Busses in Canada...?

Question

I was planning on taking the Greyhound bus from one province to another (in Canada), but after the incident last week or whenever it was, I'm having second thoughts. I was wondering, are there any other buses/trains/etc. that you can think of in Canada (other than Coach Canada, I think it's called. It doesn't go where I want to), or should I just fly? Sorry, but I'm a little nervous about taking a bus now - and I read that that's not the first Greyhound "incident".

Answer 1

There is a national rail system (VIA Rail), which offers regular service in western Quebec / southern Ontario, one train each way most days between Halifax and Montreal, and three (I think) trains a week each way between Toronto and Vqancouver.  There are several other shorter lines with passeger service which can go to scenic places.  Some cities like Calgary and Regina are not served.  Like airlines, fares are lower if you book in advance, and the cheapest fares are non refundable.  Google VIA Rail Canada for more information.

You can also fly, and it is the best way to go long distances in a hurry.  Contact Westjet or charters such as Skyservice, Air Transat, Porter (Eastern Canada) and others as well as Air Canada.

As for the bus services...I have used Greyhound and other systems across Canada, and it is very similar to bus service in the US.  I don't think anything like the crime in question has happened before on a bus service in Canada.  You may encounter a drunk or obnoxious passenger, and would do well to guard against pickpockets in the stations, as you would anywhere in the world while traveling.  But I don't think you will be the victim of a serious crime on the bus system.

Answer 2

Think about what you have written! If you apply that thinking to everything you do, you would pack yourself in a box and have yourself shipped to Fort Knox never to see the light of day ever again. Crime happens everywhere. Do you go into the post office? In the States there have been several incidents of sick thinkers shooting up a variety of post offices. Liquor stores? Banks? corner stores? etc etc.etc. They get held up and people get killed all the time. Women get raped and murdered in their own homes and their own beds quite often. Does that mean you do not go to sleep ever again? Do you stop educating yourself or your kids because some out of control kids in some schools have shot other kids to death? This is totally illogical thinking!! And of all the places I have mentioned, a Greyhound bus sees less violent crime than any of them. As someone ahead of me said, "Get a  Grip!"

Edit:

Greyhound buses in Canada are normally a safe method of travelling. Long hauls may be uncomfortable especially if you are trying to sleep, but our buses up here are usually in very good to excellent condition and I have personally never heard any serious complaining about them. The intent (for me in any case) is not so much to insult you but rather to keep the hysteria at a manageable level. Over reacting is counter productive.

Answer 3

Millions of passenger miles, and one incident like this creates such mass paranoia.  Bus travel in the US and Canada is the same, and there is very little that could have been done in either country to preven an insane person from committing such an act.  If people legislated security checks, they would be legislating bus service out of business, because there is no way small towns with 2 or 3 people boarding or getting off can have guards, and metal detectors, x-ray machines and so on, like airports, it just is not economically possible.  These incidents are extremely rare, and, mile for mile, bus travel is one of the safest ways to travel.

GreyHound is the only bus service that is national.  Other carriers, like Grey Goose, and STS are provincial.

Answer 4

Getting away from the safety issue a bit, you might not find bus or rail transport to be the best use of your time. Canada is a vast country, and travelling across large parts of it by road or rail means hour after monotonous hour of either trees and lakes or flat prairie.

For example, Montreal-Vancouver is a three-day journey by rail or bus (without stopovers), 5-10 days by car (depending on your pace), but only 5h 30m by jet.

Answer 5

It's not the method of transportation, it's the passengers. I feel for you. I was terrified and relieved - terrified because my brother just took Greyhound from Winnipeg to Toronto and relieved when I found out he arrived safely. He has to head back by bus soon and has promised to call as soon as he gets back.

Answer 6

It is really sad that one incident can create so much paronoia. I'd be alot more frightened about sending a child of mine to a school in the US than I would about boarding a greyhound bus in Canada.

I've used Greyhound many, many time here in Canada and to be truthful have never even encountered an unruly passenger. Get a grip.

Answer 7

This guy was a whack job and that can happen anywhere any time you hear about them trying to open the doors on the plane and doing other stuff.  There is a socialogical reason for this happening but I won't get into it here.

Look at it this way the bus is a great way to see the sights but it really is a crappy way to travel.  (been there done that)  I would worry more about the driver falling asleeep at the wheel or having an accident than some nutbar with a knife.  

Of all the busses roaming around the world think of how many accidents verses bombings & attacks there are versus the miles that they travel and it is really quite safe way to go even in places where there is armed conflict and road side bombs.