Maritime Bus meets with the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board tomorrow to discuss rates and routes before they replace Acadian Lines, on Dec. 1.
Acadian Lines, the only bus company operating in the Maritimes, announced in August they were shutting down at the end of November.
“It’s really bad news for me because I’m going to Montreal. I’m living in Montreal, my family’s there,” Laurence Pigeon, a St. Thomas University student said.
“So now I can’t go back for Christmas, I’m like, what am I doing now?”
Maritime Bus’ owner, Mike Cassidy, says they’re going to try to ensure there are no disruptions in the bus service.
“I just want to tell students to have a good semester and Maritime Bus is ready to take you home,” Cassidy said.
The only obstacles left until the buses can start running are a rate approval and for Acadian Lines to stop running. The plan is for Maritime Bus, previously called Trius Tours, to start up on Dec. 1.
Cassidy has plenty of plans for what he wants to make the bus system in the Maritimes. He wants to make a bus stop on or near campus, along with a more frequent bus schedule and better connections.
He’s also planning on adding incentives for students to take the bus.
But will that be enough for students to forget how they were treated in the past by Acadian Lines? Or will it end up being a once bitten, twice shy situation?
Renee Herbert, a STU student, stopped taking the buses when they stopped running during the strike last year.
“I used to take them, it was my main transportation to get home. But then they went on strike and stuff so I just kind of stopped using them, found other ways,” Herbert said.
“I kinda like just finding rides and stuff, but [taking the buses] would be convenient, I guess, when you really need to get home.”
On the other hand, though, when Pigeon found out a bus company would be replacing Acadian, she was all smiles.
“I didn’t know that. That’s great.”
