With the final Greyhound passenger bus service departing northern B.C. on May 31, the announcement of a new bus service is right on schedule.

, provided by BC Transit, will begin service on an interim basis June 4, according to an announcement made by B.C.鈥檚 transportation minister Claire Trevena.

The new pilot service, backed by $2 million in provincial funding, will provide two round-trip routes a week between Prince Rupert and Prince George, Prince George and Valemont, Prince George to Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.

Once a week, there will be a round-trip route to Dawson Creek and Fort St. John from Fort Nelson. The four coaches will have washrooms and space for luggage. Each bus will carry 44 passengers.

鈥淭his is a service for people, not for packages,鈥� Trevena said.

The bus routes will run for a year, before being reassessed by the province and BC Transit, Trevena said.

鈥淥nce the service is up and running, we鈥檙e going to take the next step by working with northern communities to find a long-term solution that delivers a sustainable, affordable solution for these communities.鈥�

Depending on how far a passenger is travelling, the fares will be $35 or $45 one way, which can be booked online with the use of a credit card.

BC Transit said there will be no retail outlets, offices or physical addresses at which to purchase tickets.Some bus routes left out of new northern routes

The BC Transit service will only be replacing some of the eliminated Greyhound routes. Excluded from that list includes the Fort Nelson to the Yukon Border and Highway 97 route.

Trevena said she has been in talks with Yukon Minister of Highways and Public Works Richard Mostyn, who she said is 鈥渁cutely aware鈥� of the need for the route.

The bus will also not be stopping in rural communities such as Tumbler Ridge, Hudson鈥檚 Hope and Kitimat. BC Transit interim president Erinn Pinkerton said changes will come upon reviews of the service.