People now have more choice in bus service between Edmonton and Grande Prairie. Red Arrow Bus Lines is one of three groups that have stepped in to continue the service after Greyhound said it would cancel theirs by the end of October.
Communications and Marketing Manager Leigh Abra says that after Greyhound announced its departure, Red Arrow decided it would help pick up the slack.
“We are really here letting Alberta know that we are here to serve the travel needs of Alberta…We saw there was some opportunity when there was a deficit in travel options and we took the opportunity to see where we could possibly support some travel needs.”
Red Arrow started running in Grande Prairie on October 14th. The company has been operating in the province for 39 years. It currently services Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Camrose, Cold Lake, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray and now Grande Prairie. Abra says she hopes this line will help support those who are dealing with the loss of Greyhound service.
“We’re hoping that we’re really going to be able to support people that need to get to not only Edmonton but to the other communities in between…It’s a really great way to travel even if you do have a car and we really hope that a lot of people in Grande Praire and the surrounding areas will think of us that way.”
The route will run once a day to Edmonton and back. The bus will make stops in Spruce Grove, Mayerthorpe, Whitecourt, Fox Creek, and Valleyview and will cost $96 one way.
The bus will arrive and leave from the Podollan Inn and Spa and tickets can be purchased online or at Red Arrow’s office inside the Inn.
Two other bus lines have stepped in to help provide service to the city as well. Metobe Transport, who ran the Greyhound service locally says it has teamed up with Coldshot Courier Services out of Edmonton to continue to run service under the Coldshot name. Northern Express Bus Lines has also added a passenger route from Edmonton to the city.
