Pictou County Transit route changes

What’s happening? 

PCT is changing has changed its bus routes! These changes primarily impact the expansion route. We also made minor changes to the main route.

The changes took effect on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. 

The changes aim to make it easier to take the bus in Pictou County, with a focus on better connections between destinations in Pictou, Pictou Landing First Nation, New Glasgow, Stellarton, Trenton, and Westville.

Explore the new routes

The key changes to each route are detailed below. For the full list of changes for each community, please scroll to the bottom of this page.

Download the new PCT Bus Map to see the new routes and schedule in detail.

Overall changes:

  • A simplified schedule with regular service hours
  • Integration with Google Maps
  • A new bus map and clear signage at all stops
  • Better alignment of both routes to allow for transfers 

Changes to the main route (route 1)

  • Reducing the number of diversions off of major roads to improve efficiency
  • Renaming the main route as Route 1

Changes to the expansion route (route 2)

  • More direct and frequent service between Westville and Trenton (every two hours), with convenient stops in Stellarton and New Glasgow
  • Renaming the expansion route as Route 2
  • Service hours adjusted to 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Monday to Saturday)

Simplified route map

The image below shows a simplified map of the new bus network, including where the two routes intersect. For more detail, view the PDF of the new PCT Bus Map. 

Route 1 (the main route, shown in green) continues to offer hourly service within Stellarton and New Glasgow, along a one-way loop.

Route 2 (the expansion route, shown in purple) runs in the following order, with stops along each route indicated on the map:

  • Westville (2) to Pictou (2A)
  • Pictou (2A) back to Westville (2)
  • Westville (2) to Pictou Landing (2B)
  • Pictou Landing (2B) back to Westville (2)

 Simplified network map of Pictou County Transit, showing routes 1 and 2

Why are these changes happening?

The expansion route launched in June 2024 as a trial. We learned a lot in its first year of operations. Many local residents shared how important it is to have a bus route travelling between different communities in Pictou County. However, we also heard challenges, including long wait times for return trips and difficulties understanding the route and schedule.

It was important for us to address these challenges quickly. The proposed bus route and schedule have been developed through detailed technical analysis and informed by two rounds of community engagement (one in the fall 2024, and the second in summer 2025). These improvements are part of an ongoing project to improve transit access in rural Nova Scotia, funded by the Province. A redesign of Pictou County’s expansion route was the primary recommendation from a pilot study in 2024-25, commissioned by the Nova Scotia Community Transit Network (NSCTN).

 

Detailed list of changes by community

Westville

Served by Expansion route (route 2)

  • Service improved to every two hours
  • Route adjusted to go directly from Westville to Stellarton and New Glasgow every two hours, with alternating trips to Pictou and Pictou Landing First Nation

Bus stop changes

  • Added Westville Post Office stop on expansion route (route 2)
  • Added on N Main St before the pedestrian crossing after Foodland to facilitate service to Westville
  • Service cut to Pictou County Wellness Centre and stop decommissioned
New Glasgow

Served by Main route (route 1) and Expansion route (route 2)

  • Main route
    • Service moved to loop around Dunbar Ave. and Victoria Ave. and back to Abercrombie Rd.
    • Service moved to East River Rd.
  • Expansion route
    • Follows the eastern portion of the main route (route 1) more closely to allow for easier transfers
    • More direct service to Pictou and Pictou Landing First Nation
    • Service cut from the western side of New Glasgow
    • Pictou County Wellness Centre stop decommissioned for the Expansion route (route 2)

Stop changes

  • Dalhousie St (formally New Glasgow Library) stop on both routes
    • Moved from north of Dalhousie Street to South, near the taxi stand
    • Serves as a connection stop between routes
  • New Dalhousie St stop on expansion route (route 2)
    • Added Westville bound on Provost St after Dalhousie St intersection in front of Murdoch Park to facilitate service to Westville
    • Stop serves as a connection stop between routes
  • Aberdeen Hospital (formally Pine St) stop on both routes
    • Moved from Pine St to E River Rd between the parking lots of Beltone Hearing and Eastside Family restaurant.
    • Stop serves as a connection stop between routes
  • New Aberdeen Hospital stop on the Expansion route (route 2)
    • Added Westville bound on E River Rd, opposite Lawton Drugs, at Pedestrian sidewalk access to the Hospital
    • Stop serves as a connection stop between routes
  • New Aberdeen Ave stop on both routes
    • Added northbound on Trenton Rd before the intersection of Aberdeen Ave and Trenton Rd to facilitate connections.
    • Stop serves as a connection stop between routes
  • New Aberdeen Ave stop expansion route (route 2)
    • Added Westville bound on Trenton Rd after the Aberdeen Ave intersection to facilitate connections
    • Stop serves as a connection stop between routes
  • New Park St stop added on both routes
    • Added northbound on E River Rd after First Baptist Church building
    • Stop serves as a connection stop between routes
  • New Park St stop added on expansion route (route 2)
    • Added Westville bound on E River Rd after Park St intersection
    • Stop serves as a connection stop between routes
  • Brother St stop
    • Stop (sign) moved to Frederick St before Brother St intersection, near the existing bus shelter
  • North End Recreation Centre stop
    • Stop (sign) moved to High St in front of the Recreation Centre courts
  • New Abercrombie Rd stop on Main route (route 1)
    • Added a stop on Abercrombie Rd before Churchill Dr to serve the surrounding area
  • New Maritime Bus stop
    • Added to serve those using the Maritime Bus Service
Stellarton

Served by the Main route (route 1) and the Expansion route (route 2)

Bus stop changes

  • Foord St (formally Allan Ave) stop
    • Moved from Queen St to Foord St after the Tim Horton’s drive-thru entrance
    • Stop serves as a connection stop between routes
  • New Foord St stop
    • Added Westville bound on Foord St north of the Blue Lobster parking lot
    • Stop serves as a connection stop between routes
  • New NSCC stop
    • Added on Arcadia Ave before the pedestrian crossing
Trenton

Served by Expansion route (route 2)

  • More direct service to New Glasgow, Stellarton and Westville
  • Frequency increased to every two hours
  • Service moved from Duchess Ave. and First St. to Seventh St. and Park Rd.

Bus stop changes

  • Trenton Library (formally Forge St) stop
    • Moved to Main St before the Forge St and Main St intersection
  • New Trenton Library stop
    • Added Westville bound on Forge St in front of Trenton Library
  • Duke St (formally Maple St) stop
    • Moved to Duke St after Dickie St intersection
  • New Duke St stop
    • Added on Duke St before Dickie St intersection
  • Trenton Rink (formerly Duchess St)
    • Moved to Trenton Rink
Pictou

Served by Expansion route (route 2)

  • Service moved from W. River Rd. to Veterans Dr. via Haliburton Rd. to allow the bus to follow the same route on both outbound and return trips
  • Service frequency adjusted to every four hours
  • More direct service to Trenton, New Glasgow, Stellarton, and Westville

Bus stop changes

  • New Veterans Dr stop
    • Added, Westville-bound on Veterans Dr, opposite the existing stop
Pictou Landing First Nation

Served by Expansion route (route 2)

  • Service frequency adjusted to every four hours with a 20-minute waiting period at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church stop
  • No changes to stops
  • More direct service to Trenton, New Glasgow, Stellarton, and Westville