Camrose Connector

CAMROSE CONNECTOR

The Camrose Connector came about thanks to funding the Provincial Government provided through the Rural Transit Pilot Programs. An RFP was issued in February 2018 to interested parties for the supply of the buses and drivers for a shuttle route between Edmonton and Camrose.
Requirements included:
-5 days per week, 3 round trips per day, starting in Camrose at the University of Alberta Augustana Campus, and running to ETS's University Transit Centre, with stops in Edmonton including Southgate Transit Centre and the U of A Hospital
- Fully accessible buses
- 2 year term aligned with the Provincial funding
PWT won the contract and operated the service under their Red Arrow brand, with information and schedules provided on the Red Arrow website.

Trips departed Camrose at 7:00, 11:00, and 15:30 arriving in Edmonton at the U of A at 8:40, 12:40, and 17:10.
Trips departed Edmonton at 9:00, 13:30, and 17:30 with arrival in Camrose at 10:40, 15:10, and 19:10.
There was a stop provided at Red Arrow's South Edmonton location which would provided connections to other Red Arrow and eBus services.

The first day of service was September 4, 2018.
Service was added to Hay Lakes starting on August 25, 2019. and a new schedule was adopted that saw the service change from Monday-Friday, to Sunday-Friday except Tuesday.
Due to Covid, service was suspended between March 27 and September 9, 2020.
Service ended on March 26, 2021 as the Provincial Government wouldn't extend funding. Covid had reduced ridership by 1/5th, although ridership had reached a peak of 566 passengers per month, with a total of 7990 riders over the duration of the pilot.

Fares were:
Edmonton-Camrose $20
Edmonton-Hay Lakes $13
Camrose-Hay Lakes $7

The usual bus was #5143, a ABC Companies M1235/ Freightliner S2 decaled for the Camrose Connector, with #1595 being a Red Arrow branded ElDorado Aero Elite/ International 3200 cutaway used as backup vehicle. Red Arrow and eBus coaches could also be found assigned to the service.

Sources: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-government-urged-to-help-sustain-restore-rural-bus-service-1.6958849

Thumbnail Bus # Date Description

Regular Bus- PWT #5143 2014 ABC Companies M1235/ Freightliner S2 chassis

5143 September 5, 2018 #5143 at the U of A on the second day of service for the Camrose Connector. If the photo looks familiar, that's because PWT reused it without permission and it ended up in my places and the media as a result.

5143 September 5, 2018 #5143 at the U of A on the Connector's second day of service.

5143 September 5, 2018 #5143 in the company of a Strathcona County double decker at the U of A.

5143 August 12, 2019 #5143 arriving at the U of A in Edmonton.

5143 August 12, 2019 #5143 arriving at the U of A in Edmonton.

5143 February 17, 2020 #5143 in Hay Lakes, AB. This was a pleasant and unexpected encounter while chasing a train on CN's Camrose Sub with a 8-40CM in the consist.

5143 March 1, 2020 #5143 turning onto 114 St in the University.

5143 September 10, 2020 #5143 passing Southgate Transit Centre.

5143 October 11, 2020 #5143 southbound on 111 St at around 57 Ave. This was also an unexpected surprise. By this time the schedule had shifted to run on Sunday's but not Tuesday's, so this showed up as I was shooting LRT MOW working on installing a flange riding frog on a Sunday.

Backup Bus- PWT #1595 2007 ElDorado Aero Elite/ International 3200 chassis

1595 December 17, 2018 #1595 at the U of A in Edmonton

1595 December 17, 2018 #1595 at the U of A in Edmonton

February 4, 2019 #1595 westbound on 51 Ave at 86 St in Edmonton, on it's way from Diversified's south Edmonton shops to do the evening trip out of Edmonton.

February 4, 2019 #1595 westbound on 51 Ave at 86 St in Edmonton, on it's way from Diversified's south Edmonton shops to do the evening trip out of Edmonton.

April 2, 2019 #1595 on 114 St outside of the U of A Hospital.

Backup- PWT Coaches

764 October 15,2020 #764 turning onto 114 St in the University.

5730 March 24, 2021 #5730 at the University Transit Center.

This page last updated on October 20, 2024

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Thumbnail	Bus #	Date	Description
Regular Bus- PWT #5143 2014 ABC Companies M1235/ Freightliner S2 chassis
	5143	September 5, 2018	#5143 at the U of A on the second day of service for the Camrose Connector. If the photo looks familiar, that's because PWT reused it without permission and it ended up in my places and the media as a result.
	5143	September 5, 2018	#5143 at the U of A on the Connector's second day of service.
	5143	September 5, 2018	#5143 in the company of a Strathcona County double decker at the U of A.
	5143	August 12, 2019	#5143 arriving at the U of A in Edmonton.
	5143	August 12, 2019	#5143 arriving at the U of A in Edmonton.
	5143	February 17, 2020	#5143 in Hay Lakes, AB. This was a pleasant and unexpected encounter while chasing a train on CN's Camrose Sub with a 8-40CM in the consist.
	5143	March 1, 2020	#5143 turning onto 114 St in the University.
	5143	September 10, 2020	#5143 passing Southgate Transit Centre.
	5143	October 11, 2020	#5143 southbound on 111 St at around 57 Ave. This was also an unexpected surprise. By this time the schedule had shifted to run on Sunday's but not Tuesday's, so this showed up as I was shooting LRT MOW working on installing a flange riding frog on a Sunday.
Backup Bus- PWT #1595 2007 ElDorado Aero Elite/ International 3200 chassis
	1595	December 17, 2018	#1595 at the U of A in Edmonton
	1595	December 17, 2018	#1595 at the U of A in Edmonton
		February 4, 2019	#1595 westbound on 51 Ave at 86 St in Edmonton, on it's way from Diversified's south Edmonton shops to do the evening trip out of Edmonton.
		February 4, 2019	#1595 westbound on 51 Ave at 86 St in Edmonton, on it's way from Diversified's south Edmonton shops to do the evening trip out of Edmonton.
		April 2, 2019	#1595 on 114 St outside of the U of A Hospital.
Backup- PWT Coaches
	764	October 15,2020	#764 turning onto 114 St in the University.
	5730	March 24, 2021	#5730 at the University Transit Center.