The Trailways Transportation System is the leading American network of approximately 70 independent bus companies that have entered into a brand licensing agreement. The company is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia.[1]
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 Kemmons Wilson, Holiday Inn acquired Continental Trailways, which remained a subsidiary of Holiday Inn until 1979, when Holiday Inn sold Trailways to private investor Henry Lea Hillman Sr., of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the years during which Trailways was a subsidiary of Holiday Inn, television commercials for Holiday Inn frequently showed a Trailways bus stopping at a Holiday Inn hotel.
Regular route bus ridership in the United States had been declining steadily since World War II despite minor gains during the 1973 and 1979 energy crises. By 1986, the Greyhound Bus Line had been spun off from the parent company to new owners, which resulted in Greyhound Lines becoming solely a bus transportation company. It was sold off to new owners headed by Fred Currey, a former executive with the largest member of the National Trailways Bus System. The old Greyhound parent had changed its name to Dial Corporation.
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.
A Santa Fe bus used to transport workers to defense plants during World War II
Japanese-American youths are transported to the Rohwer War Relocation Center aboard a Missouri Pacific Trailways bus, 1944
Today Trailways members are spread across North America. They provide charter bus service, bus tours and scheduled route services, with some members providing regular route service to areas not served by any other bus company on an interlining basis with Greyhound Lines, each other, and independent companies. Members also offer motorcoach charters and tours in competitive markets.
As of April 2023[update], Trailways members are:[11][12]
^United Press (October 9, 1948). "American Buslines May Merge With Subsidiary". 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.
^(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.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trailways Transportation System.
Trailways website
January 19, 2024
trailways, transportation, system, leading, american, network, approximately, independent, companies, that, have, entered, into, brand, licensing, agreement, company, headquartered, fairfax, virginia, carolina, trailways, philadelphia, 2009founded1936headquart. The Trailways Transportation System is the leading American network of approximately 70 independent bus companies that have entered into a brand licensing agreement The company is headquartered in Fairfax Virginia 1 Carolina Trailways bus in Philadelphia in 2009Founded1936HeadquartersFairfax Virginia U S Service areaUnited StatesCanadaGermanyNetherlandsService typeIntercity coach service Charter bus serviceOperatorCooperativeWebsitewww trailways com Contents 1 History 2 Current members 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe predecessor to Trailways Transportation System was founded February 5 1936 by Burlington Transportation Company Santa Fe Trails Transportation Company Missouri Pacific Stages Safeway Lines Inc and Frank Martz Coach Company nbsp 1949 matchbook cover artThe 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 Kemmons Wilson Holiday Inn acquired Continental Trailways which remained a subsidiary of Holiday Inn until 1979 when Holiday Inn sold Trailways to private investor Henry Lea Hillman Sr of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania In the years during which Trailways was a subsidiary of Holiday Inn television commercials for Holiday Inn frequently showed a Trailways bus stopping at a Holiday Inn hotel Regular route bus ridership in the United States had been declining steadily since World War II despite minor gains during the 1973 and 1979 energy crises By 1986 the Greyhound Bus Line had been spun off from the parent company to new owners which resulted in Greyhound Lines becoming solely a bus transportation company It was sold off to new owners headed by Fred Currey a former executive with the largest member of the National Trailways Bus System The old Greyhound parent had changed its name to Dial Corporation 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 nbsp A Santa Fe bus used to transport workers to defense plants during World War II nbsp Japanese American youths are transported to the Rohwer War Relocation Center aboard a Missouri Pacific Trailways bus 1944 nbsp The Petersburg Trailways Bus Station in Petersburg Virginia is listed on the National Register of Historic Places nbsp Trailways sign in Warrensburg New York nbsp Continental Trailways bus outside the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago 1968Current members edit nbsp Adirondack Trailways bus in Nanuet New York nbsp U S Customs and Border Protection scans Fullington Trailways buses carrying delegates into the 2016 Democratic National Convention nbsp Dakota Trailways bus in Denver 2016 nbsp Northwestern Trailways bus in Craigmont Idaho nbsp Pine Hill Trailways bus nbsp Trailways Bus Depot art in 1949Today Trailways members are spread across North America They provide charter bus service bus tours and scheduled route services with some members providing regular route service to areas not served by any other bus company on an interlining basis with Greyhound Lines each other and independent companies Members also offer motorcoach charters and tours in competitive markets 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 YorkSee also edit nbsp Virginia portal nbsp Buses portalJefferson Lines Laidlaw List of bus transit systems in the United States Peter Pan Bus LinesReferences edit 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 United Press October 9 1948 American Buslines May Merge With Subsidiary 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 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trailways Transportation System Trailways website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Trailways Transportation System amp oldid 1194814683, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
