Saskatoon-to-Calgary bus route cancelled

The Saskatoon-to-Calgary direct bus route has been cancelled, but one entrepreneur is hoping to eventually resurrect it.

The Saskatchewan Transportation Company was shut down last month by the provincial government. The AlsaskBus Service hadprovided the Alberta portion of the trip through a partnership with Greyhound, but owner Yiming Lu said it doesn't make sense to run those busesanymore.

To get to Calgary, Saskatoon riders must now take a Greyhound bus through Edmonton, which will double the travel time.

Greyhound spokesperson Lanesha Gipson saidthe company isn't planning on offering its own Saskatoon-to-Calgary route.

The only remaining bus routes for Saskatoon residents are to Edmonton and Winnipeg.

Lu said he hopes to take over the entire route in the future, but isn't surewhen that will happen. He has applied to various government bodies but has not yet received an answer.

"We really want to start it," Lusaid.

June Gawdun of the Saskatoon Council On Aging said the closure of yet another route would affect any seniors travelling for medical appointments or to visit family.