Unexpected changes to BC Ferries' Horsehoe Bay - Departure Bay route started today - leaving confusion among passengers booked on Greyhound's coach services to and from Vancouver Island.
With minimal notice to passengers, BC Ferries has implemented new schedules on its Horseshoe Bay routes to Nanaimo and Langdale, because of a shortage of ferries caused by a siezed engine on the Queen of Surrey, which normally plies the Langdale route. This means that sailings to and from Departure Bay, Nanaimo will now run up to 30 minutes later than advertised, from today until September 6.
These changes seem to have caught Greyhound on the hop, with their Vancouver-Nanaimo services not retimed until a week later (July 6) to fit in with the new ferry schedule. No changes are so far proposed to connecting services between Nanaimo to Victoria, Campbell River and Port Hardy - so there is a risk that some passengers may miss their connections in Nanaimo.
Tofino Bus, whose Island Express service links Nanaimo with Port Alberni and Tofino has rescheduled its evening service on Fridays and Sundays to leave Nanaimo at 9.30pm, 15 minutes later than advertised, to ensure the connection from Vancouver, starting Friday (July 2).
Meanwhile, BC Transit is also retiming its 9pm #90 Intercity Connector service from Horseshoe Bay to Parksville and Qualicum Beach to run 30 minutes later from today until September 6.
How do passengers find out about these changes? You may well ask! Greyhound does not publish a schedule leaflet, so it's only when you book that the times are confirmed. And if the schedule changes after you've booked.........?
Check out the Island Transport Solutions website for up to date ferry, bus, train and floatplane services to the islands
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