Gray Line Montreal
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name = Gray Line Montreal
|logo =
|logo_size =
|image = GrayLine Montreal 8.jpg
|image_size =
|image_caption = AEC Routemaster in Montreal in August 2007
|company_slogan =
|parent = Variant Equity Advisors
|founded = 1982
|headquarters = Montreal
|locale =
|service_area =
|service_type = tour bus, double-decker bus
|alliance = Coach USA
|routes =
|destinations =
|stops =
|hubs =
|stations =
|lounge =
|fleet =
|ridership =
|fuel_type =
|operator = Coach Canada
|ceo =
|website = {{URL|http://www.coachcanada.com/montrealsightseeing/}}
}}
Gray Line Montreal, although a member of the Coach Canada family, is an independently managed operation,{{Cite web |url=http://www.coachcanada.com/info/montrealsightseeing/ftr.aboutus.asp |title=Grayline Montreal - about us |access-date=2008-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329234623/http://www.coachcanada.com/info/montrealsightseeing/ftr.aboutus.asp |archive-date=2008-03-29 |url-status=dead }} that also formerly carried the brand of Stagecoach Montréal.{{cite web | url=https://www.showbus.co.uk/gallery/foreign/canada/stagemont.htm | title=The Gallery | publisher=Showbus | accessdate=1 April 2025}} They run a fleet of coaches and double-decker buses in and around Montreal, under the banner of Gray Line Worldwide sightseeing tours, offering city tours and trips to Quebec City. Although departures are mostly at the Dorchester Square/Peel Street location, some of the routes offer hop-on hop-off convenience.
History
Autocar Connaiseur was founded in 1982 by Lorenzo Calce, a former vice-president of Murray Hill Limousines, operating charters and Gray Line sightseeing tours in Montreal. In 1997 the company, which had grown to a fleet of over 100 buses, was sold to Coach USA[http://shangtai.it45.com/busdeals/history.html A BRIEF HISTORY - Lorenzo & Roberto Calce] the North American division of Stagecoach. Approval under the Investment Canada Act was given in October 1999, for Stagecoach to acquire Autocar Connaisseur of Montréal.[http://investcan.ic.gc.ca/oct99.htm Investcan: Decisions, October 1999] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403170247/http://investcan.ic.gc.ca/oct99.htm |date=2008-04-03 }}
The parent of each of the Connaisseur Group of companies is 3329003 Canada[http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/ReadingRoom.nsf/UNID/7710113128780BD8852566FF005B9770/$file/29912.pdf Surface Transportation Board: STB Docket No. MC-F-20943] a non-carrier owned by Coach USA. Gray Line Montreal was included in the April 2019 disposal by Stagecoach of its North American operations to Variant Equity Advisors.[https://www.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2018/2018-12-19.aspx Sale of North America Division for Estimated Enterprise Value of US$271M] Stagecoach 19 December 2018[https://cbwmagazine.com/stagecoach-sells-off-north-american-division-for-271m/ Stagecoach sells off North American division for $271m] Coach & Bus Week 21 December 2018Stagecoach agrees to sell Coach USA Buses issue 767 February 2019 page 6[https://web.archive.org/web/20190418100920/http://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/stagecoach/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=273&newsid=1253284 Completion of North America sale] Stagecoach 16 April 2019
In June 2024, Coach USA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, blaming corporate impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has plans to sell its assets, and has planning to sell its Megabus and Avalon Transportation subsidiaries to Bus Company Holdings, a unit of the Renco Group.{{Cite web|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/coach-usa-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-in-delaware?context=search&index=1|title=Coach USA files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware|date=11 June 2024|access-date=11 June 2024|website=Bloomberg Law|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{StagecoachGroup}}
Category:Bus transport in Quebec
Category:Companies based in Montreal
Category:Transport companies established in 1982
Category:Stagecoach Group bus operators in the United States and Canada
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024