BoltBus is an intercity bus common carrier that operates low cost, non-stop and limited-stop, premium level routes in the northeast and western United States and British Columbia, Canada.p>
In the northeast, BoltBus provides service from New York City and Newark to other cities along the Interstate 95 corridor. On the west coast, BoltBus service is offered in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Canada.
BoltBus is owned by Greyhound Lines and uses the company's operating authority, but it is operated as a distinct business with little advertisement of the corporate connection.
BoltBus competes with other low cost carriers such as Megabus and Chinatown bus carriers.
Routes and history
How to Take the Bolt Bus From NYC to Washington DC, Boston, or Philadelphia for $17 - With affordable options like MegaBus, Bolt Bus, and Amtrak, it's cheap and easy to travel between major cities in the northeast. In this video, I take the Bolt Bus from New York City to Washington...
Northeast
The BoltBus network in the northeast radiates from New York City. Service is currently available between New York City and Boston's South Station Bus Terminal, Washington, D.C.'s Union Station, Baltimore's Penn Station, the Greenbelt Metro station in Greenbelt, Maryland, Newark's Penn Station and Philadelphia from both the 30th Street Station in Center City and the Cherry Hill Mall in the suburb of Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Facing increasing competition from low cost Chinatown bus carriers in the northeast, Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Lines partnered to launch BoltBus as a low cost, non-stop brand. Service began over the course of a month in early 2008. The first route to begin operation was between New York and Washington, D.C. on March 27, 2008, followed by a route between New York and Philadelphia on April 10, 2008, and between New York and Boston on April 24, 2008.
Over the following years service was expanded several more times, with stops in Baltimore and Greenbelt, Maryland added in 2009, a stop in Newark added on March 24, 2011.
After a lengthy legal skirmish, Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Lines announced that they would no longer be partnering together. As part of a legal settlement, Greyhound became the sole owner of BoltBus, effective September 27, 2017.
Pacific Northwest
BoltBus service in the Pacific Northwest radiates from Seattle. Service is currently available between Seattle's International/District Chinatown station and Portland, Vancouver, BC's Pacific Central Station, Bellingham, Albany, and Eugene.
BoltBus expanded to the Pacific Northwest on May 17, 2012, offering service between Seattle and Portland. Unlike the service in the northeast, Greyhound has always operated its BoltBus service on the west coast without a partner bus carrier. Service in the Pacific Northwest was expanded to Vancouver, BC and Bellingham on May 31, 2012 and again on October 3, 2013 to Albany and Eugene.
California/Nevada
BoltBus service in California and Nevada radiates from Los Angeles. Service is currently available between Los Angeles Union Station or the Hollywood/Vine Metro Rail station to San Jose's Diridon Station, the West Oakland BART Station, San Francisco's Transbay Terminal, Downtown Las Vegas and the south end of the Las Vegas Strip.
BoltBus expanded into California on October 31, 2013 offering service between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. The service originally operated between Los Angeles, San Jose and Oakland. A stop at San Francisco's Transbay Terminal was added to the route on December 12, 2013, followed by a stop in Hollywood on January 8, 2015.
A second route between Los Angeles's Union Station and San Diego was added on November 14, 2013, but was discontinued in January 2014 due to low ridership.
BoltBus service was expanded outside of California on December 12, 2013 with a route between Los Angeles Union Station and Las Vegas with a stop in Barstow.
BoltBus service was extended to Fresno, California on October 19, 2017, with routes to Los Angeles, Hollywood, San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland.
Services
Unlike parent Greyhound, all tickets sold on BoltBus are for reserved seating and buses are not oversold. On each trip, at least one ticket is sold for $1, with most pre-booked tickets priced in the $10â€"$20 range, via the yield management model. BoltBus sells the $1 tickets at random within the first few seats sold. The $1 fare is the basis for its slogan “Bolt for a Buckâ€. Since buses don't operate out of traditional stations with ticket windows, passengers are encouraged to purchase tickets either online or on the phone before heading to the bus stop, but drivers will also accept cash from "walk-up" passengers, if space is available (walk-up tickets typically cost 30% more than online fares). When ticketed, passengers are assigned to a boarding group (S, A, B & C). Passengers who purchased their tickets earlier get a better boarding group assignment, allowing them to board the bus and choose their seats earlier. Passengers who are members of the Bolt Rewards program are always assigned to the A boarding group. Passengers who have special needs are assigned to the S boarding group and are allowed to pre-board before other passengers.
Fleet
BoltBus routes use Prevost X3-45 and MCI D4505 coaches. All motorcoaches are equipped with wireless internet access and seats that have armrests, footrests, seat belts, cup holders. Most seats have a pair of 120-volt power outlets. The motorcoaches used on BoltBus have 5 fewer seats than the industry standard, giving passengers additional legroom and eliminating the middle seat from the last row.
References
Further reading
- Bowen, Alison, "Boltbus, Megabus and Fung-Wah: Curbside buses more dangerous: Buses that pick up passengers off the street are more dangerous than those that use a terminal, a new report found", Metro newspaper, New York City, October 31, 2011
External links
- BoltBus website
