttle services.

There is a public good in having bus service coverage in rural areas. I don't think it should be up to individual towns to subsidize service.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Their towns will need to pony up and subsidize shuttle services.

By the same token, the Ontario government should stop subsidizing Metrolinx, and let all the comunities in the Golden Horseshoe pony up and pay for their GO train and bus service.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by roger1818

By the same token, the Ontario government should stop subsidizing Metrolinx, and let all the comunities in the Golden Horseshoe pony up and pay for their GO train and bus service.

They actually should. They should let Metrolinx become an actual grownup regional transport authority with rights to impose taxes, tolls, surcharges, etc. And fill authority for roads, taxis and transit in the region.

It will let the GTA move past the ridiculous nonsense where transit construction is at the mercy of a bunch of MPPs from Sudbury and Niagara. And also put an end to excuses for bad policy elsewhere. "But we're subsidizing Toronto." -Some dumbass in Petawawa.

Ottawa should get the same deal too. We already have most of it, except maybe the right to impose tolls.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

They actually should. They should let Metrolinx become an actual grownup regional transport authority with rights to impose taxes, tolls, surcharges, etc. And fill authority for roads, taxis and transit in the region.

It will let the GTA move past the ridiculous nonsense where transit construction is at the mercy of a bunch of MPPs from Sudbury and Niagara. And also put an end to excuses for bad policy elsewhere. "But we're subsidizing Toronto." -Some dumbass in Petawawa.

Ottawa should get the same deal too. We already have most of it, except maybe the right to impose tolls.

I think that is all right, but isn't this a different issue (regional transit vs. intercity)?

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by phil235

I think that is all right, but isn't this a different issue (regional transit vs. intercity)?

The red herring that roger1818 brought up was that we also subsidize Metrolinx.