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BoltBus

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BoltBus
A BoltBus in Portland, Oregon, in 2014
ParentGreyhound Lines
FoundedMarch 27, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-03-27)
DefunctJuly 1, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-07-01)
HeadquartersOne Dallas Center
350 N St. Paul St
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Service areaNortheastern United States
Pacific Northwest
California/Nevada
Service typeIntercity bus service
DestinationsNortheast:
Baltimore; Boston; Cherry Hill; Greenbelt, Maryland; Newark, New Jersey; New Haven, Connecticut ;New York City ; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.
Northwest:
Albany; Bellingham; Eugene; Portland; Seattle; Vancouver
Fleet101 units:
70 Prevost X3-45
31 MCI D4505
Fuel typeDiesel
OperatorGreyhound Lines

BoltBus was an intercity bus common carrier and a division of Greyhound Lines that operated from March 2008 until July 2021 in the northeast and western United States and British Columbia, Canada.

At least one ticket on every bus was randomly sold for $1, excluding "handling charges".[1][2] The $1 fare was the basis for its slogan "Bolt for a Buck".[3]

In the northeast, BoltBus provided service between New York City and South Station Bus Terminal in Boston, Union Station in Washington, D.C., Penn Station in Baltimore, the Greenbelt Metro station in Greenbelt, Maryland, Penn Station in Newark, 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, and the Cherry Hill Mall in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. On the west coast, BoltBus service was offered in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. Service was available between International District/Chinatown station in Seattle and Portland, Pacific Central Station in Vancouver, Bellingham, Albany, and Eugene.

The BoltBus branding incorporated a thunderbolt logo similar to the one used by the British Union of Fascists, but the company claimed that the resemblance was purely coincidental.[4][5]

When ticketed, passengers were assigned to a boarding group (S, A, B & C). Passengers who purchased their tickets earlier or were members of the company's loyalty program or had special needs got an earlier boarding group assignment.[6]

History

A BoltBus Prevost X3-45 in New York City.

In March 2008, facing competition from Chinatown bus lines in the northeast, Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Lines partnered to launch BoltBus as a lower-cost brand.[7][8]

The first route was between New York City and Washington, D.C., launched on March 27, 2008, followed by a route between New York City and Philadelphia launched on April 10, 2008, and between New York City and Boston launched on April 24, 2008.[7][9]

That year, the company was named one of America's hottest brands by Ad Age.[10]

Stops in Baltimore and Greenbelt, Maryland were added in 2009.[11]

A stop in Newark, New Jersey was added on March 24, 2011.[12][13][14]

BoltBus expanded to the Pacific Northwest on May 17, 2012, offering service between Seattle and Portland.[15] Unlike the service in the northeast, Greyhound operated its BoltBus service on the west coast without a partner bus carrier. Service in the Pacific Northwest was expanded to Vancouver and Bellingham on May 31, 2012[16] and to Albany and Eugene on October 3, 2013.[17]

BoltBus expanded into California on October 31, 2013, offering service between Los Angeles and San Jose and Oakland.[18] A stop at Transbay Terminal in San Francisco was added to the route on December 12, 2013.[19]

A second route between Union Station in Los Angeles and San Diego was added on November 14, 2013.[20]

On December 12, 2013, a route was added between Los Angeles Union Station and Las Vegas, with a stop in Barstow.[19]

In 2015, it added a pickup in Hollywood, Los Angeles for routes to/from Northern California.[21]

In October 2016, the company launched a new onboard entertainment system.[22]

Effective September 27, 2017, after a lengthy legal skirmish, Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Lines ended their partnership and Greyhound became the sole owner of BoltBus.[23]

On October 19, 2017, BoltBus service was extended to Fresno, California, with routes to Los Angeles, Hollywood, San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland.[24]

In March 2019, BoltBus added stops in Tacoma, Washington and Everett, Washington.[25] It also added a stop in Wilmington, Delaware.[26]

On July 1, 2021, BoltBus discontinued its operations.[27][28]

In September 2021, FlixMobility acquired Greyhound.[29]

Fleet

BoltBus interior with leather seats.
BoltBus #0889, a 2013 Motor Coach Industries D4505 stopped at Pacific Central Station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

BoltBus routes used Prevost X3-45 and MCI D4505 coaches. All motorcoaches were equipped with wireless internet access and seats that had armrests, footrests, seat belts, cup holders. Most seats had a pair of 120-volt power outlets. The motorcoaches used on BoltBus had 5 fewer seats than the industry standard, giving passengers additional legroom and eliminating the middle seat from the last row.

Manufacturer Model Year Fleet numbers Notes[30]
Prevost X3-45 2008 0800-0832 Powered by Detroit Diesel Series 60 14L. Equipped with Amaya Patriot PT seating.

2017 year models are powered by the Volvo D13

2009 0833-0837, 0840-0841, 0843-0851, 0854-0870
2017 0908-0922
Motor Coach Industries D4505 2012 0886 Owned by Motor Coach Industries, replacement unit for 0883.
2014 0887-0901 Powered by Cummins ISX12. Equipped with American Seating Premier.
Van Hool CX-45 2015 0902-0907

References

  1. ^ Richard, Terry (January 27, 2015). "Bolt Bus provides cheap, frequent, convenient service along Interstate 5, Portland to Seattle or Eugene". The Oregonian.
  2. ^ SCHLOSSER, KURT (July 1, 2021). "Cheap, tech friendly BoltBus is rolled into Greyhound during 'service renovations'". GeekWire.
  3. ^ Hamilton, Anita (June 6, 2008). "Beating $4 Gas with a $1 Bus". Time. Archived from the original on June 7, 2008.
  4. ^ Cedotal, Andrew (January 25, 2010). "Is Bolt Bus Using the Logo of a British Fascist Party?". The Mary Sue.
  5. ^ Hopper, Tristin (January 28, 2016). "Fascist, schmaschist: Why a West Coast bus company picked the same logo as some dead British fascists". National Post.
  6. ^ Gambardella, Tom (September 13, 2019). "How to Read Your BoltBus Ticket". Wanderu.
  7. ^ a b Killian, Erin (March 4, 2008). "Boltbus starts from D.C. to New York City service". American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on March 29, 2008.
  8. ^ Kinney, Jim (March 11, 2008). "Peter Pan, Greyhound offer new bus service". The Republican.
  9. ^ O'Neill, Xana (March 27, 2008). "Bus fare to D.C. a dollar, not a dream!". New York Daily News.
  10. ^ Parekh, Rupal (November 16, 2009). "BOLT BUS: AN AMERICA'S HOTTEST BRANDS CASE STUDY". Ad Age.
  11. ^ Deal-Zimmerman, Michelle (April 30, 2009). "BoltBus launching service: Baltimore to NYC for $1". The Baltimore Sun.
  12. ^ Clabaugh, Jeff (March 8, 2011). "BoltBus adds Baltimore-Newark, N.J., route". American City Business Journals.
  13. ^ "BoltBus Expands its Newark, N.J. Hub With Service to Boston and Philadelphia Beginning June 23" (Press release). PR Newswire. June 14, 2011.
  14. ^ "BoltBus launches new route between Boston and Philadelphia". The Patriot Ledger. June 14, 2011.
  15. ^ Sokolowsky, Jennifer (April 30, 2012). "BoltBus to offer $1 fares between Seattle, Portland". American City Business Journals.
  16. ^ Lindblom, Mike (May 14, 2012). "BoltBus adds a Vancouver, B.C. line from Seattle". The Seattle Times.
  17. ^ "BoltBus To Expand Oregon Service To Eugene And Albany On Oct. 3" (Press release). PR Newswire. September 10, 2013.
  18. ^ "BoltBus To Launch Service In California On Oct. 31" (Press release). PR Newswire. October 15, 2013.
  19. ^ a b "BoltBus Expands From Los Angeles; Adds Las Vegas, San Francisco Service" (Press release). PR Newswire. December 10, 2013.
  20. ^ "BoltBus Continues California Expansion, Adds San Diego Service" (Press release). PR Newswire. November 6, 2013.
  21. ^ FORGIONE, MARY (January 14, 2015). "BoltBus adds Hollywood pickup for Northern California routes". Los Angeles Times.
  22. ^ "BoltBus Launches All New On-Board Entertainment System" (Press release). PR Newswire. October 25, 2016.
  23. ^ Vaccaro, Adam (August 29, 2017). "Greyhound, Peter Pan will split up and be rivals again". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017.
  24. ^ "BoltBus Expanding Service in California, adding Fresno, CA" (Press release). PR Newswire. October 12, 2017.
  25. ^ Podsada, Janice (March 8, 2019). "BoltBus links Everett to Seattle and other big I-5 cities". The Everett Herald.
  26. ^ Quinn, Holly (April 3, 2019). "BoltBus just made it easier to get from Wilmington to Baltimore and DC". Technically Media.
  27. ^ Kiley, Brendan (July 1, 2021). "RIP, BoltBus — the affordable, trendy bus company has discontinued service; Greyhound will take over its routes". The Seattle Times.
  28. ^ Wilkinson, Joseph (July 1, 2021). "Discount bus brand BoltBus indefinitely suspended, Greyhound taking over routes". New York Daily News.
  29. ^ "FlixMobility acquires Greyhound to Expand U.S. Intercity Bus Services" (Press release). Flixbus. October 21, 2021.
  30. ^ "Welcome to Truck Stop". Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to BoltBus.
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