Passengers ponder life after STC
Higher costs anticipated with any possible future rural travel service
The upcoming shutdown of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) has its passengers pondering impending higher travel costs.
Erich Miller was at the STC bus depot in Regina on Saturday morning waiting to catch a bus back home to Melville. The retired senior citizen uses STC a minimum of two times a year when he goes abroad on vacation to Mexico or Cuba.
“(The shutdown) shouldn’t probably affect my travel, like going places. Might not do it out of Regina because I can catch a train to Winnipeg or Saskatoon and catch a plane out of either one of those places,” he said.
There could be other options to get to Regina. On Thursday, limousine company, Carpe Diem Group, announced it has applied to take over STC’s routes, but Miller is concerned the ticket prices will rise. STC, which hasn’t turned a profit since 1979, kept ticket costs low by receiving a subsidy of $10 million to $11 million a year from the provincial government.
Rae-Anne Ellert, from Melville, was also at the bus depot Saturday waiting to take a bus home. Ellert uses STC two to three times a month to travel to Regina. The upcoming shutdown has her worried about travel costs.
“It is going to cost a lot more. But I’m sure I’ll figure it out one way or another. Like even if I have to slow down the amount that I’m coming,” she said.
Ellert has a disability that prevents her from driving so public transportation is a necessity. She has heard about private companies planning to take over.
“I am very happy about it and I am grateful that somebody has taken that over but at the same time to me I didn’t think that closing down completely was the answer,” she said.
Wayne Morin wasn’t at the bus depot on Saturday to take a bus himself, but instead to pick up his sister, Christine Morin, who regularly takes the bus into Regina from Moose Jaw. The two have looked into Christine’s future travel options, but they know whatever option they choose will cost more.
It is going to cost a lot more. But I’m sure
I’ll figure it out one way or another. Like even if I have to slow down the amount that I’m coming.
Wayne, who used to live in Gravelbourg, wasn’t surprised to hear about the shutdown as he would regularly see only two people taking the bus from there to Regina.
“Its kind of unfortunate that (the government) hadn’t made the changes sooner to cut back some of it. I think it’s just impossible to service so many rural areas,” he said.
The idea of private companies taking over the routes doesn’t seem feasible to Wayne.
“I think (the cost is) going to have to go up. With the cost of everything rising it has been too cheap to travel. You can’t travel that for what you’re paying in your own vehicle most likely and (private companies are) trying to profit,” he said.