Red Arrow Motorcoach is introducing daily passenger service between Sylvan Lake and Red Deer, with a similar service between Rocky Mountain House and the city to be available three days a week.
Red Arrow Motorcoach, which runs buses north and south from Red Deer, announced on Monday that it will launch Red Arrow Connector on June 25. That new service will use a 14-passenger Sprinter van to shuttle customers up and down Hwy 11.
Details are still being finalized, said Red Arrow general manger John Stepovy, but the van will likely depart from Sylvan Lake for Red Deer at approximately 7 and 8:30 a.m. each morning, and leave Red Deer at roughly 4 and 5:30 p.m. He expects the Rocky run to consist of early-morning and late afternoon round trips, with stops in Sylvan.
The Rocky service will only be available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with passengers required to book their seats about 12 hours in advance.
One-way fares between Sylvan Lake and Red Deer will be in the $10 range, said Stepovy, with the Rocky route around $35. Discounts will be offered on round-trip fares, as well as on multi-pack tickets and for students.
Stops in Red Deer are expected to include Red Deer College, the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, the city’s downtown and the Holiday Inn on 67th Street, where Red Arrow Motorcoach buses operates from.
Stepovy said the vans will have Wi-Fi and power outlets for passengers.
“If we’re busy and it fills up, then the opportunity’s going to be there to expand on the service,” he said, adding that this might even include new routes.
“There’s opportunities potentially to expand somewhere like Stettler or maybe Lacombe.”
Stepovy said Red Arrow Connector is a consequence of the Alberta government deregulating passenger bus service.
More detailed information about the new service will be provided this Friday at the Sylvan Lake Visitor Information Centre. A charity barbecue will take place there from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m.
Founded in 1979, Red Arrow Motorcoach provides business-class passenger service between Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary and Lethbridge.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com