Trailways Transportation System facts for kids
Quick facts for kids  |
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Carolina Trailways bus in Philadelphia in 2009
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| Founded | 1936 |
| Headquarters | Fairfax, Virginia, U.S. |
| Service area | United States Canada Germany Netherlands |
| Service type | Intercity coach service, Charter bus service |
| Operator | Cooperative |
| Web site | www.trailways.com |
The Trailways Transportation System is a big network of bus companies in the United States. It helps people travel by bus. About 70 different bus companies work together under the Trailways name. Their main office is in Fairfax, Virginia.
The History of Trailways
Trailways started a long time ago, on February 5, 1936. It was created by five different bus and train companies. These companies were Burlington Transportation, Santa Fe Trails, Missouri Pacific Stages, Safeway Lines, and Frank Martz Coach Company.
The system first offered bus trips from one side of the country to the other. It was called the National Trailways Bus System (NTBS). Another big bus company, Greyhound Lines, grew very fast in the 1920s and 1930s. Because Greyhound was so big, the government's Interstate Commerce Commission (which watched over transportation) wanted more competition. They encouraged smaller bus companies to form NTBS.
Unlike Greyhound, which owned all its buses, Trailways was a group of nearly 100 separate companies. Even so, they became a strong competitor. In the 1950s, Morgan W. Walker Sr. became the head of the southern part of the company. He had started his own small bus company during World War II.
During the 1950s and 1960s, many bus companies joined together. Four of the five original Trailways members became part of a new company called Continental Trailways. This new company ran most of the Trailways bus routes.
In 1968, a company called Holiday Inn bought Continental Trailways. Holiday Inn was known for its hotels. Continental Trailways stayed part of Holiday Inn until 1979. Then, Holiday Inn sold Trailways to an investor named Henry Lea Hillman Sr.. When Trailways was part of Holiday Inn, you could often see Trailways buses stopping at Holiday Inn hotels in TV commercials.
After World War II, fewer people rode regular route buses in the United States. There were small increases during the 1973 and 1979 energy crises when gas was expensive. By 1986, Greyhound Lines became its own bus company again. It was sold to new owners, led by Fred Currey. He used to work for the biggest company in the National Trailways Bus System.
In 1987, under Fred Currey's leadership, Greyhound Lines bought Continental Trailways. This was the largest company in the Trailways system. This purchase greatly reduced competition in the bus industry. Greyhound did make deals with some larger Trailways companies, like Carolina Coach Company. But many smaller bus companies had to close down. Greyhound later bought Carolina Coach and parts of Southeastern Trailways. Most of the remaining Trailways companies started focusing on charter buses and tours instead of regular routes.
Current Trailways Members
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Today, Trailways companies are found all over North America. They offer different kinds of bus services. These include charter bus trips, bus tours, and regular bus routes. Some Trailways members even provide regular bus service to places that no other bus company serves. They often work with Greyhound Lines and other independent companies. Trailways members also offer bus charters and tours in areas where there is a lot of competition.
As of April 2023, here are some of the Trailways members:
- 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
Images for kids
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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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A Trailways sign in Warrensburg, New York
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A Continental Trailways bus outside the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, 1968
See also
In Spanish: Trailways para niños
- Jefferson Lines
- Laidlaw
- List of bus transit systems in the United States
- Peter Pan Bus Lines
