Acadian Bus Lines May Be Back But the Service is Still Awful

Taken at the Terminal in Moncton,
New Brunswick by me.

 Acadian Lines had a promotion from May 16th, until the 23rd; trips were free if you picked up a ticket in New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island. I ended up taking advantage of this because it was a once in a life time thing.
The buses were packed since it was a long weekend due to Victoria Day. On my way from Fredericton we were half-an-hour ahead of schedule which is unheard of, there is a first for everything. I had no problem with this at all because usually the bus is about an hour late coming out of Quebec.
I was travelling back on the last day, and this is where the nightmare begin. We arrived in Moncton to transfer like we always do. They loaded the bus around 5:30, and myself, and about 10 others learned the bus was full. We were promised that another bus was coming. We waited until 7 o'clock to find out there was no other bus, and the other bus that was full left about an hour-and-a-half late from Moncton. We were all stranded in Moncton overnight. I got lucky because I have several friends, and my Aunt who live in Moncton. I felt bad for the others, everyone was freaking out, and crying, and I do not blame them.

The ticket I received. Photo taken
by me.

I called Acadian the next morning. A lot of help that was.... They said they tried to accommodate everyone during the time of the free tickets, and that they did not have enough buses. They also were not going to do anything about the fact that I was stranded in Moncton overnight, and it was all their fault. Completely useless still. I went to the terminal, and was going to pay for a ticket, and then I mentioned the situation that occurred the night before, and the man who was working wasn't working the night before but knew more about it then the employees that had been working that night, and gave me a new free ticket for what had happened.
I am tired of this company, and all the problems they have been giving me for the last four, or so years. It is time they get it together, or just get out of the province. You would think the company would be trying to keep their customers happy after no service for six months but that would never happen. Acadian is suppose to be more stress free than asking a stranger on Kijiji, and it is still about the same. I do not want to travel for a while, and even if I have to I really do not want to take the buses. The only solution is to learn how to drive, and purchase a car.
They now have a promotion on until the end of the month for 50% off adult round trip tickets. They are going to have to do a lot more to bring back some of their customers I can imagine because people are creative, and can find other ways to travel other than the bus company that left us all stranded for six months.
I have sent them another email to the customer service side of the business, and I doubt i will hear anything back because I never heard anything back from the other five emails they sent in the past. Acadian is really good at frustrating their customers.

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Acadian Bus Lines New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Work Stoppage Finished

The tentative deal was made up in the late evening of May 2nd with the help of a mediator, and the new Vice President Denis Gallant for the company who hails from the Maritimes in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Voting of the Amalgamated Transit Union 1229 occurred Sunday May 6th. Even before the voting Glenn Carr, president of the Union said his co-workers would probably accept it, and they did with 92% in favour.
After a "five month contract dispute" (They were locked out by the company after voting 98% to go on strike December 2nd, 2011, so more like 6 months) buses will be gradually running within ten days. They are giving time to get employees back as well as buses, because a lot of them were sent out of the province after the strike started.
It wasn't even money that was the problem to begin with it was the working conditions as well. I still did not see it fit to have a company over four provinces, and give raises, and better benefits to Nova Scotia, and Quebec, and not Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick.
A lot of people are still throwing the "I am never using your service again", and honestly they can throw that threat around, but the train is limited in schedule, and locations like mentioned in a previous entry. Some people do not like the idea of Ride shares too so they are stuck riding the bus. There are also others trying to get Greyhound into the province. With Acadian back we do not need another bus, I mean I have heard about Greyhound being amazing, but it would take time to move it out here, and it would probably be difficult. Common sense doesn't exist sometimes.
I am very excited to have the company working again in New Brunswick as it will be easier to travel. At the first of the strike I was infuriated, and sent the most ridiculous email saying I would never use their services again. I emailed them two months later with a more well written, and respectable email saying mostly what I have been in previous entries about the strike.
Great to have them back, now hopefully now that there is better work conditions coming for the employees the service will improve as well.


Older Posts About the Strike (Newest to Oldest):
Acadian Bus Lines Strike End in View
Acadian Bus Lines Negotiations Fail
Acadian Bus Lines Possible Arbitration
Acadian Bus Lines New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island Strike

Acadian Bus Lines Strike End in View

The last scheduled talks that occurred in February fell through.
Scheduled talks on April 29th, 30th, and May 1st extended into May 2nd with the help of a mediator at the table. This article: Acadian Lines Dispute May End Next Week, Says Union basically stated what has been know for a long time, the company is the problem at the moment, and not the Union who wants to get back to work. The company has a new Vice President who is from Atlantic Canada, which ultimately is going to help. This was the first light of hope we seen in a long time since the fallout in February: Talks Resume in Acadian Bus Dispute. Though information comes through faster on the Acadian FaceBook Page. You also get to read a lot of things of interest.
There was an attempt to a shuttle into the province but there were too problems; the reservation system, and the 15 seat-van. I read one comment that was completely unnecessary saying: "the woman of Northern New Brunswick need to get off their soap box about the whole thing", they lost their children in the Boy in Red 2008 accident with a similar vehicle. There was no need of a comment like that.... I did not like the idea of a shuttle myself, I looked up information, and found they were quite expensive, and the reservation system made it difficult.
On May 2nd the Facebook page announced that negotiations were continuing on that day which is something that has not occurred in the past. Before these negotiations it was said they wanted to reach an agreement. Today another status appeared on Acadian's FaceBook saying that late last night a decision had been made, and this article also appeared: Acadian Lines Union to Vote Deal on Sunday. The head of the Amalgamated Transit Union 1229 thinks that the others will accept the deal. If so the buses will be running again in about two weeks hopefully.

Personally I feel that the talks were scheduled late, but it is the company in control, and not the Union. Most Universities/Colleges are done in April, so anyone wanting to to go to PEI, NS, and NFLD would have difficulties, including travelers trying to get past, or through New Brunswick. VIA Rail is a great way to travel, do not get me wrong, and it is cheaper than the bus, but the scheduled times are horrible, and some cities do not even have train stations. It will be nice to have the bus back, and not have to rely on Kijiji Ride-shares, or hunt through friends to see who is traveling home. Hopefully there are no idiots who screw this up for everyone because there is always a few who will try.

Older Posts About the Strike (Newest to Oldest):
Acadian Bus Lines Negotiations Fail
Acadian Bus Lines Possible Arbitration
Acadian Bus Lines New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island Strike