VANCOUVER—While some operators are downsizing their businesses when Greyhound terminates its Western Canada routes in October, others are seizing the opportunity to fill the service void.

Fritz Keller, owner of Silver City Stagelines in Trail, B.C., has filed an application with the Passenger Transportation Board to add at least six round trips between Nelson and Kelowna, while eliminating three round trips between Trail and Castlegar.

The company, a long-time contractor with Greyhound, generates up to 70 per cent of its business from their partnership.

Along the route between Nelson and Kelowna, Keller intends to service Castlegar, Trail, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway, and Rock Creek.

“I know the need for the bus service out of Trail and Castlegar, and there are quite a bit of seniors and it’s hard to get out of here,” Keller explained. “The planes are not really flying, seniors don’t really want to drive.”

Not only are flights often cancelled, but wintertime conditions make transportation difficult, he added. He wants to be able to service the community during those times. “Out here, we get tons of snow … the roads are really nasty here getting to Kelowna.”

Keller, also an experienced mountain guide, plans to operate a 12-passenger Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bus based on reservations made through the company’s website. Keller, who will keep driving after the expansion, will add one full-time and one seasonal part-time staff to work with him, he said.

In July, Transportation Minister Claire Trevena said her government hopes private operators will quickly come forward to fill the huge gap left by Greyhound’s departure. She cited the example of Tofino Bus, a Vancouver Island company that began taking over routes Greyhound was dropping in 2006.

Unlike Keller’s Silver City, other operators are not keen on expanding.

Dylan Green, the owner of Tofino Bus, said his 60-employee company isn’t interested in expanding at the moment, following an April expansion that involved investment in bus depots and route infrastructure.

Green said Greyhound’s decision came as a complete surprise to his company. Tofino Bus relies on the Greyhound network to feed passengers and freight into the Vancouver Island routes.

In July, the B.C. government promised to fast-track applications for intercity bus service in the wake of Greyhound’s announcement that the company would cease running buses through B.C. and the Prairie provinces by the end of October because of a sharp, 41 per cent drop in ridership since 2010.

Keller is still waiting on a response to his application.

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With files from Jen St. Denis

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