A second private transportation company has begun taking passengers between Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina.

Earlier this month, a Regina-based company, Forward Coach Lines, announced they had plans in the works to begin service between the cities.

A second company, Rider Express Transportation, has already begun operating on that route, the Herald has learned.

The bus company began the route about two weeks ago, which it offers for $25 one way including tax. While there are no planned washroom breaks along the way, if passengers have to go, they are able to request a stop.

The Saskatoon to Regina route stops to let passengers off to pee in Davidson, Sask.

Similar to Forward Coach Lines, Rider Express is operating a fleet of passenger vans. In the case of Rider Express, they are running Ford Transit 300 vans, which seat 15 passengers.

So far, not many have taken a trip on the new Prince Albert route. However, business owner Firat Uray chalks that up to a lack of awareness.

“It’s been about two weeks now,” he said. “People are just learning about it. It takes some time.”

Rider Express has been aggressively expanding across the province. Their goal is to take on as many routes as they can manage to fill in the gap STC left behind. Already, they operate between Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatoon and P.A., Regina and Estevan and Regina and Yorkton.

“We want to go as many places as we can,” Uray said. “We want to help the province with as many routes as we can. We will expand.”

Uray knew he wanted to get involved when he heard STC was being wound down. “This is (where I have) business experience,” he said. “When I heard STC was closing, I was interested in starting this kind of business to help the people in the province who need service.”

The van from Saskatoon to P.A. leaves at noon, while the return trip departs at 3 p.m. The P.A. pickup point is the Tim Hortons at 15th Avenue and Second Avenue West. That trip runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

More information is available at riderexpress.ca. The company can be contacted online, through Facebook, or through 306-209-3636.