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New Greyhound depot opens doors Saturday

By: Aldo Santin

Posted: 08/13/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

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Tradesmen put the final touches on Greyhounds new ticket counter. (PHIL.HOSSACK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

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WINNIPEG - IT doesn't look like much now but workers are busy transforming two recently constructed empty buildings into the new Greyhound Canada bus depot.

Located opposite the Air Canada end of the main terminal building at the Richardson International Airport, the new bus depot is set to open for business 6 a.m., Saturday morning.

"The counters went in (Wednesday) and the furniture arrives (today)," said Peter Hamel, regional manager of Greyhound Canada passenger service.

On Wednesday, the floors were dusty, doorways lacked doors, tape was stretched across openings. The sounds of saws and drills echoed through the buildings.

Hamel said the new terminal is the first new facility Greyhound has built in Canada in 20 years.

"This is the model for new terminals," Hamel said. "It's wide open, everything is in plain sight. It's designed to be easy for passengers and employees.

"Right now it has that 'new car' smell. It's exciting. It's all about the Greyhound experience."

The old downtown depot on Colony Street closes at 11:59 p.m. Friday, ending 45 years of history with downtown Winnipeg. Greyhound had been operating from that location since 1964.

The old terminal is proposed to become part of the expanding University of Winnipeg campus.

The new depot consists of separate buildings for passengers and the parcel courier service. The buildings are separated by a large, paved drive-in area for the Greyhound buses, and connected by a large overhead canopy.

There are two separate parking areas adjacent to both buildings.

Hamel said the site has a footprint of about 30,000 square feet. The construction cost was $6.93 million.

Between 50 and 60 employees will work at the new facility, Hamel said, including the staff from the downtown depot and the accounting and sales staff who work out of the company's office on Burnell.

Greyhound will retain its maintenance facility on Sutherland Avenue in Point Douglas.

Alex Brandt, the regional manager of the company's parcel express side, said having a spacious, one-storey facility will make it easier for both customers and employees who move the boxes and parcels.

Greyhound has a 40-year lease on the site, Hamel said, after which it will acquire ownership of the buildings only.

Hamel said Greyhound will operate a daily downtown shuttle: picking up passengers at 8 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 5 p.m. from a heated shelter at 299 Fort St., the western entrance of Winnipeg Square. Arriving passengers can also opt to be dropped off at the Fort Street shelter after their bus first checks into the airport depot and before it heads for the maintenance facilities in Point Douglas.

Hamel said while the depot opens Saturday, the official grand opening will take place the morning of Aug. 28.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 13, 2009 B2

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