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An intercity bus service could be in place between Sarnia, Strathroy and London by next spring.

The five-days-a-week service – the first between the communities in more than 15 years – should help people getting to medical appointments, students traveling to college and university, and people commuting for employment, officials said at an announcement in Strathroy Thursday.

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“This is really about connecting communities,” said Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton, noting a previously announced $1.45-million Ontario Community Transportation grant completely funds the service until 2023.

Accessible shuttles with 10 to 24 seats will be used in the expected four- to five-stop route, Strathroy-Caradoc economic development officer Demetri Makrakos said.

Negotiations are still underway to solidify the details, including who will provide the buses, he said. The intent is to have an agreement in place within the next two months.

“We’re looking probably to private industry” to provide the buses, he said. “We’re going to have a service agreement with them and an hourly rate, all within the budget that the (Ministry of Transportation) is providing us.”

Fares will be affordable, though the amount hasn’t been finalized, he said. Travelling the full route between London and Sarnia using the service – expected to run at least twice a day – is expected to take from two to two-and-a-half hours.

“We want to make sure (people are) actually going to use it,” Makrakos said.