Intercity Bus Services

[Bordercollie]

Something I noticed on the Hamilton Public works committee agenda this week: looks like Flixbus is planning to serve downtown Hamilton. Service levels should be good as well:
View attachment 708319

PW26005 - Public Works Committee - January 12, 2026

pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com

Why not hunter St terminal?

 

[APTA-2048]

Why not hunter St terminal?

Probably requires approval from Metrolinx.

 

[Bordercollie]

It's only running 2x per a week for the last while, and going south the timing can be hours late so not a great experience for those going south!

Also that corridor has directional running. How would they go south from Sudbury to Toronto without running rights on CP trackage?

 

[Bordercollie]

Probably requires approval from Metrolinx.

Greyhound used the station. Does coach Canada still use it?

 

[APTA-2048]

Greyhound used the station. Does coach Canada still use it?

I don’t think any intercity buses other than GO Transit use it right now.

 

[rbt]

Probably requires approval from Metrolinx.

Not just approval, they charge for it. Street-side stops are free.

Union station usage fees are around $40 per bus but each operator negotiates independently and there are discounts for volume and off-peak use. I'd guess Hunter Street station usage fees are around $20 per bus; trivial on a full load but noticeably impacts the business case if you're only picking up 5 customers.

 

[Bordercollie]

Not just approval, they charge for it. Street-side stops are free.

Union station usage fees are around $40 per bus but each operator negotiates independently and there are discounts for volume and off-peak use. I'd guess Hunter Street station usage fees are around $20 per bus; trivial on a full load but noticeably impacts the business case if you're only picking up 5 customers.

So will they be picking up at downtown and at Mac? That's an extra half an hour travel to London.

 

[ShonTron]

So will they be picking up at downtown and at Mac? That's an extra half an hour travel to London.

There are a number of possibilities. Until the 1990s, there were intercity buses going in all directions from Downtown Hamilton, including Hagersville and Simcoe, St. Catharines (via Highway 8 and the QEW), Welland, Brantford, Cambridge and Kitchener, and Guelph.

Perhaps Flixbus is looking at a London-Hamilton-Niagara route.

There are also many bus operators (and VIA) making that same Toronto-London trip.