|
Las Vegas's winning hand + Summer surprises
Intercity Bus E-News, Early Autumn 2023
August 31, 2023
| |
|
“What happens in Vegas shouldn’t stay in Vegas,” in the opinion of this industry observer. My late summer trip to Las Vegas showed that intercity bus lines there are adept at playing their hand. Although it’s “no dice” for a traditional downtown station or luxury-oriented services, Las Vegas is a happening place for this industry. Here are a few examples:
| |
-
Salt Lake Express (SLE) has a novel schedule pattern that allows it to “double” as an airport-oriented service and traditional bus line. After its coaches depart Harry Reid Las Vegas International Airport for both Reno and Utah, they call on the nearby South Strip Transfer Terminal, which is practically next door. Passengers with through tickets originating on Greyhound and other “SLE” routes and regional transit users board here, which multiplies trip options in a way barely noticed by many airport riders.
| |
-
Las Vegas’s Transfer Terminal, while not in a walkable area (at least amid the 108oF conditions during my visit) is a success story, having an expanded role since the 2019 closing of the city’s downtown Greyhound Station. Its ample seating, high ceilings, uplifting design, and constant security presence exemplify the City of Las Vegas's commitment to bus travel. That commitment is critical to Nevada's expanding and publicly supported intercity network, including SLE’s relatively new Las Vegas–Reno route.
|
- A newly expanded Las Vegas–Los Angeles schedule provides a winning hand for customers. Both FlixBus and Megabus have recently raised their stakes in the corridor, departing from a curb next to the posh Fashion Show mall. This stop near the heart of the Las Vegas Strip gives customers a pleasant place to spend their time (and shop!) if their bus is late. My FlixBus departure for LA was one of a pair of buses leaving at almost the same time, each with staggered stops, which speeds up trips and provides operational backup.
- FlixBus and Megabus can now take you directly to eight locations in metropolitan LA and also give customers leaving town—whether their wallet is empty or full—several boarding locations.
| |
|
Mercifully, the Armageddon-like conditions that can occur during oppressive heat weren’t an issue on my trip. I felt I’d hit the jackpot when my intercity coaches and the Strip’s jam-packed "The Deuce" double-decker shuttles were cool and comfortable. Whether older buses can deal with extreme heat is less clear.
To be sure, intercity bus lines face serious problems in this and other parts of the country. Unruly passengers (see feature below), notorious traffic congestion, employee turnover, and late buses continue to hurt performance. This, plus the uneven pace of recovery, can make service expansion a gamble. But “lady luck” is on the side of bus travel in these arid parts. See below for more perspectives on these topics or click here for a link to this E-News edition to share with others.
| |
Joseph Schwieterman, Ph.D. | Intercity Bus E-News Editor
Professor & Director, Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
| North Carolina Emerges as Intercity Bus Travel Innovator | North Carolina deserves attention for its impressive and coordinated investment in local and rural bus service. The state’s Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has built a network that now encompasses 12 publicly supported lines. This system was featured in a National Rural Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) webinar in July. Among the relatively new publicly supported routes and features are: |
-
Mid-State Express, a service operated by Sunway Charters that links Winston-Salem and Fayetteville, with stops in Lexington, High Point, Asheboro, and Sanford.
- A Greyhound service from Asheville to Raleigh, via Charlotte, which, at more than 250 miles, is the state’s third longest publicly supported route.
-
GTSF schedule feeds for all routes to facilitate travel planning
| |
|
The daily Mountaineer North-South service between Charlotte and Boone, operated by Sunway and catering to students at Appalachian State University, has a second roundtrip on Fridays during the school year to meet the demand.
Intercity bus and Amtrak stations in both Raleigh and Charlotte remain a significant distance apart, but planning is underway to bring them into
| |
close proximity. A particularly notable effort is eventually replacing Charlotte’s temporary Greyhound Station with a bus facility as part of Charlotte’s Gateway Center, a future intermodal center. Such moves will create more synergy with the state’s expanded NC by Train Piedmont service between Charlotte and Raleigh. NCDOT will hold a Consultative Process meeting with providers and stakeholders in October to propose any new service opportunities and discuss the application process for fiscal years 2024-2026. Expect more news from the Tarheel State!
| |
Los Angeles Union Station & Southern Cal’s Makeover | |
|
Los Angeles Union Station is the latest among a growing number of terminals that have Amtrak, commuter trains, transit buses, metro rail, and Greyhound, practically side by side. Their proximity to Union Station East, the facility now used by Greyhound, makes connections faster and easier than many other hubs, such as Boston’s South Station and Washington DC’s Union Station, where intercity buses and trains are an “arm's-length” apart. Several features stand out:
- The mixing of passengers using so many modes of travel creates a dynamic atmosphere in the below-ground concourse that contrasts sharply with the dreariness of some older traditional bus stations.
-
Greyhound and FlixBus have a staffed ticket window, and Starbucks adds to the bustle of the same interior area.
-
The bus platforms, part of the station's Patsaouras Transit Plaza, are lined with palm trees, providing shade, and attractive mosaic pavers.
| |
In the E-News editor’s opinion, this facility is a major upgrade from the old Greyhound Station on 7th Street. Nonetheless, there are downsides, including the lack of indoor seating near the bus platforms, the absence of a digital departure board, and the long walk from the station’s main entrance. Signs pointing to “Bus Platforms” don’t imbue confidence that you’re heading to Greyhound rather than a generic transit stop. Another disappointment is the continuing absence of FlixBus and Megabus, which use nearby stops outside of station grounds, apparently due in part to bus-bay capacity limitations. This makes bus-to-bus transfers more difficult and will hopefully change.
| |
As part of the Los Angeles intercity bus makeover:
-
LosLimousines, the Hispanic operator, now runs three times daily to Phoenix and El Paso and once daily to Las Vegas, with reserved seating. The bus line has its own downtown station at the corner of 6th & Wall streets.
-
BoltBus has gone the way of the El Capitan, and the “mom-and-pop” offerings from its Asian neighborhood have vanished from prominent booking sites.
-
Kolors, the line backed by Mexican venture capital debuting to Las Vegas last year, halted service.
This leaves FlixBus, Greyhound, Megabus, Amtrak Thruway, and a handful of Hispanic-oriented operators as the main players. Most may have to eventually contend with Brightline West, the rail operator that plans to start construction soon from the eastern edge of Metro LA to Las Vegas. It seems doubtful, though, that the rail line’s expected 2028 start will dissuade other scheduled bus lines from entering the fray, including those wanting to capitalize on the demise of Lux Bus’s premium Las Vegas service. After all, five years is like an eternity in the intercity bus industry.
| |
Intercity Bus Fares Fall When Adjusted for Inflation | |
The E-News team has found that bus fares for trips outside of major corridors have risen slower than inflation since before the pandemic. This finding is based on a sample of 320 routes we have been monitoring, each involving distances of 80–450 miles and most requiring transfers at intermediate hubs and lacking a great deal of bus or rail competition. On these routes: | |
-
Average prices (in 2023 dollars) fell from $77.08 in 2017 to $74.95 in 2021 and $73.47 in autumn 2023 for reservations more than a month in advance.
-
In nominal terms (unadjusted for inflation), fares rose from $64.16 to $73.72 over the six years. Fares bottomed out during the pandemic year 2020, averaging just $54.12.
- Examples of routes with relatively high fares are Columbus, OH – Washington, DC ($100 each way), Orlando, FL – Augusta, GA ($117), and Birmingham, AL – Baton Rouge, LA ($107).
- Despite the increases, bus travel can be considered a bargain at usually less than half of airfares for reservations only a few days before departure.
| |
On many routes, margins are being squeezed as bus fares hold steady amid mounting costs, particularly rising driver and mechanic wages, leaving many bus lines in a weakened financial state. Recently, though, equipment and driver shortages and a gradual recovery in demand appear to be pushing bus fares upward on many routes. We expect fares to rise for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Our analysis considers only fares for the fastest available schedule options on a particular travel date, which is only one aspect of pricing.
| Amtrak Thruway Shores Up Service Along the Coasts | |
|
Last year may have been a relatively quiet one regarding Amtrak Thruway rollouts, as reported in our 2023 Outlook report, but the pace of launches is quickening. A new connecting Amtrak Thruway service between Worchester and New Bedford, MA, debuting in August, links up with Northeast Corridor trains in Providence, RI. Operated by DATTCO, the service runs three times daily in each direction, boasting bus-to-train transfer times often less than 20 minutes, making it attractive to business travelers valuing speed and flexibility. Amtrak prepared this short video about using this multi-modal network.
| |
In the Pacific Northwest, Amtrak launched its first electric vehicle motorcoach service with support from the State of Washington Department of Transportation. The electric coach replaces a diesel-powered coach operating between Seattle and Bellingham, making stops in Everett and Mount Vernon. The coach, owned and operated by MTRWestern, can travel nearly 200 miles roundtrip on a charge and is part of a Cascades Thruway service designed for making transfers at Seattle’s King Street Station. The rollout ends a lull in news about electric coaches being used for scheduled intercity service.
| |
|
Worth the Wait:
Strategies to Improve Security & Safety at Bus Stations
| |
Unwelcome behaviors, including passengers who become unruly and panhandlers who wander onto station grounds, continue to hurt the intercity bus industry’s appeal. Many travelers are on “high alert” when traveling by bus for this reason, while others, unfortunately, simply avoid the mode.
Several strategies are being used to ameliorate this problem, including:
|
- Having a heavy security presence at stations with uniformed personnel at entrances
- Allowing only ticketed passengers in waiting areas, which is now standard practice at some Greyhound stations, including Houston, TX, and Nashville, TN. More universally, bus lines are now strictly enforcing the rule that only ticketed passengers can pass through doorways at gates to prevent unauthorized boarding.
- Creating crisis and customer-service hotlines and chat features that allow passengers to receive immediate assistance and advice when problems occur. FlixBus and Greyhound are among the companies that have invested heavily in these tools and have prominent “Help” tabs on their websites
|
- Having bus company attendants manage curb pickup and drop-off areas, which appear to be enjoying a comeback in large cities
These strategies, while indispensable, aren’t always feasible, cost-effective, or sufficient. As more bus lines move to curbs and public transit hubs, for example, it is unrealistic to think that waiting areas can be limited to ticketed customers. Yet, more curb service is likely also part of the solution: Many passengers prefer curbside boarding to traditional bus stations, particularly when these stops are in attractive retail areas. As more privately operated bus stations disappear, you can expect more curbside stops to emerge.
| |
Nevertheless, intensely used curbside spots, particularly those used by long-distance passengers and those in desolate areas, can create far worse perceptions of safety than those inside bus stations. Long-distance travelers tend to arrive early and bring a great deal of luggage with them. A sense of disorder can quickly ensue, which has happened recently in several cities.
| |
Also important in reducing risk is running a punctual bus system. Many factors beyond of a bus line's control, including traffic congestion, snowstorms, and road construction, can make buses late. Still, this point is worth emphasizing because:
- Late buses cause travelers to miss connections, resulting in large concentrations of (unhappy) customers in one place with their belongings.
- Late buses affect travelers on excruciatingly long trips, with some suffering from extreme fatigue or facing personal hardship, which can result in calls for emergency services (something the E-News editor recently observed).
- Late buses make indoor seating crowded and scarce, prompting passengers to move outdoors, sometimes with their luggage sprawled about. Passengers often wander around due to sheer boredom.
| |
In contrast to the last point, airports—despite all their problems—usually have retail shops, private lounges, and restaurants and pubs close to gates. Plus, outsiders can’t get past TSA checkpoints, creating a more secure setting.
The industry is making progress, but there is still a long way to go. FlixBus and Greyhound’s easy-to-use chat tools, and Trailways's "contact live help" web feature, are particularly promising. Industrywide, reducing delays appears to be a growing priority. But other “small things” also add up, like providing power outlets, which are now pervasive in Greyhound stations (but surprisingly scarce at train depots), and having well-stocked and well-maintained vending machines, giving riders less reason to wander around when their bus is late.
The essential role of bus travel for low-income groups makes it imperative that state, local, and federal officials work with private companies to find solutions. Along the way, more transit agencies need to lend a hand, recognizing they have common goals with intercity service providers.
| |
|
Oregon’s Pacific Crest Lines has begun using the Megabus.com reservation platform. This carrier offers extensive services from Bend, OR, to Portland, Salem, Eugene, and other points. This follows the addition of Nebraska-based Arrow Express to the platform earlier this summer.
| |
|
Chicago–Indianapolis remains among the country’s most quixotic routes. After much political drama, Amtrak dropped its daily train service in 2019. This was followed by Megabus's abrupt exit the next year. OurBus and FlixBus filled the void, giving travelers in early 2023 no fewer than four bus travel booking options. Two of these, Miller Transportation and OurBus (a booking platform), however, are now gone, with OurBus citing traffic drops stemming from a switch to a new curbside spot in downtown Chicago as a factor. It considers the new spot less appealing than its old location near Union Station, which is now unavailable due to construction. This leaves FlixBus and Greyhound (which have the same owner) and tri-weekly trains as the only scheduled ground travel options.
Adding to the turbulence, Southwest Airlines (for a second time) dropped its Chicago–Indianapolis nonstops due to the precarious profitability of short-hop flying. Plus, the Lafayette, IN, region, an intermediate stop for buses, lost Express Air Coach, which suddenly suspended its airport shuttle from the Purdue University campus to Chicago’s O’Hare airport this summer. Amid all of this, FlixBus beefed up its service, adding a new Chicago to Bloomington, IN, service via Indianapolis. What happens next is anyone’s guess.
| |
|
Landline, the coach line that co-shares with several airlines, has launched the Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to Fargo, ND service with Sun Country Airlines. Passengers can book trips between Fargo and dozens of airports on the Sun Country website. Landline dropped its more established MSP–Mankato, MN service. See our E-News feature on Landline’s novel approach to attracting former airline passengers to motor coaches. LandLine’s services are heavily concentrated on routes from MSP and major international airports in Denver and Philadelphia.
| |
|
Greyhound is returning to Huntsville, AL, after a roughly year-long absence. Finding a suitable and affordable stop has apparently been a challenge. A former gasoline service station is slated to become the new stop. Research by the Intercity Bus E-News team indicates that Huntsville has been the fourth largest metropolitan area on the U.S. mainland (metro population: 514,645) not served by the National Intercity Bus Network, a system supported by interline and station-sharing agreements involving Greyhound, FlixBus, and many Greyhound service partners, such as Barons Bus and Jefferson Lines.
| |
Trailways, comprised of numerous bus lines, including Adirondack Trailways, Burlington Trailways, and Martz Trailways, has forged an alliance with Salt Lake Express that brings a growing number of destinations to the Trailways digital sales platform. This alliance provides consumers with new schedule options on Trailways.com and Trailways.ca. This move exemplifies the remarkable transformation of booking platforms in recent years. The press announcement notes that "The new partnership follows Salt Lake Express’ recent acquisition of Northwestern Stage Lines in 2022, which is itself a Trailways partner of over 30 years."
| |
|
Update on bus station closings. "Issues Abound", as an Arkansas newspaper headline reads, aptly describes the challenges facing bus lines and passengers in the wake of the recent closure of many Greyhound bus stations. These challenges have been particularly significant in Columbus, OH, Little Rock, AK, and Philadelphia, PA, where bus lines have moved to locations not previously used by a large number of intercity passengers. Concerns that the Chicago Greyhound Terminal could be a casualty in 2024 are growing, with no clear alternative in sight. The E-News team will provide an update on these issues—and possible solutions--in the next edition.
| |
|
See you at the Move America and RTAP conferences!
The Intercity Bus E-News team will present at both Move America, a conference in Austin, TX, on September 26-27, and the National Rural Transit Assistance Program's 5th National RTAP Conference. The latter, entitled "Navigating the Tides of Change with Rural & Tribal Transit", is December 3-6 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Reply to this email to set up a time to converse with us at either event!
| |
|
Invite others to join Intercity Bus Listserv.
Shareable link to this newsletter
Check out our reports.
Invite your colleagues to join our Intercity Bus Listserv.
| |
Click here to join our growing Intercity Bus ListServ, or email Abby by replying to this email to receive 8 – 10 emails per year. No spam. Free. Also, check out our recent studies, briefs, and podcasts below. The Intercity Bus E-News team is Abby Mader and Joe Schwieterman. | |
|
This independently produced e-newsletter brief has been shared with our Intercity Bus (IB) and Transportation listservs. If you want to ensure you are on the IB and do not miss our industry coverage, please click here. The Chaddick Institute does not receive funds from transportation companies or related industries.
| | | | |
