The cost for using the DRL is beyond greedy and disgusting. They only allow two bags underneath in their large luggage compartments and charge people $25 extra dollars per bag. I left a pair of snow pants at my relatives and they're charging me $25 dollars to put a shopping bag with an extra small pair of snow pants in it to drop off at one of their stops on the highway so I can get them. I think it's so absurdly ridiculous that they can just go ahead and charge whatever the hell they want..ALL CASH. My trip was showing $110 online and yet she charged me $111. So if they're doing that to all the passengers that's their lunch and coffee paid for. I won't even give them the satisfaction of charging me $25 to drop off my pants. I'll buy a new pair! Oh and don't even dream about using their washroom on the bus. I dint think it's been cleaned since the bus has been in service. The stink that permeates the bus when that door opens cause everyone to actually gasp and cover their face. Honestly if you can find any other way to get somewhere.. DO IT! read more

They need to add a tracking device for the bus. The bus is always behind when there is weather and you have no way of finding out if it is coming. read more

DRL Coachlines - Public Transportation Near Me

horrible service. bus is always late during the holidays (worst time ever to be late!) the other day i was waiting for nearly an hour and a half past the scheduled bus time with no knowledge of where the bus was. currently waiting for the bus now and it is 30 minutes late and i have no clue where it is! staff is unfriendly and the bus driver cant drive. would not recommend. read more

I cant argue more with the negative feedback... For the cost of $103.00 For an Island crossing (at the time of this review). You cant go wrong. Staff was more then friendly, Bus was more then safe for the roads... And price was bang on. You cant drive your own vehicle across the island and back for that cost by the time you factor in wear and tear/ Gas or rent plus gas on a rental... BUS WAS NOT PACKED ON MY EAST BOUND CROSSING NOR WEST TOWARDS HOME. I had an empty seat both ways next to me for my carry on bag and comfort. The only thing i would complain about is the bathroom door does make a squeek because its on a track system and bounces with the NL potholes. However its 2019, put headphones in listen to an album and doze off its that simple. But for all these negative reviews about cost and what not i have to totally disagree 100%. You show up. You pay, You get to here your going its that simple. Ad you do it safely and cost effective ! 5/5 experience on my end the multiple times a year i use this service. Thanks to the drivers and staff for the wonderful hospitality on board DRL Coachlines. read more

zero stars for this company. the driver drives over the speed limits. he took a sign out along the way. to top it all off I was lift in stevenville and this means they didn't even take a head count before leaving . poor hospitality. not even an apology . management will be notified.may23 / 2023 read more

Avoid at all costs. It's unnecessarily expensive. There's very poor air circulation and it has a sickly odor. They play old movies, and for the last half of my ride the opening screen to "Max" was just up on the screen with the same little tune playing over and over. There was a constant loud squeaking noise the whole way, enough to drive you crazy. At 2 of the stops, we were stopped for over 20 minutes because there was something wrong with this ancient bus. Rent a car and drive yourself, it's worth it. read more

Over priced torture. Too many stops, too long, not allowed off bus for most. Plays a 25 year old unheard of Disney movie turned up to 11 through awful static filled speakers. You won't miss your stop, because it's going to be impossible to get any form of rest or relaxation. Amazing how uncomfortable the seats can be, if you're close to 6' tall, forget about it. If you do somehow manage to nod off, don't worry, you'll be awoken at each stop when the loud speaker first comes on it sounds like a firecracker. On the plus side, there is power outlets. Of course, those are all turned off and don't work. Find another way to get to where you're going. Ride share if you can, take a plane, rent a car, it doesn't matter the price difference, this is not worth it. I'll be hitch hiking on my return trip. I'll take my chances with an axe murderer, at least that's affordable, the torture should be quick, and relatively speaking, much more affordable. read more

Left a box to be transported from the splash and putt to witbourn today with 5hrs advance. The person who was to pick it up there drove all the way in from Carbonear only to find that they forgot to put the box on the bus! Now they will have to make the trip again as this package is time sensitive and it is needed in a timely fashion...... Not pleased... read more

I traveled on a DRL bus on Sunday, August 12, 2018 with a family member from Deer Lake to St. John's. The bus we were on must have been in storage as it was old, creaky and dirty. It wasn't very clean either; could hardly see through the windows. The jolts from the air brakes were frightening; thought we hit a car or moose at one point! There's no leg room at all as the seats are too close together. I rode on a DRL bus that was going to Nashville a couple years ago, as the first bus was full and it was so different, clean, roomy etc. So is this what DRL does to Newfoundlanders: uses the worst ones for us? They need to shape up. I wouldn't mind paying more for better service. P.S. The two staff members Nicole and Paul were courteous and helpful. read more

Riding DRL is generally a long and painful experience. The buses leave St. John's at 7:30am (MUN) and 8am (Crossroads, Paradise) each morning heading west as far as Port-aux-Basques. Recently, the buses were refurbished a bit and now have power outlets which is a plus but the experience is still definitely a poor one. Customer service is unheard of at DRL. More often than not, even during business hours, calling their customer service number will just send you to a full voicemail box that you cannot leave messages in. On board, amenities are lacking and there is a rural Newfoundland amateur management style that often includes loud conversations between attendant and bus driver about other people. They do not offer an option to purchase tickets in advance. You simply board the bus when it shows up (usually late) in St. John's and about half an hour later when you're going down the Trans-Canada Highway, the attendant walks around collecting money from the riders. CASH ONLY. Fares are relatively expensive, especially compared to intercity bus services elsewhere. DRL has a monopoly in Newfoundland, and leaves a lot to be desired. Be prepared for late buses, little to no customer service or organization, and very cramped, uncomfortable seating. You will never get two seats to yourself - the buses are always packed full. Bring some entertainment for long trips because the infamous on-board movie (usually some mediocre family film) will drive you insane - and it's on multiple screens. Expect it to begin somewhere near Whitbourne. DRL is probably your only option for transportation across Newfoundland if you don't have a car. It's often a tiresome and tedious process, but it gets you there. That's about it. read more

I recently had a terrible experience on a bus ride across Newfoundland westbound on Friday may 25th. The lady working was very unpleasant, and borderline rude. read more

As my friend and I were doing a trip around the east coast of Canada, we were unfortunate to not be old enough to rent our car, so the only option for us to get from A to B in Newfoundland was through DRL. Let me just say that I was impressed with where DRL could take us. All the places we wanted to go the bus would take us there, including Port Aux Basque, which is where we had to go to take the ferry over to Sydney, Nova Scotia. I was also quite happy with the quality of the seating with its power outlets and how they also would run movies constantly. Unfortunately, there were many things I think could have a lot more improvement. Firstly, the number of routes should be varied. It took us 14 hours to get from St Johns to Port Aux Basque. The bus left the MUN University Centre at 730am and that was the only time we could take it. There should be a few more buses on the road with different routes and schedules to perhaps make things more convenient for the public. If there were more buses this could also reduce the issue of the buses being full and increase the chance that a passenger would be able to have 2 seats to themselves (which can be necessary for long bus trips) Secondly, the pricing is ridiculously expensive. For a 3 hour trip it costed my friend and I (who are students) $46 each way. to get through this 14 hour trip, it ended up costing over $100. Other minor issues we had was where would we have rest stops - at a small convenient store with a restaurant, despite driving past other areas with a tim hortons (or any other take away coffee place). Although having a portable washroom on a bus was necessary and handy, the cherry scent that always appeared when flushing the toilet was very overwhelming and unappealing - I am pretty sure the whole back of the bus would feel sick. Overall, 3 stars out of 5 I would rate this. I was thankful to have some sort of transport available to get around the province, yet DRL may need to make some more changes regarding pricing, scheduling, routes and rest stops. read more

Been travelling on DRL a few trips a year. The amenities are very outdated, the staff seem judgy and aren't overly friendly or helpful especially if you are under 50. They don't allow for people to buy tickets in advance (and its still cash only) so often times if you are with a loved one you'll have to sit separately for the entire trip. When you board the bus anyone with a seat will keep their bag on the empty seat and refuse to move for you and the staff do nothing to help. The worst part is there is literally no information on the where about's of the bus or whether its running on time, if you call the number no one ever answers and there is no updated information. We had to wait 2 hours past the scheduled arrival time at the depot last night with no way to discover when or if the bus was going to make it through the storm on the west coast. Had the bus been even five minutes later then it was we would have been waiting outside in minus 20 degree windchill because the gas station the bus depot is in was closing. I would recommend hitchhiking before i recommend DRL and sadly it is the only cross province bus service available. There would be a market for anyone who wanted to give some competition to DRL with some better amenities like, for example, a updated website that showed you if your bus is behind schedule or friendly staff who made you feel welcome instead of making you feel like picking you up was a hassle. read more

Had my first trip recently on your coach from C. Brook to Gander. I must say I was impressed. Excellent ride.Seems like an efficient operation. However, there was one thing I noticed. That was the fact that your coaches are fully equipped with seat belts and shoulder straps, but I was the only one on board using it. Maybe there's a logical reason. I would like to know. On another subject. I worked all my working years as a mechanic, so there's the interest. Where's your maintenance depo located? I wouldn't mind visiting sometime. if possible. Thank You. read more