Media

Red Arrow in the News

MEDIA Release

February 12, 2012 - (Edmonton) Our Red Arrow Motorcoach Unit # 733 carrying thirty-six (36) passengers plus our driver bound for Edmonton from Fort McMurray was involved in a traffic incident which occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. ten (10) kilometers west of Redwater, Alberta.

Our immediate concern and priority is for the well being of our passengers and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.

Upon being made aware of the incident - the Red Arrow Motorcoach Team responded immediately by enacting its Emergency Plan. EMS and STARS Ambulance were dispatched to the scene.

At this time we have been advised that several passengers have been taken to area hospitals including; Fort Saskatchewan, Sturgeon Community Hospital in St. Albert, Sherwood Park and the Royal Alexandria in Edmonton.

We do not have any details on how the incident occurred and we are cooperating with the RCMP as they conduct their investigation.

Red Arrow Motorcoach has been operating on Alberta highways for over thirty-three (33) years and has an excellent Safety Record.

All our professional Drivers are very well trained and continue to receive ongoing education including simulator training. Red Arrow Motorcoach, carefully monitors Driver Hours of Service. We pass Fleet Safety, Workplace Safety Audits and our fleet of Motorcoaches are very well maintained and inspected on a regular basis.

With respect to our Driver who was involved in today's incident, he is an experienced Red Arrow Motorcoach Driver, very familiar with the highway and has been operating a motorcoach for many years.

Our immediate priority is to ensure that the needs of our passengers are taken care of and we continue to work on that.

MEDIA Release

November 15, 2011 - Red Arrow Motorcoach and Traxx Coachlines Announces Medicine Hat to Calgary Passenger Service

(Edmonton) Red Arrow Motorcoach announces that daily scheduled Motorcoach Passenger Service is now available from Medicine Hat to Calgary.

Red Arrow Motorcoach along with its service partner Traxx Coachlines of Medicine Hat have launched the Traxx “Calgary Connector”. 

The new partner service is in direct response to the Provincial Government’s “Alberta Transportation Bus Modernization Program” which was announced at the end of June 2011.

In August, Red Arrow Motorcoach - General Manager, John Stepovy announced that under the new terms of the Alberta Transportation Bus Modernization Program, the company would actively pursue and develop interline partnerships with other operators to establish a passenger transportation network to connect to Alberta communities.

“Traxx Coachlines is our first partner,” says John “and we are working very closely with them as they develop their Calgary Connector. Harnessing our passenger services and expertise makes a lot of sense and gives the residents of Medicine Hat and Southern Alberta the opportunity to now travel and connect to Red Arrow Motorcoach destinations that include; Red Deer, Edmonton and Fort McMurray”.

As part of its Medicine Hat to Calgary Connector service Traxx will also serve the communities of Redcliff, Brooks and Strathmore which offers door-to-door service to the Calgary International Airport, Red Arrow Motorcoach Ticket Office in North Calgary, Foothills Hospital, North Hill Mall, Cross Iron Mills and Airdrie.

“The introduction of the Traxx passenger service to Calgary will also benefit other Alberta communities,”says John. “Whether you live Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary or Fort McMurray - now everyone will have a connection to Medicine Hat.”

“The days of depending on your personal vehicle, dealing with challenging winter driving conditions, or trying to arrange transportation with family or friends to reach Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton or Fort McMurray is no longer necessary” notes Stepovy.

Red Arrow Motorcoach and partnering operators are pleased to have the opportunity to serve and connect Alberta Safely.

MEDIA Release

August 30, 2011 - (Edmonton) Red Arrow Motorcoach is pleased to announce that it has received approval from Alberta Transportation to launch its new Calgary to Lethbridge service.

John Stepovy, General Manager - Red Arrow Motorcoach notes “we worked very closely with the community and received a tremendous amount of support from Lethbridge and area during the Application process. We are  delighted that we now have formal approval to begin the Lethbridge to Calgary service.”

The service will commence Monday, September 5th and will feature two departures daily from Lethbridge and Calgary.

Lethbridge passengers traveling to Calgary can board at the Red Arrow Motorcoach downtown location or from the University of Lethbridge.

“The Lethbridge to Calgary morning departure features service to the Calgary International Airport, which will certainly appeal to those heading to Canadian, U.S. or International destinations” says Stepovy. For those Lethbridge travelers arriving at the Calgary International Airport, Red Arrow Motorcoach will include service from the Airport to Lethbridge.

For passengers traveling to Lethbridge they can now board at any one of Red Arrow’s three convenient Calgary locations: Downtown, North or the Calgary International Airport.

Passengers will be able to book their Lethbridge/Calgary travel “Online” beginning Wednesday, August 31st or by contacting Red Arrow Motorcoach Toll Free 1-800-232-1958.

Red Arrow Motorcoach now operates daily scheduled passenger motorcoach service between Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, and Lethbridge.

MEDIA Release

June 01, 2011 – Red Arrow’s unique luxury motor coach service is featured in today’s article by Jeremy Klaszus of AlbertaVenture.com. “How Red Arrow Aims to be King of the Road” highlights the purpose behind the service and provides some historical background as well. Shown below is the opening paragraph:

The Red Arrow is many things: A comfortable ride, an alternative to flying and a successful local company. Just don't call it a bus.

It took a while for Butch Wilson to purge the word bus from his vocabulary. The longtime Red Arrow Motorcoach driver remembers being at the Calgary office in the 1980s, back when the company was trying to woo riders, and exclaiming that if he didn’t hurry, he’d “miss the bus” back to Edmonton. The comment was a minor slip-up, but one made within earshot of Robert Colborne, the transport entrepreneur who founded Pacific Western Transportation Ltd. (PWT) and dreamed up the idea of running an upscale motorcoach service between Edmonton and Calgary. Having heard Wilson utter the b-word, Colborne spoke up…. (to read more, please click here)

MEDIA Release

Calgary, April 15, 2011 – Red Arrow is excited to announce the introduction of two improved and enhanced features: Arrival Alerts and Road Reports. In an effort to provide passengers with the best motorcoach travel experience possible, Red Arrow Motorcoach has revised these features. Already live, these new tools will give Red Arrow Motorcoach passengers the ability to better plan their travel with Red Arrow.

Accessing the tool is simple, users just need to visit www.redarrow.ca and click on the “Arrival Alerts and Road Reports” button at the top right corner of the site.

The enhanced Road Reports feature highlights pick up and drop off locations and selecting a specific location allows users to view images of the stop along with address information. Further, Red Arrow has incorporated the ability for passengers to view highway cameras where current weather along the route can be viewed. Road conditions can also be obtained by selecting the appropriate option at the top of the window. All of the highway camera views and traffic condition displays are provided courtesy of the Alberta Motor Association.

One of the most helpful features would be the automated Arrival Alert service. The Arrival Alert allows those picking up Red Arrow passengers to request an automated alert message, notifying them of when the motorcoach will be arriving. They have the option to be notified five, ten, fifteen or twenty minutes before the motorcoach’s arrival. Similar to the alerts provided by many airlines, alerts can be set-up to be received via email or mobile phone via SMS.

MEDIA Release

April 7th, 2011 - Red Arrow Motorcoach is pleased to announce that they will make a contribution to Ronald McDonald House® Southern Alberta on behalf of Lethbridge and area residents.

During February and March Red Arrow Motorcoach sought input from residents as the company gathered community and customer information in preparation for its application to provide luxury motorcoach passenger service to the City of Lethbridge.

During that time Red Arrow gathered over 800 surveys which at the end each resident was offered numerous thank you options. The majority of residents chose to donate $5 to Ronald McDonald House® and Red Arrow is matching that amount!

On Wednesday, April 13th Red Arrow Motorcoach will present a $4,000 (Four Thousand Dollar) cheque to Steve and Sam Hirlehey who will represent Ronald McDonald House® Southern Alberta at the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden at 12:15 p.m. (noon).

Based on demonstrated demand from Lethbridge and area residents, Red Arrow Motorcoach has formally submitted its application to Alberta Transportation to provide service from Lethbridge.

For Further information contact: John Stepovy, General Manager Red Arrow Motorcoach 1-780-425-9451

Ronald McDonald House® Southern Alberta is a compassionate, safe and affordable home away from home for out-of-town families whose children are receiving treatment in a local Calgary hospital. The purpose of Ronald McDonald House® Southern Alberta is to keep families together and provide a supportive environment while the family member is being treated for their illness.