Greyhound seeks to cut bus service

 Saturday, 13 October 2012 02:00 Kelowna Daily Courier

Greyhound bus service through the Okanagan could be cut in half.  Citing heavy financial losses across B.C., the company is applying to reduce the frequency of service on 15 routes around the province.   Unless the Passenger Transportation Board approves the reductions, the company warns, "(we) are prepared to cease operating bus service in B.C.," according to information on the company's website.   Greyhound says it lost $14.1 million last year, and describes the situation as "unsustainable." The company cites declining ridership, and rising fuel and operating costs for the financial losses. But it also blames the introduction of heavily subsidized BC Transit routes, such as the one linking Kelowna and Vernon, and patient transportation programs operated by Interior Health which, it says, is open to abuse.  "No doctor's referral of any kind is required to access these heavily subsidized services," reads part of Greyhound's application to the PTB.   In the Okanagan, the company wants to reduce the number of daily trips between Kelowna and Penticton from four to two, drop one of the three daily connections between Kelowna and Vancouver, and reduce service from Kelowna to the Kootenays.   The president of the union that represents Greyhound drivers is urging people to protest against the planned service reductions before Wednesday's deadline for public comment.   Gary Galbreath of the Amalgamated Transit Union says similar service cutbacks in the Prairie provinces have had a devastating impact, particularly in smaller communities.   "Greyhound seems to be concentrating more and more on freight service and less on passenger service," Galbreath says.