CALGARY, AB – This summer, Red Arrow will mark its 40th anniversary.
So, what exactly is Red Arrow?
“Red Arrow is sort of a business-class, inter-city motor coach,” said John Stepovy, Director of Sales and Business Development.
He said the bus line’s fleet offers an experience like what someone would experience flying business class with an airline.
“It’s two-in-one seating, leather seats that recline, foot rests, pull-down trays, three-point seat belts, arm rests, power at your feet, Wi-Fi on board, movies, satellite radio, a galley with snacks and beverages complimentary for passengers,” he noted.
“It’s really a great, comfortable way to travel whether for business, you want to relax, get some homework done – that’s what the service is all about.”
Red Arrow was founded in 1979 by R.B. Colborne under the Pacific Western Group of Companies (PW) and serves passengers in Alberta.
“We primarily serve the north and south Alberta corridor, stretching north from Fort McMurray and all the way south to Lethbridge. We have services connecting Cold Lake, and services connecting Camrose as well,” Stepovy said.
A MILESTONE
Stepovy said the crew is very excited about celebrating 40 years of service.
“I think we attribute it to the dedication of our founder and of ownership to the service,” he said.
He noted that Colborne had a vision of a more refined, safe way to travel.
“It’s sort of suits the needs of a lot of Albertans, and we provide a quality service. We have quality operators, we have great safety history and I think Albertans see that and I think Albertans believe in us,” Stepovy added.
FUTURE GROWTH, GREYHOUND
Stepovy said they’re always looking to grow, especially in the wake of Greyhound’s cancellation of services across most of Canada in 2018.
Their Ebus brand is a more cost-friendly option launched in 2011. Ebus allowed for the expansion of service to British Columbia following Greyhound’s departure.
“We’ve had great opportunities to grow, whether it’s been in new communities – with Red Arrow, we expanded into the Grande Prairie marketplace, and then just the additional routes, additional services, we are continuously looking to serve more and more Albertans,” Stepovy said.
“It’s (Greyhound ceasing operations) certainly offered us the opportunity to provide services to more communities and more Albertans. We’re positioned well to do and positioned to grow with the demand and ensure that no one is left behind on the corridors that we serve.”
All Red Arrow and Ebus vehicles are accessible to people with disabilities.
“We really take pride in providing barrier-free transportation, so we’re a good solution for any and all Canadians,” Stepovy said.
He noted that since Greyhound ceased operations, they have seen a slight boost in ridership.
“We’ve seen periods of time where there is a little bit more demand…we have seen some increases in demand on both our Ebus and Red Arrow schedules, but certainly there’s lots of room to share our story and to ensure that people in Alberta and B.C. know that we’re out there and we’re here to provide good quality service for them.”
