Red Arrow

Be aware that you may not be taking a Red Arrow bus… Diversified may show up instead. The Red Arrow Busses are great but when leaving from Ft. McMurray a Diversified bus showed up instead. Booked a seat on my own … did not get. Plug-​ins did not work. Wifi​.no. On board snacks. .no. Not what I paid for.

I have been taking the Red Arrow for the last 12 years (basically since living in Edmonton) for trips to Calgary and Banff. For the service and price in a land with no train service going south, this is as good as it gets if you don’t want to drive. The coach is always clean and comfortable with snacks in the back to have when you want. The only drawback, but then again it is something we deal with on airplanes, is that you have to pay for headphones to watch the movie (not a big deal, but worth mentioning). My only complaint is that I wish they would show two movies instead of just one since the first movie usually ends by the time we stop in Red Deer or a little after. Other than this one complaint really, I will continue to use Red Arrow :-)

Well we are currently on our way to bonnyville in a shuttle bus 14 passenger. No bathroom, no beverages no WiFi and no cushions on the seats. And of course because of the wonderful hi ways we are being bounced around like pop corn in a hot pot. I was truly looking forward to my first trip with red arrow and I can honestly say way over priced and waste of our companies money.
If you enjoy your bladder on the verge of popping then this is the way to go.

This was my first time using Red Arrow, and if I can help it, I’ll never take Greyhound again. These guys are everything Greyhound isn’t. (Thank you, Greyhound. If your website hadn’t told me absolutely nothing was available to or from Calgary, I never would have discovered Red Arrow.)
The website is super easy to use, and lets you reserve your own seat. This means I was able to book myself a seat all to myself. It includes maps and street level views of the bus stops.
The downtown location was clean and quiet, the staff friendly and efficient. They had coffee and snack vending machines, as well as stuff to read – just local free publications and stuff.
The buses themselves are beautiful! So clean and spacious. The windows are HUGE. I couldn’t believe what a quiet and smooth ride it was. I did something I never do on a bus. I RELAXED.
The movie (The Soloist) was incredibly boring, but I liked how the $ 5 headphones came in a round zip up carrying case with two pairs of spare ear buds. I didn’t check out the free beverages in the back-​maybe next time-​but I think that’s a cool idea. Other cool little details in each seat: cup holders, plug ins, USB plug ins, radio channels, trays and shoulder seat belts.

Red Arrow is simply the best and most luxurious way of traveling by bus in Alberta. Unfortunately it doesn’t go everywhere (darn!) but it is a convenient way to get from Edmonton to Calgary or vice versa and to a few other Alberta destinations as well.
Not only do they offer free beverages and snacks, but you can reserve your seat in advance, you have access to free wifi, and the buses are usually on time! In addition, there are student discounts among other perks if you sign up for an online account with them. I also like the fact that reserving my own seat in advance can mean sitting on my own (one side of the bus has single seats!).

As far as bus services between Calgary and Edmonton, Red Arrow really is as good as it gets.
Clean buses with large, roomy seats complete with individual outlets for power and data, and free wifi for the whole trip, makes Red Arrow perfect for the DT to DT business traveler who needs to get the presentation ready before the meeting.
Your trip includes unlimited cracker/​cookie-​like snacks and coffee, tea and water available in the self-​serve fridge at the back.
A simple online booking system allows you to choose your seat prior to boarding and, conveniently, there are both side by side seats for the social and individual seats for the leave-​me-​aloner.
It seems Red Arrow has thought of the customer over the profit margin which, ironically, means more profit for them as I will always book this reasonably priced bus when I am heading the Edmonton and need to get some work done.
T.

Red Arrow is my favorite way to travel between Edmonton and Calgary. It’s so comfortable, convenient and quick. Quick might not make a lot of sence, but I think since I am not doing any of the driving I can relax and enjoy the ride, making the time go by seemingly faster. I love that they give you snacks on board, and they do play a movie but I tend to stick to my own collection or reading. Only thing I wish they could improve on is the quality of the internet, but I think that has more to do with traveling through rural AB than anything. Also, the power outlet at my seat didn’t work one time, and that totally sucked… but it’s only been that one time and I’ve taken the charter a lot.
Don’t waste your time at the airport! It’s way faster to get on the Red Arrow and drive non stop into the downtown core of each city.

I love the red arrow. It’s comfortable, the wifi is great, and the staff is ultra sweet. Whenever I am in Alberta I prefer to travel with them!

I often take Red Arrow between Edmonton and Red Deer or Calgary and have always found it to be an efficient way to travel. They offer free wifi, have movies, 5 radio stations, newspapers, and a variety of drinks and cookies. The leather seats are comfortable and the times I’ve travelled the bus hasn’t been full so I can sit in the double seats with no one beside me. Or you can also sit in the single row seats.
When you book, you get a discount if you let them know you are an AMA member and they also offer discounts if you’re a student. You can also chose your seats when you book your ticket. The refund policy is also good with 30 minutes for morning trips and 3 hours for other times. I also appreciate they have a frequent traveller program so I can eventually earn a free trip.
They also sell earphones if you forget to bring yours and the drivers are always friendly and drive for the conditions.

How do you improve a motor coach service between Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray and Lethbridge compared to the Greyhound model? The answer is Red Arrow. Their service includes appealing aspects such as plug-​in for every seat, wifi, cookies, refreshments, entertainment and comfy leather seats.
Store your large luggage in the lower half of the bus, store small items above your head in the coach. The overhead compartments even have grooves along the isle to steady oneself while moving in the coach when in motion.
The expresses by-​passes the stop in Red Deer on the Edmonton to Calgary route and are at 6am, 12:30 (weekdays and weekends), 4:30 (weekdays and weekends), 6:30. Coach to Calgary from Edmonton costs $ 72.50. They also have routes to Fort McMurry and Lethbridge.
If I could make a suggestion, perhaps some fruit for the journey. Also note that arrival times may be subject to traffic and weather conditions. Stop in Calgary at the north stop (304 35^st NE) or downtown at 9^th Ave and 1^st SE. If you need a taxi when you arrive in Calgary the Marriott is 1 block west. There is a permanent taxi stand there that usually has cabs waiting.
Tip: If arrival time is no issue you may want to check out the ebus website for cheaper fares. Ebus is Red Arrow discount liner so you lose the frills with the service, but you save a ton. One way Edmonton to Calgary is $ 31.50. However, the frequency and flexibility for departures are limited.

I had a car problem in Red Deer and I needed a way back home to Edmonton, so I decided on Red Arrow since I’d heard great things about it. The ticket was about $ 42 from Red Deer to downtown Edmonton. When I booked the ticket over the phone, I was asked if I knew anyone who had taken Red Arrow before as I’d get a 10% discount. I did, so that saved me a few bucks.
The bus was on time, the leather seats were comfortable and the rest of the bus was pretty empty so it was nice to have space. Unfortunately the WIFI didn’t work and there was a movie, but it stayed on the DVD menu screen for the entire trip. The day after I took the trip, I heard an ad about their complimentary drinks and snacks. I forgot about that when I was on the bus and was never offered anything, but never asked either.
It was a comfortable ride back home and I would take it again if I needed to.

One of the best bus lines. Worth the extra money. 10 times better than greyhound. Keep up the good work. If you don’t want to pay extra money use their sister company e-​bus. Both companies are owned by the same people. You don’t have to worry about over booking of seats.

This was my first time riding a «motor coach» in Canada. I was a bit skeptical at first because how fun could a bus ride be when you’re travelling all the time for work? This seemed to be our best option so we took it anyway.
It is what everyone says it is! Plush seats, foot rest, outlet, free WiFi, cookies, beverages, and a movie? Wow! It’s a lot more comfortable than flying or driving. I took a nap from Edmonton to Red Deer, and before I knew it, I was at my destination!
Yay, Red Arrow!

Thank you Red Arrow for ensuring that I never have to take the Greyhound between Calgary and Edmonton ever again!
Before I moved here, I would make the 3.5 hour trek up from Calgary at least once or twice a year to visit friends. Back then I didn’t know any better and would always book a ride on the Greyhound. However, one day someone recommended Red Arrow to me and I’ve never looked back. While ultimately I still prefer driving myself, I am also extremely paranoid about driving on icy highways in the winter and thus I generally end up taking alternate transportation. Now I live in Edmonton, my trips between the cities have become much more frequent and I couldn’t ever imagine not taking the Red Arrow.
As other reviewers have mentioned, the Red Arrow is Alberta’s top bus service on so many levels. They offer complimentary beverages and cookies, on-​board wifi, movies (which I never end up watching thanks to the wifi), fantastic customer service, and clean buses. I always feel safe and comfortable taking Red Arrow buses and really, what more can you ask for?

I hate driving. I am one of those people who you honk your horn at, I get distracted, I get lost, I drive slow, I don’t notice I’m in two lanes. I am always white knuckled and exhausted at the end of a drive.
Good news citizens of Alberta, I never have to drive to Calgary or Fort mac again.
Red arrow is warm, comfy, clean, free snacks and movies from 1982. What more you could want? Oh yeah, slow internet… but its faster than the internet surfing I can do when Im driving, so Red Arrow is up one even on that.
All you other bad drivers, unite! Take Red arrow

There is no better way to travel between Edmonton and Calgary. They have many trips a day, they are almost as fast as driving and they offer free cookies and drinks.
I have been using them for many years and with the exception of the slow free internet access on the coaches and yearly fare hikes I have no complaints.

I started riding Red Arrow a couple years ago after being a Greyhound rider, and I think it’s worth paying almost twice as much to avoid a ride on the dirty dog.
Red Arrow beats Greyhound on everything except price (and maybe frequency if you really wanted to take the milk run to Calgary at midnight…). The staff are great, the amenities on the bus are good (the internet is a bit slow, but hey, you’re on a bus), and the clientele tends to be a bit more pleasant to share a confined space with for a few hours. (No one getting drunk in the seat behind you…)
If you’re a student who travels the same route frequently, I recommend getting one of their student ticket packs. That cuts the price down quite a bit, and it’s very simple to use.
Red Arrow is comparable to other bus services I’ve seen in other parts of the world where traveling by bus is popular, although I wish it had more destinations.

I’ve ridden to and from Ft Mac a few times on these busses… uncrowded in comparison to the greydog busline… complimentary newspaper, snacks, drinks… and Internet…

Not bad for a bus ride! It’s more expensive than Greyhound but well worth the extra dollars spent.
With complementary snacks, drinks and internet it’s worth it. Yes, that’s right it has internet!

I love Red Arrow! It’s quite a bit more expensive than Greyhound, but I think it’s worth it. The station is very welcoming and clean, and the staff are really friendly.
The buses have complimentary snacks/​beverages and wireless internet (doesn’t work all the time, but at least they tried). They underestimate the arrival times a little bit, but it’s not a huge deal.
Last time I travelled with them, I asked to be transferred to a later bus and they accidentally put me on another day, but luckily there was still room and the bus I wanted to be on.