Railroad Forums 

  • Amtrak and Greyhound Announce Merger to Revolutionize Transportation Industry

  • General discussion of passenger rail systems not otherwise covered in the specific forums in this category, including high speed rail.
General discussion of passenger rail systems not otherwise covered in the specific forums in this category, including high speed rail.

Moderators: mtuandrew, gprimr1

 #1619392  by eolesen
 
Amtrak and Greyhound Announce Merger to Revolutionize Transportation Industry

Washington, D.C. - Amtrak and Greyhound, two of America's Top 46 transportation companies, are excited to announce a merger that will transform the way Americans travel. The merger, which has been in the works for months, will combine the strengths of both companies to create a seamless, efficient, and cost-effective transportation network that will serve millions of people across the country.


Under the terms of the merger, Amtrak and Greyhound will join forces to create a new company that will be known as AmBus. The new company will be headquartered in Washington, D.C. and will operate a network of trains and buses that will connect cities and towns across the United States.

The merger will allow Amtrak and Greyhound to leverage their combined resources and expertise to create a transportation network that is faster, more reliable, and more convenient than anything currently available. The new company hopes to eventually offer a range of travel options, including high-speed trains, luxury buses, and shuttle services, all of which will be designed to meet the needs of today's travelers.

"We are thrilled to announce this merger with Greyhound," said Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn. "By combining, we no longer have to be compared to each other, and will be able to offer a transportation network that is truly like nothing that's ever been done intentionally before."

Greyhound CEO Dave Leach added, "This is an exciting day for Greyhound and for our customers. By joining forces with Amtrak, we will be able to create schedules that will confuse people in a way unmatched in the industry. We look forward to working together to build a transportation system that is both inconvenient yet affordable for everyone."

The merger is expected to be completed by the end of the 2028, pending regulatory approval. Both companies are committed to working closely with regulators to ensure a smooth transition for their customers and employees.

About Amtrak

Amtrak is America's premier passenger rail service. With a history dating back to 1971, Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily to over 500 destinations across the United States. Amtrak is committed to delivering a safe, reliable, and comfortable travel experience to its customers.

About Greyhound

Greyhound is the largest provider of intercity bus transportation in North America, serving more than 3,800 destinations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With a history dating back to 1914, Greyhound is committed to delivering a safe, comfortable, and affordable travel experience to its customers.

Contact:

Media Relations
AmBus
[email protected]
(202) 555-1234

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

 #1620754  by wigwagfan
 
The fact this DIDN'T happen, undermines the entire argument for Amtrak's existence.

If Greyhound served communities don't "need" this vital, critical transportation link for citizens to access vital lifesaving services like medical care...well...who needs Amtrak? The argument that rural, remote communities in Montana use it for access to the Mayo Clinic...not so much.

I've been saying AmBus should have happened years ago. Now that Greyhound is being systemically dismantled...
 #1620764  by RandallW
 
I've found a surprising number of routes where Greyhound (or a Trailways company) is not competing with another bus company, its being subsidized by one way or another (usually by a state) to maintain that route, and that states do not seem to have the same internal fights over putting a bus on a state-owned road that they do over running a train on private property.
 #1620797  by urr304
 
Even though this was entered as an April Fools joke, it is not a joking matter that trains and busses are not merged into an entity 'Ground Mass Transit' divided up into focuses on commuting, medium distance and long distance .

Yes, it is quite logical that a state legislature would not be as apprehensive of paying for a bus rather than a train for some routes just look at the capital cost differences. It certainly would be a starting point for re-establishing ground public transit clientele with a well run bus operation that might grow into a demand for a train.

The Empire Builder route was alluded to in an earlier post, I have heard about the need for transportation across northern Montana for 40 years now. Just what are the actual statistics of demand for transportation across there when the Empire Builder comes through? If The Empire Builder quit tomorrow, would there be even enough demand for a bus to carry the intrastate and interstate traffic to and from the region?
 #1624916  by wigwagfan
 
RandallW wrote:I've found a surprising number of routes where Greyhound (or a Trailways company) is not competing with another bus company, its being subsidized by one way or another (usually by a state) to maintain that route...
I can tell you with absolute certainty that the corporate monopoly known as the Corporate State of Oregon and Amtrak, Incorporated, did a mighty fine job of running Greyhound almost entirely out of the state, by charging fares on Amtrak trains and the contracted out buses far below operating cost, while demanding corporate income taxes, weight-mile taxes, and vehicle registration fees on Greyhound. Greyhound is down to just one bus on its north-south I-5 route from Seattle to San Francisco; they have sold off their city-block large bus terminal in Portland, ended service altogether to Salem, the state capitol (admittedly the State of Oregon did a nice job of taking a derelict segment of an old train station and spent a few million dollars to rebuild it for Greyhound, but Greyhound still paid full rent on that structure until Amtrak next door - and now that beautiful wood building sits empty and vacant).

For what? Amtrak's schedule still sucks and the trains still run 70-80% empty south of Portland. Downtown Portland is an eyesore. Numerous destinations lack any public transportation whatsoever - Amtrak's social media even loves to cite "destinations" you can get to by train, but absolutely need a car to reach. (Sorry, but taking the Empire Builder to Multnomah Falls is...painful to say the least.) I-5 traffic is above pre-pandemic levels, and now Oregon, the liberal, environmentally-friendly state, has fewer intercity transit options than before - all thanks to the insistence that we MUST have a train at any cost!

Maybe Greyhound should be getting the $2 billion a year and have an actual tax liability of $0.00 each year, including getting E-plates on its buses...Amtrak can replace its coaches with sleeping cars and go after the top 1%.
 #1633817  by dogbiscay
 
Even though this was entered as an April Fools joke, it is not a joking matter that trains and busses are not merged into an entity 'Ground Mass Transit' divided up into focuses on commuting, medium distance and long distance.
Exactly. With the advancement of technology today, I believe that the infrastructure in major cities will be rapidly modernized. Unthinkable events may occur in the future.