New intercity bus terminal replaces former downtown London, Ont., Greyhound station

The former Greyhound bus station located in the heart of the city's downtown is now home to a new bus service that will connect London, Ont., to its neighbouring cities and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Intercity Bus Terminal launched operations at the corner of York and Talbot Streets on Wednesday and runs from London to Toronto with stops in Woodstock, Kitchener, Milton, Mississauga and Brampton along the way. 

"This indoor space is for passengers to come and relax before they go for their ride and the vision behind our service is to connect cities and unite journeys for passengers," said the company's president Bilal Taj.

Long time Londoner Taj has worked in the transportation industry for eight years. He found there was a huge gap for people in London and surrounding areas when travelling to other cities because there is no facility where they can sit indoors while waiting for their bus to come.

"One of the biggest challenges for passengers taking buses from city to city is they have to stand outside, whether it's a storm, winter or raining, and wait with their luggage for buses which can often be late," said Usman Qayyum, one of the team leads.

Two years ago, when Greyhound permanently suspended bus service in Canada, the large terminal was shuttered and other bus services took people from city to city, but parking was a major issue. 

The new bus terminal has parking, an indoor seating space, free Wi-Fi, and plans to add vending machines and snack shops. The Subway restaurant in the building has a lease until 2025.

The building at 101 York Street is owned by Farhi Holdings. Landlord Shmuel Farhi said the station will have a positive impact on downtown, which a lot of businesses have stepped away from since the pandemic.

"Downtown is the heart and soul of the community and anything we can do to bring it up is great," said Farhi. "It's a really positive direction that the business believes in the value of downtown the way we in the community recognize the significance of a centralized location."

Starting at $27, prices range depending on the final destination, with alternative stops at Toronto Pearson Airport, Billy Bishop Airport, the Yorkdale TTC station and downtown Toronto. Buses seat up to 56 passengers.

"You have to give more than one answer for transportation to Toronto. How many people can afford to take the rail and pay over $200?" Farhi said. 

The competitive pricing can draw more passengers, especially students, many of whom are come to London from other cities and are usually on a tight budget, said Qayyum.

The service will add to its existing fleet of six buses as demand increases. It will also make trips to smaller cities and towns outside London, including St. Thomas and Ingersoll, Qayyum said, adding there's no timeline yet as to when this will happen. 

The team will be renovating the building, with eventual plans to someday expand and connect London to all cities across Ontario.