ESTEVAN — Paradigm Charter says it is ready to start with its new bus service from Estevan to Regina on May 6.
Jordan Kreutzer, the company’s occupational health and safety officer, said the bus will be at Affinity Place at 8:30 a.m. that day and it is expected to depart about 15 minutes later, once the bus is loaded. The bus is expected to arrive at the Regina General Hospital, which is its first stop in the Queen City, at 11:30 a.m.
He noted the bus can stop at several communities along the way, including Macoun, Midale, Weyburn, Yellow Grass, Lang and Milestone. If nobody in those communities is scheduled to take the bus that day, then the vehicle won't stop.
Other stops in Regina are at the Pasqua Hospital, Casino Regina and Costco. Additional stops could be added if there is enough demand; he noted the Pasqua was not on the initial list, but people reached out and said it was needed.
“We have multiple buses that could be doing this tour. We have a 36-passenger [bus] all the way up to a 56-passenger that will be running on this line run," Kreutzer told SaskToday.
The return trip would begin at approximately 4:45 p.m., with the Regina Costco as the first stop. The bus would then make its way to the other Regina stops and make its way back towards Estevan. It should be back in the Energy City at around 8 p.m., he said.
People can also get off the bus before reaching Regina. If a passenger wants to travel from Estevan to Weyburn, for example, they can. They could also go from Yellow Grass to Estevan, for example, if they want.
Paradigm Charter plans to initially run once a week on Wednesdays, and if there is enough interest, then it could run additional days. The trip from Estevan to Regina is $59.99, including taxes, for a one-way ticket, and the return trip costs the same amount. The expense to and from other communities is less, he said, depending on distance. Weyburn is $39.99 for a one-way jaunt to Regina.
The company had a marketing campaign on Highways 39 and 6 to create awareness for the service.
“So far, it’s really, really well received, getting a lot of high praises that people want this service in the southeast,” he said.
The big focus is now on selling tickets for their first trip. Some tickets for May 6 have already been purchased, he said. Kreutzer noted the deadline to purchase tickets will be at about 5 p.m. the day before, and last-minute passengers won't be accepted.
“We have to let the drivers know the names of who’s going to be on the bus,” said Kreutzer.
After the City of Estevan posted Paradigm Charter's plans on its Facebook page, Kreutzer said the company had over 1,200 hits on its website.
“The interest is there. We just need that to convert to ridership now,” he said.
The company has also partnered with Alpha Taxi in Estevan for a $10 fare from anywhere in Estevan to Affinity Place for those taking the bus to Regina.
Estevan has largely been without a bus service since the provincial government shut down the Saskatchewan Transportation Company in 2017.
