Retired bus driver Iain Gray ambled through Calgary91裸聊视频檚 cavernous Greyhound depot on its last day in operation, a gold pin with the bus company91裸聊视频檚 logo on his jacket.

Gray dropped by the station on Wednesday 91裸聊视频� the last day for must Greyhound routes in Western Canada 91裸聊视频� in the hopes of visiting a former colleague after his final run from Revelstoke, B.C.

Schedules were changed and it turns out the two friends missed each other.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just a blooming shame,91裸聊视频� Gray, who is 77 and drove buses for 30 years until 2003, said of Greyhound91裸聊视频檚 exit.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 the best place to work at. You couldn91裸聊视频檛 imagine how good it was.91裸聊视频�

Greyhound announced in July that it would wind down all but one of its routes in Western Canada and northern Ontario. A U.S.-run route from Seattle to Vancouver is the only one that remains.

Gray said he loved doing local runs, particularly through the Crowsnest Pass in southwestern Alberta and into the British Columbia Interior.

91裸聊视频淚 liked going through the little towns and the people,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频漎ou get to know the agents and all that kind of stuff.91裸聊视频�

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Two weeks ago, he flew to Salmon Arm, B.C., to go fishing with his brother and decided to take the Greyhound back to Calgary.

91裸聊视频淭he bus was full, believe it or not,91裸聊视频� said Gray, who noted that service had been reduced to two trips a day from five or six.

91裸聊视频淚f you talk to the driver, those trips are full, but that91裸聊视频檚 not enough to keep the company running.91裸聊视频�

Ottawa announced Wednesday that Canadians left isolated will have to wait two years for potential permanent replacements. Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau said the government is open to helping affected provinces pay for bus service in communities where other companies have not taken over.

As well, Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott said her department will subsidize bus services to remote Indigenous communities where needed.

Greyhound91裸聊视频檚 decision ends service in some 400 communities and leaves about 420 people out of work, said senior vice-president Stuart Kendrick, who was at the Calgary depot to oversee its closure.

The carrier has been active in Canada for about 85 years, but has seen a 40 per cent decline in rural ridership over the last decade, he said. A rural population drop, competition from low-cost airlines and greater car use have all taken a toll, he said.

Some routes had just one bus running a day, with single-digit ridership, Kendrick added.

91裸聊视频淵ou need a lot more than that to pay the bills and keep the lights on and to be viable,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a lot of mixed emotions. Obviously since the July 9 announcement, there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of sadness around by everybody.91裸聊视频�

Several regional companies have come forward to offer bus services and have taken over 87 per cent of the abandoned Greyhound routes, Garneau said. Some of those companies have already begun operating while others are set to roll in the next few weeks.

For the remaining 13 per cent, Ottawa will work with the provinces to come up with alternatives, Garneau said.

In the meantime, German backpacker Femke Bernds said she91裸聊视频檒l have to find a cost-effective alternative as she works her way to Vancouver from Calgary.

The 28-year-old said it was a shock to learn of Greyhound91裸聊视频檚 route closures shortly after her August arrival in Canada.

91裸聊视频淚t was not so nice. It91裸聊视频檚 a good bus to travel with and it91裸聊视频檚 not so expensive,91裸聊视频� she said, a red rucksack slung over her shoulder.

91裸聊视频淲hen you are travelling through a big country it91裸聊视频檚 good to have an option where you can travel cheaper and 91裸聊视频� that91裸聊视频檚 not so possible now.91裸聊视频�

Terry Pedwell and Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press

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