New bus service connects Sarnia and London

A new bus service has been launched to shuttle patrons between Sarnia, Strathroy, and London.

Intercity Bus picked up its first passengers from Sarnia on Monday.

Marketing Manager Muhammad Usman Qayyum said the service will run between Sarnia and London three times per day. 

There are two stops in Sarnia, at Bayside Terminal and the parking lot of Real Canadian Superstore (on Murphy Road).

The Intercity Bus will stop in Strathroy, at the Tim Hortons near Exit 65 at Highway 402. Buses will arrive or depart in London from the Intercity Bus Terminal located on York Street near Richmond Street.

There are also route options from London to Toronto, with stops in Woodstock and Kitchener.

Usman Qayyum said the goal is to make London a hub for transporting people from Toronto Pearson Airport to parts of southern Ontario.

Depending on demand and public feedback, Usman Qayyum said route changes in regard to timing may be made in the future.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said he and city staff met with the private business a few months ago to work on the logistics of utilizing the city's bus terminals.

Bradley highlighted the affordable and direct service coming to the area.

"They've tried to gear it to the health care market, they've tried to gear it to the student market and now the key is for the public to use it," said Bradley.

According to the Intercity Bus' website, a one-way trip from Sarnia to Toronto Pearson Airport, with a connection in London, would cost just under $60 with taxes included. 

Intercity Bus. December 18, 2023. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

A media conference to introduce Intercity Bus to the city was held Monday morning at Clearwater Transit Terminal, located off of Wellington Street.

At this time, there's no indication if the Clearwater terminal will be added in the future as a stop for Intercity Bus.

However, the Clearwater Transit Terminal is expected to open to local transit patrons soon.

"We're hoping to open this early in the new year and people will be able to use inside the Clearwater facility as part of that, so they'll have access to washrooms and somewhere warm if it's a cold day out," said City of Sarnia General Manager of Engineering & Operations David Jackson. "So we are excited for that and should be able to announce an opening date soon."

The Clearwater project started earlier this year with a price tag of nearly $3 million.

Intercity Bus schedule Sarnia to London. (Photo courtesy of Intercity Bus)Intercity Bus schedule London to Toronto. (Photo courtesy of Intercity Bus)