Of the companies taking over STC routes, only 1 providing service off Highway 11 so far

There was a time when travellers could buy bus tickets from a Saskatchewan company to and from more than 200communities around the province. Now that number has shrunk to under 10.

After the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC), Saskatchewan's public bus service, was shut down, private companies came out of the woodwork, applying to provide passenger service in the province.

Six have been approved by the Highway Traffic Board so far. Only one is providing service off the beaten path of Highway 11.

What's on offer now

Each of the six applicants approved for passenger service by the Highway Traffic Board so far have been met with resistance, as noted in their approval documents.

And only three of those six approvals have been given to companies actually planning to operate scheduled passenger service.

• Forward Coach Linesplans to operate service between Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert, beginning sometime in the next month.
• DiCalTransporthas begun operating service toYorkton,Melville,Balcarres, FortQu'Appelleand Regina.
• Rider Express Transportationcurrently offers service between Regina and Saskatoon, with a stop in Davidson.

DiCalTransport and Rider Express Transportation have each noted plans to extend their service to more communities in the future.

Currently, five more companies are being considered for approval from the Highway Traffic Board.

The way it was

STC was established as a Crown corporation in 1946. This year, it met its end.

The provincial government said that closing the company would save Saskatchewan around $17 million per year. A decline in ridership and revenues were the reasons given for the closure.

Passengers used to be able to book an STC ticket and go from the edge of the far North to the province's deep south, beginning in La Ronge, roughly 250 kilometres north of Prince Albert, and ending up in Coronach, a stone's throw from the United States border.

Between Saskatchewan's oilfields, they could ride from Macklin, roughly 110 kilometres south of Lloydminster, to Carnduff, near the Manitoba border.

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