Megabus to roll between London-Toronto with Windsor expansion possible - Action News
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Megabus to roll between London-Toronto with Windsor expansion possible

A St. Thomas-based bus company is launching twice-daily service between London and Toronto in an effort to fill the void left when Greyhound pulled out of the region this past spring.

The bus service starts Thursday with pick-up-drop-off at a 401 truck stop

Coach Canada invests $11 Million in 15 new Megabus Double-Decker coaches providing service between Montreal and Toronto and Toronto and Buffalo. The Canadian Press Images PHOTO/Coach Canada (Canadian Press/Coach Canada )

A St. Thomas-based bus company is launching twice-daily service between London and Toronto in an effort to fill the void left when Greyhound pulled out of the region this past spring.

Badder Bus is partnering with Megabus.com, a North-American firm already providing coach servicebetween Montreal and Toronto, with routes out of London starting Thursday.

If the service goes well and the company is able to bounce back after a financially challenging pandemic period, the local company says routes may be expanded across southwestern Ontario.

"We're in negotiations to try to get into the Windsor bus terminal downtown," said Badder Bus President Doug Badder. "We're just waiting for that to get approved and once it happens, we'll start with one bus to Windsor"

Greyhound Canadaannounced itwas permanently shutting down all of its remaining bus routesin Canada in May 2021 aftera year of suspendedservicebecause of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A day later, Megabussaid it would be adding a stop in Ottawa to provideservice toToronto, Scarborough andKingston, but until now, cities westof Toronto have not been connected by bus.

London passengers will have to adjust to a new pickup and drop off point, far from Greyhound's former downtown depot. Instead, the bus will depart from the Flying J truck stop on Highbury Avenue, south of the 401.

Badder said the company is currently in the process of scouting for a more central terminal.

"I know Greyhound had good success between London and Toronto so hopefully we can get some of that business back," Badder said.