Acadian Lines 205, MCI 102-A3 in the Antigonish terminal adjacent to Highway 4 at 53 James St, 160 kilometres northeast of Halifax. Antigonish has a population of 4,656.
The Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada has weather conditions at the best of times described as changeable, however, in 2023 it was more biblical. As we stood at the bus stop, rain lashed down whilst just a few miles away and in the direct line of our bus route, wild fires raged. Having booked and paid for a pick-up (Coach Atlantic requires a minimum three hours’ booking notice), we had little choice but to travel. The omens were good, as our Ford E450 cutaway arrived on time from Lunenburg, having made an intermediate stop in Bridgewater. The service joined highway 103 for the remainder of the journey into Halifax, making just one stop on route at the Valerie Avenue car sharing park adjacent to the highway. On approach to the Halifax suburbs, the driver received a State Government warning message on his mobile devise advising him of impending road closures due to the proximity of the wild fires. Over the previous few days, we had become used to these messages appearing on tv screens and mobile phones: they let out a loud klaxon sound followed by the screen turning red and a warning message. The highway remained open for us, although the junctions off were closed and we soon arrived at the first city centre stop, a large edge of town shopping centre. Next stop, rather unusually, was the car park of a drive through burger restaurant, followed by the hospital and finally to the downtown terminus on Hollis Street, adjacent to the Via Rail station. In four decades of travelling this route, 2023 was exceptional although passenger transport in this part of Canada has seen its fair share of trials and tribulations.
Left: Acadian Lines, a 1989 MCI MC-9 Special. Acadian had exclusive rights to operate on condition that the more profitable routes would subsidize the less profitable ones. Prince Edward Island had no regulations over the service, but in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, it could take five to eight months to get permission for a fare or route change. In 2010 it applied to reduce service between Sydney and Halifax from three trips a day to two, its 51-seat coaches were carrying an average of 12 people. Right: Acadian Lines 205. MCI 102-A3 on highway 4 heading towards Cape Breton Island.
In August 1938 Nova Scotia Coach Lines, a division of United Service Corporation of Halifax, was formed. It was renamed Acadian Coach Lines in 1947. The coach company provided intercity and charter service within the province of Nova Scotia. In December 1955, Acadian Lines was purchased from United Service Corporation by George C. Thompson, Ralph A. Pepper, and Gordon H. Thompson. Expansion followed with the purchase of the bus operations of Fleetlines Limited of Halifax and Highland Lines of Sydney, the largest urban area on Cape Breton Island. Other associated companies have included including Acadian Travel Agency, Wagner Tours and McKenzie Bus Lines. By December 1995, the Irving Transportation Group subsidiary SMT (Eastern) had acquired Acadian Lines and its charter coach subsidiary Nova Charter Services. SMT (Eastern) Ltd was established in 1937 by K.C. Irving.
The next chapter of bus and coach operations in Nova Scotia would begin with Mike Cassidy, owner of Trius Tours in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, introducing the Maritime Bus brand on the 1st December 2012, picking up the services and promising a seamless transition. Trius Tours operate under various brands; Coach Atlantic; Prince Edward Tours; Gray Line and T3 (Take Transit Today) for local services in Charlottetown, Cornwall, Stratford, and Summerside, all on Prince Edward Island. Trius Tours was started by George Brookins in 1986. On April 1, 2005, Mike Cassidy and Bill Keith purchased Trius Tours from Brookins for $500,000. Keith soon sold his shares to Cassidy. Brookins was hired as general manager. However, not all has been plain sailing and in 2010 Brookins was found guilty of defrauding the company of $203,728.90.
SMT (Eastern) 4803, Setra S215 HDH waiting at the Caribou Ferry terminal on route Prince Edward Island. Before the opening of Confederation Bridge in 1997 this was one of two ferry crossings - the other being at Cape Tormentine closer to New Brunswick.
During September 2019 Dennis Campbell, proprietor of Absolute Charters, sold out to Mike Cassidy. Mike Cassidy’s Group had a record year in 2019 with revenues reaching almost $45 million. The company had a fleet of 275 vehicles and employed 515 people across the Atlantic Maritimes. In April that year, the company carried 19,000 passengers. A year later, when Covid struck it carried only 650 people during the same month. Both 2020 and 2021 were disastrous for the Group, financial losses were reported of $33 million in 2020 and $25 million in 2021 as Transport Canada enforced a Covid cruise ship ban in the Maritimes. Things were looking up in May 2022 as Cassidy signed a contract with Prevost for the supply of 50 Prevost H3-45 coaches over a five-year period. In June 2022, 10 Prevost H3-45 were delivered.
In June 2023, we found Nova Scotia much quieter than previous occasions and compared to the 1980s and 1990s the range of express services and excursions on offer were greatly reduced. The focus is now on cruise ship passengers.
Left: Ambassatours, seventy-four seat Van Hool Astromega photographed June 2019 at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic in Lunenburg. For visitors staying in the capital, Halifax, this is a popular destination as part of “Nova Scotia South Shore in a day” excursion. Right: Trius Tours Ltd 809, Setra S417 C56Ft fitted with Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine. The Company was founded in 1986 and is now part of the Coach Atlantic Group. Photographed at Peggy’s Cove information centre, rather than using the coach park at the lighthouse.