Greyhound Supports Latest Study That Shows Motorcoaches Should Be Mode Of Choice

DALLAS, July 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Greyhound, the largest provider of intercity bus transportation in North America, is putting its support behind a new study released by M.J. Bradley & Associates that shows motorcoaches are the better choice for consumers seeking a low-cost, environmentally friendly way to travel. The report, prepared for the American Bus Association Foundation, Taxpayers for Common Sense and the Reason Foundation, reveals lower consumer and taxpayer costs, as well as reduced emissions associated with motorcoach travel when compared to other modes of ground transportation, specifically rail.

The study compared fares, travel time and emissions along 20 select U.S. city pairs across a variety of geographic regions served both by Amtrak and scheduled intercity bus service, which included Greyhound and its sister company, BoltBus. The study also reviewed whether any government subsidies were required.  Some of the key findings from the report include:

• On 65 percent of the analyzed trips, the minimum one-week advanced purchase fare was lower for intercity bus
• Intercity bus offers more schedules per trip than comparable Amtrak trips
• On average, per-passenger carbon emissions from motorcoaches are 45 percent – 65 percent less than comparable Amtrak trips
• Intercity bus serves 2,766 cities and towns in the lower 48 states, while Amtrak serves more than 500 cities and towns in 46 of the 48 states
• Total trip time by motorcoach is generally comparable with Amtrak
• The level of taxpayer subsidies to operate intercity bus service is significantly lower than rail

"As the leader of intercity bus service, Greyhound has always been committed to keeping people moving and communities prospering by providing safe, affordable and reliable transportation," said Dave Leach, president and CEO, Greyhound Lines, Inc. "This study affirms our position that traveling by intercity bus is a viable option for consumers who are looking to lower their travel costs, and receive more value in the form of a better experience. Not to mention, we're helping reduce the environmental impact on communities across the United States by operating modern, fuel-efficient equipment."

Greyhound has been moving aggressively over the last few years to improve the consumer travel experience in the intercity bus industry. The company is modernizing its fleet with new buses, featuring on-board amenities such as Wi-Fi, power outlets, extra legroom and leather seating, upgrading its terminals and ticketing systems, and introducing premium-level services such as Greyhound Express and BoltBus across North America.

"More and more people are seeing the value of traveling by intercity bus, not just in terms of affordability, but also in the overall experience," said Leach.

To view a copy of the full report by M.J. Bradley & Associates LLC, please visit: http://www.buses.org/files/Foundation/Motorcoach-Amtrak-Comparison.pdf

About Greyhound
Greyhound is the largest North American provider of intercity bus transportation, serving more than 3,800 destinations across the continent. The company also provides Greyhound Package Express (GPX) and charter services. For fare and schedule information and to buy tickets call 1-800-231-2222 or visit the website at www.greyhound.com.  For the latest news and travel deals, follow GreyhoundBus on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GreyhoundBus, Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GreyhoundBus, or follow our new blog, The Hound, at http://www.bloggreyhound.com.            

SOURCE Greyhound