Trailways Transportation System
Intercity coach service, Charter bus service | |
Operator | Cooperative |
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Website | www.trailways.com |
The Trailways Transportation System is a public transport bus service in the United States. It operates as network of approximately 70 independent bus companies. The company is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia.[1]
History
The predecessor to Trailways Transportation System was founded February 5, 1936, by
The system originated with coast-to-coast service as the National Trailways Bus System (NTBS). Greyhound Lines had grown so quickly in the 1920s and 1930s that the Interstate Commerce Commission encouraged smaller independent operators to form the NTBS to provide competition. Unlike Greyhound, which centralized ownership, Trailways member companies became a formidable competitor while staying an association of almost 100 separate companies. In the 1950s, Morgan W. Walker, Sr., of Alexandria, Louisiana, became head of the southern division of the company. He had entered the business on a small scale during World War II as the Interurban Transportation Company of Alexandria.[2] During the 1950s and 1960s, consolidation among bus operators resulted in four of the five original Trailways members becoming part of a new company, Continental Trailways, which eventually operated the majority of Trailways routes.[3][4][5][6][7]
In 1968, under the leadership of major stockholder
Regular route bus ridership in the United States had been declining steadily since World War II despite minor gains during the
Under the new ownership in 1987, led by Currey, Greyhound Lines later acquired the former Continental Trailways company, the largest member of the Trailways system, effectively eliminating a large portion of bus competition.[8] Although Greyhound negotiated cooperative schedules with Carolina Coach Company and Southeastern Trailways, two of the larger members of the Trailways system, many smaller carriers were effectively forced out of business. Greyhound later acquired Carolina and the intercity operations of Southeastern.[9][10] Most of the survivors diversified into charters and tours.
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A Santa Fe bus used to transport workers to defense plants during World War II
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Japanese-American youths are transported to the Rohwer War Relocation Center aboard a Missouri Pacific Trailways bus, 1944
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The Petersburg Trailways Bus Station in Petersburg, Virginia is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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Trailways sign in Warrensburg, New York
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Continental Trailways bus outside the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, 1968
Current members
Today Trailways members are spread across
As of April 2023[update], Trailways members are:[11][12]
- Amador Trailways of California – Sacramento, California
- Amador Trailways of Nevada – Reno, Nevada
- Aries Trailways – Naperville, Illinois
- Arrow Trailways of Texas – Killeen, Texas
- Burlington Trailways – West Burlington, Iowa
- Capital Trailways of Alabama – Montgomery, Alabama
- Capital Trailways of Huntsville – Madison, Alabama
- Colonial Trailways – Mobile, Alabama
- Dakota Trailways – Spearfish, South Dakota
- David Thomas Trailways – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Dean Trailways – Lansing, Michigan
- Elbo Trailways, the Netherlands – Heino, Netherlands
- First Class Trailways – St. Petersburg, Florida
- Fullington Trailways – State College, Pennsylvania
- Gold Line Trailways – Tuxedo, Maryland
- Great Canadian Trailways – Kitchener, Ontario
- Harmon Brothers Trailways – Union City, Georgia
- Heartland Trailways – Kansas City, Missouri
- Huskey Trailways – Festus, Missouri
- Martz Group – Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
- New York Trailways – Rochester, New York
- Northwestern Trailways – Spokane, Washington
- Pacific Coachways Trailways – Garden Grove, California
- Pine Hill Trailways – Hurley, New York
- Precious Cargo Trailways – Chagrin Falls, Ohio
- Red River Trailways – Shreveport, Louisiana
- Susquehanna Trailways – Williamsport, Pennsylvania
- Trailways of New York – Hurley, New York
- Thrasher Brothers Trailways – Birmingham, Alabama
- Utah Trailways – Salt Lake City, Utah
- VIA Trailways of Arizona – Tempe, Arizona
- VIA Trailways of Fresno – Fresno, California
- VIA Trailways of Merced – Merced, California
- Viking Trailways – Joplin, Missouri
- West Point Tours Trailways – Vails Gate, New York
See also
References
- ^ "Home". Trailways Transportation System. Retrieved on June 30, 2010. "3554 Chain Bridge Road Suite 202 Fairfax VA 22030-2709".
- ^ Leslie (5 August 2006). "Deep Roots and High Branches – Walker Family History: Morgan Wailes Walker". longrootshighbranches.blogspot.com.
- ^ "Heads Bus System". The Courtland Journal. June 3, 1947. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- ^ "Would Take Over Line". St. Joseph News-Press. September 18, 1952. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- ^ "INTERCITY BUS ROUTES – HISTORY". Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- ^ "Trailways remembers Marvin E. Walsh October 27, 1906 – November 5, 2008" (PDF). Trailways Traveler. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2012. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- ^ Thomas C. Hayes (June 20, 1987). "Greyhound in Deal for Trailways". The New York Times. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- ^ "The Dispatch – Google News Archive Search". google.com.
- ^ "Greyhound Acquires Southeastern Trailways Business – Free Online Library". thefreelibrary.com.
- ^ "Trailways Carriers Bus Rental - U.S. - Canada - Europe". Trailways.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "Trailways Charter Bus Network (TWYR) 2023–24 Charter Directory". www.Trailways.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.