One final hurdle for Maritime bus service

A Charlottetown company requires one more government approval before it launches a new intercity bus service across the Maritimes on Dec. 1.

Trius Tours received approval from the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board Thursday afternoon. The company is already offering service between Charlottetown and Summerside, and was granted a licence to operate in New Brunswick earlier this month.

Trius owner Mike Cassidy said all that remains is approval of schedule and rates for his new Tri-Maritime Bus Network by New Brunswick. He will present those to the board of public utilities on Wednesday.

"After that approval has been granted we're off to the races, so to speak, and December the one is coming very, very quickly," said Cassidy.

Cassidy said, in many cases, locations and terminals will stay the same, but he is keen to make changes to improve the network with other forms of transportation.

"There certainly is discussion with VIA Rail. Train and bus can network with airplanes," he said.

"We are very, very pleased with the response we have received from VIA Rail to date.  And I know, with this approved decision, we will be in talks next week with VIA Rail. So if there are changes, I would like the marketplace to know, they're going to be good changes."

The Dec. 1 launch for the service will mean seamless availability of intercity bus service in the region. Acadian Coach Lines will cease its operation Nov. 30. The company is shutting the service down, complaining that it lost millions of dollars on the business.

The Tri-Maritime Bus Network will employ about 70 people.