Acadian Lines shutting down

[scooby074]

I was trying to find the proper place to put this, but many rely on Acadian lines to get in and out of the Halifax area... So, here it is

Acadian Lines is Closing by November 30.

A bad day for public transportation. No Via, now no buses.

http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/nov...down-by-nov-30

[cormiermax]

It could be good for VIA.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by cormiermax

It could be good for VIA.

Even if there were a lot of demand for this sort of service I'm not sure VIA would take advantage of it.

I wonder how much of the problem here is that these are basically large Ontario/Quebec companies. Their core business is not in the Maritimes and there's not a lot of incentive for them to make things work there.

[teddifax]

It's too bad JD Irving sold it years ago, things may have been different under their local ownership!

[someone123]

I wonder if there should be some sort of public bus and possibly rail service established in the Maritimes that could be shared by all 3 provinces. There could be a main Halifax-Moncton-Saint John route and then some bus routes connecting up to that to serve nearby areas.

This is a pretty essential service in rural areas. There are the disabled, the elderly and people who can't afford a car for one reason or another. What happens when these people have to go in to the hospital for some non-emergency? Are they out of luck unless they can find somebody else to drive them? As far as provincial level government services go this wouldn't be very expensive, and it is something that is provided for in many provinces in Canada. The federal government recently invested money in a Vancouver Island passenger rail route and there are many other routes like Churchill that are probably not profitable and yet have been deemed essential and continue on regardless.

Along the major route like Moncton-Halifax I think there would be tons of demand for a good service. I have trouble believing that the route isn't viable. Are there other companies providing bus or shuttle service?

[q12]

Here's what's available for railway lines:

2004 maps:

Halifax Railway Map (Bayers Lake line is gone)

Nova Scotia Railway Map

New Brunswick Railway Map

http://www.proximityissues.ca/english/maps1.cfm

[goosnarrggh]

Originally Posted by q12

Here's what's available for railway lines:

2004 maps:

Halifax Railway Map (Bayers Lake line is gone)

Nova Scotia Railway Map

New Brunswick Railway Map

http://www.proximityissues.ca/english/maps1.cfm

Another note for the Halifax map:
The rail line from the Narrows to North St via Kempt Rd is also non-existent.

I never knew it to run all the way to North St for my entire time living in the North End (since the late 80s); any right-of-way which may have existed to allow for such a run is now long gone.

I remember it used to extend as far as Pierceys (around the former merge-point of Kempt & Robie) until the redevelopment of that corner in the early 90s; at that time the entire spur was torn up, all the way back to Africville/Seaview Park. One or two CN-logo rail bridges still exist around Lady Hammond Rd and Kempt Rd as reminders of this former line, but the rails were torn up years ago.

(Presumably that line used to provide rail connectivity to the main Post Office on Almon St, and the former military depot near North & Gladstone.)

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by goosnarrggh

Another note for the Halifax map:
The rail line from the Narrows to North St via Kempt Rd is also non-existent.

I never knew it to run all the way to North St for my entire time living in the North End (since the late 80s); any right-of-way which may have existed to allow for such a run is now long gone.

I remember it used to extend as far as Pierceys (around the former merge-point of Kempt & Robie) until the redevelopment of that corner in the early 90s; at that time the entire spur was torn up, all the way back to Africville/Seaview Park. One or two CN-logo rail bridges still exist around Lady Hammond Rd and Kempt Rd as reminders of this former line, but the rails were torn up years ago.

(Presumably that line used to provide rail connectivity to the main Post Office on Almon St, and the former military depot near North & Gladstone.)

It didn't quite go up to North Street because I don't recall it there in the early 80's. Someone told me around the 70's it got to the post office, but then was torn up and went as far as Young Street for the military. You can still see where the line would have existed, although the building with Avis and Halifax Autosport is on what would have been part of the right of way.

I'm surprised that the two old bridges were allowed to remain. They are getting up there in years...

With the rail line removed, I don't see much point in keeping the area commercial/industrial in nature. Time for it to become something new!

[scooby074]

Originally Posted by someone123

Along the major route like Moncton-Halifax I think there would be tons of demand for a good service. I have trouble believing that the route isn't viable. Are there other companies providing bus or shuttle service?

No other companies. Just Acadian.

Bad, bad day for those without a car.

The losses weren't "that" bad, they said they lost $12M since 2004. I know, no business run at a loss for long, but in this case it could have been much worse, frankly when I read the headline I assumed that it WAS worse than 12 million over 8 years.

But as mentioned, this is a Quebec company with no real ties here, so they have no qualms about pulling the plug.

Via due to their interest in central canada won't capitalize on this either. A shame, since even considering the fact that many railbeds have been turned into "trails", they still could reach a large percentage of the population. Plus it would give some badly needed traffic on the CBNS section from Truro to CB.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by scooby074

I was trying to find the proper place to put this, but many rely on Acadian lines to get in and out of the Halifax area... So, here it is

Acadian Lines is Closing by November 30.

A bad day for public transportation. No Via, now no buses.

http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/nov...down-by-nov-30

Not to be picky, but as this is an issue that disproportionately affects rural Maritimers, perhaps the best place to post (and discuss) this is in the Atlantic Canada Regional Transportation Thread.

Halifax forumers are reminded that they are more than welcome to peruse and post in the threads in the general Atlantic Canada section.

I agree with the sentiments expressed here. I think it is time for the three provincial governments to step in and find a local Maritime operator for Acadian Lines or it's successor.

[Helladog]

May I also add that the ferry connecting Digby to Saint John is getting closer to becoming obsolete.

[resetcbu1]

Who was the new owner of Acadien Lines since Irving sold it?

I wonder if greyhound would be interested in giving it a go , although they have been makin cuts accross the board lately ..... but I'd imagine at least the Hfx-CB , Hfx - Mct - SJ -Que and route to valley would be profitable?

With all of the ecconomic boosts heading to the region seems like there must be opertunity for someone to operate a viable transit there , atleast in the near future .... and how much did mismanagement come into play of the demise of Acadien???

this company has been providing transport since the mid 30's .... what a shame

[MTLskyline]

This is surprising.

I used to take Via Rail to Moncton and then Acadian Lines to Charlottetown. The bus was always full. Although it really didn't need to stop in some of the small towns like Kensington, etc.

[scooby074]

Originally Posted by resetcbu1

Who was the new owner of Acadien Lines since Irving sold it?

I wonder if greyhound would be interested in giving it a go , although they have been makin cuts accross the board lately ..... but I'd imagine at least the Hfx-CB , Hfx - Mct - SJ -Que and route to valley would be profitable?

With all of the ecconomic boosts heading to the region seems like there must be opertunity for someone to operate a viable transit there , atleast in the near future .... and how much did mismanagement come into play of the demise of Acadien???

this company has been providing transport since the mid 30's .... what a shame

Orleans Express out of Quebec is the current owner of Acadian.

In the latest update to the story in the CH, there is some discussion that Ambassatours Gray Line might be interested in taking over some of the routes. Who knows where that will lead, but one has to imagine that the "main" runs, basically following the TCH From sydney (NFLD Ferry) to Halifax , Moncton, Fredericton etc. should be somewhat profitable?

[scooby074]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Atlantic Canada Regional Transportation Thread.

Ahh. Didnt see that.. I get scared when I go out of "Local Halifax" LOL.

Would a duplicate thread there be a good idea? Or perhaps an admin can move this one? I think its a great discussion and one that needs to happen for all Maritimers.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by scooby074

Acadian Lines is Closing by November 30.

A bad day for public transportation. No Via, now no buses.

That's terrible, but there's no VIA rail? When did that happen?

[scooby074]

Originally Posted by isaidso

That's terrible, but there's no VIA rail? When did that happen?

No VIA intercity. Just the Ocean, and that's been cut way back.

Via intercity (rail liners) have been discontinued for years. 15 maybe?

[Nouvellecosse]

I never heard anything about VIA being stopped. But admittedly I never used VIA since it didn't offer the variety of departure times. The bus left toward NB 3 times/day while the train only made one trip.

That, and because the bus stopped in Dartmouth.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

I never heard anything about VIA being stopped. But admittedly I never used VIA since it didn't offer the variety of departure times. The bus left toward NB 3 times/day while the train only made one trip.

That, and because the bus stopped in Dartmouth.

I'm pretty sure the 'Ocean' still pulls into Halifax rail station from Montreal.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by isaidso

I'm pretty sure the 'Ocean' still pulls into Halifax rail station from Montreal.

They are going to reduce the service frequency to three times per week. A final step towards cancelling the service completely.

Step 1 - reduce service frequency until the service is too irrelevant/inconvenient for passengers to use.
Step 2 - cancel the service while stating that the public no longer uses it and it is not profitable to continue.

I give VIA another 2-3 years.....