After a short stint, it appears private scheduled bus service between La Ronge and Prince Albert is no more.
L.A. Family Shuttle began offering daily return trips between the two destinations at the end of July.
However, owner Vi Werchola says she had to shut the service down last month due to lack of customer demand.
“It’s just not feasible,” she says. “I am only getting a call here and there and so at an adult price of $60, therefore that doesn’t even cover the gas one way. So, I’m very disappointed in it, it seemed like it was a service that was needed.”
Werchola blames people offering rides on social media at cheaper rates as putting the final nail in the coffin of her business.
“I know what the problem is, it’s the La Ronge Travellers Club (Facebook group), that’s the problem because people are posting every day that they’re going south or they’re going north and they’ll do it for 20 bucks. That’s cheap and they’re being like minibuses and that’s what’s killing it.”
Another company called KCTI Travels had also been offering scheduled bus service between La Ronge and Prince Albert.
However, an official with the company says the service is currently on hold.
Werchola says she will still provide bus service between the two destinations if people pre-book and there are four or more passengers.
The two companies had attempted to step in and fill the void after the Sask. Party government shut down the Saskatchewan Transportation Company in 2017.
(PHOTO: Vi Werchola. Photo courtesy Vi Werchola, Facebook)