Greyhound Run/Schedule Changes

[Megabus Rider]

1 hour ago, ns8401 said:

Megabus is trying to be like Wanderu and resell tickets from other carriers. Miller, Southeastern Stages and TNY are and will remain independent companies. It’s not the same as FLIX and Ourbus at all. None of these companies are contractors for Megabus with buses branded that way. They don’t even have a lousy sticker by the door. TNY continues to actively recruit companies to join the Trailways association for example and they have their own ticketing system. So we are entering an era where there are multiple ticket systems being used on the same run depending on where the ticket was bought (Amtrak/Trailways/Megabus/insert independent carrier here). This will allow all of them to partner with other folks and still remain autonomous while preserving interline service once they are severed from Greyhound.

Same with Ourbus Contractors. my friend originally wanted to run independent and even had their own ticketing platform with Betterez. My friend realized the cost of marketing and decided to use Ourbus as its ticketing platform. There are some contractors that won't allow Ourbus to put a sticker or wrap on their buses. My friend chose to have both of his buses wrapped by Ourbus to promote the ticketing platform in Canada. At some point the Megabus Contractors will have to at least put a Megabus cardboard on their windshield just like the Ourbus Contractors do. Not every passenger checks their ticket to see 'who' is the contractor that is operating the run they booked.

[ns8401]

59 minutes ago, Megabus Rider said:

Same with Ourbus Contractors. my friend originally wanted to run independent and even had their own ticketing platform with Betterez. My friend realized the cost of marketing and decided to use Ourbus as its ticketing platform. There are some contractors that won't allow Ourbus to put a sticker or wrap on their buses. My friend chose to have both of his buses wrapped by Ourbus to promote the ticketing platform in Canada. At some point the Megabus Contractors will have to at least put a Megabus cardboard on their windshield just like the Ourbus Contractors do. Not every passenger checks their ticket to see 'who' is the contractor that is operating the run they booked.

Megabus is the source of the idea that they will not be required to brand their buses in any way. You seem to have a fundamental misunderstanding of the way these new agreements work and what makes them different from Ourbus or FlixBus. Megabus is getting 5 or so seats per run to sell on the Megabus site… not the whole bus. The rest of those seats are on the carriers ticketing system whatever they choose to use. Then whoever the other independent companies are that align with them have agreed to accept their tickets for interline purposes. So essentially their regular riders get 45 seats or so and Megabus gets the scraps. I believe Miller/Barons/Burlington/Indian Trails/Southeastern Stages are gonna get on the Trailways ticketing system for the bulk of their passenger trips. They can get Jefferson and some of the smaller players to accept them too and problem solved.

[traildriver]

Even though they were a founding member of the old National Trailways Bus System, Martz has been sort of an “outlier” within it.

They never adopted the one time standardized livery, and did not (with a brief exception), join any pooled through route operations.

When they discontinued their long distance line between New York and Chicago in the ‘30’s, they concentrated on only their regional operations between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and New York or Philadelphia.  Which they still do, and now run extensive commuter trips between Stroudsburg  and NYC.  They have purchased other companies in Maryland and Florida mainly for charters and contract operations.

So I wouldn’t be surprised if Martz doesn’t join any of  these interline ticketing plans, since they don’t seem to depend much on interline traffic.

[Rapidbus]

19 hours ago, Megabus Rider said:

Same with Ourbus Contractors. my friend originally wanted to run independent and even had their own ticketing platform with Betterez. My friend realized the cost of marketing and decided to use Ourbus as its ticketing platform. There are some contractors that won't allow Ourbus to put a sticker or wrap on their buses. My friend chose to have both of his buses wrapped by Ourbus to promote the ticketing platform in Canada. At some point the Megabus Contractors will have to at least put a Megabus cardboard on their windshield just like the Ourbus Contractors do. Not every passenger checks their ticket to see 'who' is the contractor that is operating the run they booked.

So Greyhound, they operate their own vehicle, and interline with other carriers. Passengers can transfer seamlessly between carriers, and if one carrier misses the connection due to their fault passengers have to be rebooked. Similar to the Flix platform actually post merger

Flixbus and ourbus they operate the partner model. They would contract out, and keep whatever percent of the total profit. If the route has a net loss, Flix/Ourbus will eat the operating cost, assuming the partner swill still need to get paid

What Megabus/Ourbus for some routes (they partnered with Fullington as well) is doing right now is just selling existing schedules, with no connections to anything, the have no financial involvement in the operation of the vehicle, they get to act essentially as the ticket agent, and keep whatever commission/ticket they sell. They do not contract the bus, but just sell existing seats, so these bus companies won't have to put megabus signage on anything 

[Megabus Rider]

23 hours ago, Rapidbus said:

So Greyhound, they operate their own vehicle, and interline with other carriers. Passengers can transfer seamlessly between carriers, and if one carrier misses the connection due to their fault passengers have to be rebooked. Similar to the Flix platform actually post merger

Flixbus and ourbus they operate the partner model. They would contract out, and keep whatever percent of the total profit. If the route has a net loss, Flix/Ourbus will eat the operating cost, assuming the partner swill still need to get paid

What Megabus/Ourbus for some routes (they partnered with Fullington as well) is doing right now is just selling existing schedules, with no connections to anything, the have no financial involvement in the operation of the vehicle, they get to act essentially as the ticket agent, and keep whatever commission/ticket they sell. They do not contract the bus, but just sell existing seats, so these bus companies won't have to put megabus signage on anything 

I not sure what you are getting at but you essentially repeated everything I said.

The one thing I forgot mention like Megabus, Ourbus does sell existing schedules mostly with Bestbus. DC Trails was once a Ourbus contractor but they started their own premium service called Best Bus and Ourbus would resell those seats. I believe its only have of the bus capacity similar to Megabus' and Trailways' 5 seat agreement.

[ns8401]

1 hour ago, Megabus Rider said:

I not sure what you are getting at but you essentially repeated everything I said.

The one thing I forgot mention like Megabus, Ourbus does sell existing schedules mostly with Bestbus. DC Trails was once a Ourbus contractor but they started their own premium service called Best Bus and Ourbus would resell those seats. I believe its only have of the bus capacity similar to Megabus' and Trailways' 5 seat agreement.

He’s trying to tell you that the arrangement they have now that he describes isn’t going away. It just won’t include Greyhound. The other companies are already working on agreements with each other to form their own network. Same principles as before with different players. Megabus will never get beyond those 5 seats and exist in some sort of Amtrak Thruways type bubble. 

Legacy intercity services are essential in this country. And that ain’t Megabus or Ourbus or FlixBus type stuff. It has to connect and be able to get you from one end of the country to the other in one system on one ticket with multiple transfers in between. For all that sweet state funding… this is legally mandated. 

[Megabus Rider]

2 hours ago, ns8401 said:

He’s trying to tell you that the arrangement they have now that he describes isn’t going away. It just won’t include Greyhound. The other companies are already working on agreements with each other to form their own network. Same principles as before with different players. Megabus will never get beyond those 5 seats and exist in some sort of Amtrak Thruways type bubble. 

Legacy intercity services are essential in this country. And that ain’t Megabus or Ourbus or FlixBus type stuff. It has to connect and be able to get you from one end of the country to the other in one system on one ticket with multiple transfers in between. For all that sweet state funding… this is legally mandated. 

That's why Megabus and Ourbus are working hard building that network, they have contractors that are getting statement and both are aware. Flixbus has bought themselves state money with Greyhound. There is a reason why after Megabus partnered with Fullington, they also went on with Adirondack, Peter Pan and Miller. They are working on that network.

[ns8401]

12 minutes ago, Megabus Rider said:

That's why Megabus and Ourbus are working hard building that network, they have contractors that are getting statement and both are aware. Flixbus has bought themselves state money with Greyhound. There is a reason why after Megabus partnered with Fullington, they also went on with Adirondack, Peter Pan and Miller. They are working on that network.

They are getting a foot in the door but once these carriers have autonomy they aren’t gonna want to give it up. 

[Megabus Rider]

10 hours ago, ns8401 said:

They are getting a foot in the door but once these carriers have autonomy they aren’t gonna want to give it up. 

Just realized my phone changed state to statement lol I meant state money. As stated in the Megabus thread, we'll see what happens.

[Rapidbus]

23 hours ago, Megabus Rider said:

That's why Megabus and Ourbus are working hard building that network, they have contractors that are getting statement and both are aware. Flixbus has bought themselves state money with Greyhound. There is a reason why after Megabus partnered with Fullington, they also went on with Adirondack, Peter Pan and Miller. They are working on that network.

I wouldn't say Ourbus and Megabus current arrangement is necessarily a network. At minimum a network requires carriers to share the same station to allow transfers between carriers. If you look at Megabus and ourbus, you will see that you can say buy a ticket from State College to Dubois, PA. That is because Megabus operates out of a different location in Pittsburgh. Same goes for Peter Pan/NYT. You can't buy a ticket say from Washington to Albany, NY. That is not a network. 

Flixbus ironically while still mostly a point-point operator, does a better job forming a network, mostly because post Feb 22nd, connections will be made with Greyhound's overall route structure with some of their co-locations such as Austin and Washington DC, although they are mostly accidental for now. Though there are some Flix that make both GH and Flix stops so maybe they are trying to supplement GH there with connections (the trips currently in TRIPS).

23 hours ago, Megabus Rider said:

That's why Megabus and Ourbus are working hard building that network, they have contractors that are getting statement and both are aware. Flixbus has bought themselves state money with Greyhound. There is a reason why after Megabus partnered with Fullington, they also went on with Adirondack, Peter Pan and Miller. They are working on that network.

Flix doesn't get state money with the acquisition of Greyhound. They get the state money from operating the route prescribed by the state, whether through their FB contractor or through GH. 

Megabus does not get state money partnering with Fullington. That money goes to Fullington, Miller. Megabus does not have any say in how those routes are run. They are simply ticket sellers for these routes. Is it a good deal? absolutely, they don't have to run the bus/pay their drivers (GH), or pay the contractor (some ourbus/FB) all they have to do is sell tickets on their website and collect commissions. 

Off topic for this GH forums, but if you look at Megabus's actual network, the network they run by themselves or connect with their route network, it is in terminal decline. 

On 2/2/2023 at 7:22 PM, ns8401 said:

It just won’t include Greyhound. The other companies are already working on agreements with each other to form their own network. Same principles as before with different players. Megabus will never get beyond those 5 seats and exist in some sort of Amtrak Thruways type bubble. 

To be fair Amtrak thruway at least connects with Amtrak's nationwide train system. Something Megabus does not do under the current arrangement

Regarding GH, I'm not sure the network is robust enough for carriers to completely divorce themselves from Greyhound yet. Cont trailway used to take the role in connecting/bringing passengers between the different regional trailway systems. We still have some regional players, but the passengers are simply connected onto GH trips for now. To connect the different regional players (PPP/NYT/Miller, JL) would be a hard task, and not something that could be done before this new booking platform kicks in or with the current financial/driver situation probably even in the next years. 

[ns8401]

On 2/3/2023 at 9:51 PM, Rapidbus said:

I wouldn't say Ourbus and Megabus current arrangement is necessarily a network. At minimum a network requires carriers to share the same station to allow transfers between carriers. If you look at Megabus and ourbus, you will see that you can say buy a ticket from State College to Dubois, PA. That is because Megabus operates out of a different location in Pittsburgh. Same goes for Peter Pan/NYT. You can't buy a ticket say from Washington to Albany, NY. That is not a network. 

Flixbus ironically while still mostly a point-point operator, does a better job forming a network, mostly because post Feb 22nd, connections will be made with Greyhound's overall route structure with some of their co-locations such as Austin and Washington DC, although they are mostly accidental for now. Though there are some Flix that make both GH and Flix stops so maybe they are trying to supplement GH there with connections (the trips currently in TRIPS).

Flix doesn't get state money with the acquisition of Greyhound. They get the state money from operating the route prescribed by the state, whether through their FB contractor or through GH. 

Megabus does not get state money partnering with Fullington. That money goes to Fullington, Miller. Megabus does not have any say in how those routes are run. They are simply ticket sellers for these routes. Is it a good deal? absolutely, they don't have to run the bus/pay their drivers (GH), or pay the contractor (some ourbus/FB) all they have to do is sell tickets on their website and collect commissions. 

Off topic for this GH forums, but if you look at Megabus's actual network, the network they run by themselves or connect with their route network, it is in terminal decline. 

To be fair Amtrak thruway at least connects with Amtrak's nationwide train system. Something Megabus does not do under the current arrangement

Regarding GH, I'm not sure the network is robust enough for carriers to completely divorce themselves from Greyhound yet. Cont trailway used to take the role in connecting/bringing passengers between the different regional trailway systems. We still have some regional players, but the passengers are simply connected onto GH trips for now. To connect the different regional players (PPP/NYT/Miller, JL) would be a hard task, and not something that could be done before this new booking platform kicks in or with the current financial/driver situation probably even in the next years. 

Surprise on that last part…

A new Transcor Data Systems (TDS) powered platform has appeared. Indian Trails, Jefferson Lines, Burlington Trailways, Miller, Barons Bus, Northwestern Stage Lines, Lamers Bus and Salt Lake Express are interlining together without Greyhound so far and all their stops are on it. 
 

If you want to play with it ride.Indiantrails.com works. 
 

Asterisk on that… Jefferson is on the new Greyhound system too so Greyhound may not have the hold over your head power they once did when TRIPS was active. 
 

The rest of the new Greyhound platform so far is made up mostly of (who?) type carriers and those Greyhound owns:

-Delta Bus Lines

-Evergreen Trails/Horizon Coach Lines (Sunway in the system)

-Industrial Bus Lines (All Aboard America in the system)

-MTR Western

-TAC Transportation (Pacific Crest in the system)

-Valley Transit 

-Greyhound Lines De Mexico (Greyhound Lines Mexico in the system)

Americanos USA appears to no longer be a designation. Their runs come up as Greyhound Lines in the system. 
 

Still waiting on Southeastern Stages to pick a direction. Both lists may expand over time. Not a bad start to a competitor… The corners of it are Buffalo, New York- Las Vegas, Nevada - Charlotte, North Carolina - Seattle, Washington. 
 

New York Trailways should be coming into the fold here soon as well. 

 

*EDIT: The Jefferson Lines version is up now and DOES include Greyhound stops. So there must be a version with Greyhound and one without depending on the agreement. That makes this an interesting way to possibly route passengers around the dog when possible. 

[ns8401]

Well... I asked about schedule changes going forward. They will no longer be published. I received the following response when I inquired:

Quote

Hi,

I will no longer post Schedule Bulletins referencing service changes. The process ended at the beginning of year.  I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

 

[traildriver]

2 hours ago, ns8401 said:

Well... I asked about schedule changes going forward. They will no longer be published. I received the following response when I inquired:

 

Well maybe they’ll cease running schedules, and create some kind of “uber bus” business model, where they’ll run a bus when they have a sufficient number of passengers requesting a trip ?

And pick them up, door to door…

[ns8401]

On 2/22/2023 at 5:56 AM, traildriver said:

Well maybe they’ll cease running schedules, and create some kind of “uber bus” business model, where they’ll run a bus when they have a sufficient number of passengers requesting a trip ?

And pick them up, door to door…

Now you’re onto something.. at least here in Detroit I think more buses have been hours late than on time the last 5 days. Last night was a disaster. One dead bus (coolant everywhere) and another that was going to rescue somebody else instead of going to New York as scheduled. The passengers were boarded and then put off the bus and then the driver couldn’t get it started after that. So 3 schedules were 4 plus hours late and they were gonna end up a bus short in the end. It was a complete cluster. Glad I can simply be amused and not be a part of it. All the headaches and missed connections because of them I just had to smile at it.

We in Detroit are getting a round trip from Pittsburgh and one from Cincinnati starting on March 6. Combined total will be 45 when Adirondack starts on April 3. It’s gonna be crazy down there.
 

If anyone has a city request for me to track changes let me know. It’s about all we can do now.