Last bus for Acadian Lines today
Posted Nov 30, 2012 10:06:53 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The company announced in August, it would cease operations at the end of November.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1229 President Glen Carr says it’s a said day.
“Seeing that the long term employees here, that have been loyal and dedicated to this company, being let go and to see another company come in and not take any of the experienced employees and not take them to their new start, it’s a shame,” said Carr.
It was almost a year ago, that employees with Acadian Bus Lines were locked out by their employer over contract disputes.
An agreement was finally reached in June, but two months later the company announced it couldn’t keep the service going because it was losing too much money.
Meantime, another bus service is set to take its place tomorrow.
Maritime Bus will operate runs in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
It was learned this week, Maritime Bus will share locations with the VIA rail stations in Moncton, Truro and Halifax, using their pick-up and drop-off points, and their ticket agents.
Acadian Lines was started in Halifax in 1938, then known as Nova Scotia Coach Lines. It adopted the name Acadian Lines in 1947.
Originally a division of United Service Corporation, it was purchased by three Halifax businessmen in 1955, who also acquired Fleetlines Limited and Highland Lines of Sydney, operating throughout the province.
The company remained Nova Scotia-owned until 1995, when it was purchased by the Irving Transportation Group and merged with its SMT (Eastern), servicing N.B. and P.E.I.
In 2004, Irving sold Acadian Lines to Quebec-based Orleans Express group.
