Bus & Motorcoach News

August 15, 2004 THE NEWS RESOURCE FOR THE BUS AND MOTORCOACH INDUSTRY LimoLiner appears on verge of success Operators BOSTON — LimoLiner may just turn out to be the “little luxury face tight coach that could.” Approaching the end of its first year of operation, the luxury bus security service that operates between the Delays, canceled trips and re- business centers of New York and routings were the norm for many Boston not only is still around but motorcoach operators and their it’s even grown. passengers in New York and Wash- Since it began making the ington early this month as a federal 200-mile, four-hour run last Octo- terrorist alert spawned new traffic ber, LimoLiner has expanded to restrictions and increased inspections. a seven-day-a-week operation by Operators reported that many of adding Sunday service. and it has the problems in the New York area purchased a third coach for its were caused by the closing of the fleet. Holland Tunnel, Williamsburg “We’re not breaking even yet, Bridge and Brooklyn Battery Tun- but we are growing steadily,” says operators say is among the tough- habits has proven to be a major marketing program that zeros in on nel to commercial traffic. founder and owner Fergus est in the industry — has not come challenge for the fledging compa- the business communities in the The crackdowns during the first McCann. “Sure we would like to easy, though. ny. two cities with targeted advertise- week of August were said to be even grow faster but we believe we are “This is a brand new concept To draw riders from the trains ments in local newspapers and more intense than in the months on track.” and we have to get established,” and planes that also shuttle busi- business magazines, some radio after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Finding success in the fickle says McCann, stressing that get- ness people between New York and commercials, a few carefully select- One operator reported the run- luxury bus business — the type of ting business travelers and corpo- Boston, LimoLiner has been ed direct mailings and promotion. ning time from Elizabeth, N.J., to service that most motorcoach rations to change their riding counting on a half-million-dollar CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 þ New York increased by an hour, to two hours and 15 minutes. The congestion reportedly was Red Arrow: The great luxury success story not as bad as it could have been CALGARY, Alberta — Red because many commuters appar- Arrow Motorcoach has a secret, ently were either on vacation or and it isn’t telling. avoided rush hour. It’s not that the company In Washington, nearly all vehi- won’t share; rather, it’s because it cles approaching Capitol Hill expe- can’t quite figure out exactly what rienced delays because of closed the secret really is. streets and security checkpoints The Edmonton, Alberta– instituted overnight. based company has been beating Traffic was especially slow near the odds for 25 years by operating the World Bank and IMF buildings, a highly successful luxury coach which reportedly had been targeted service between the business cen- by terrorists. Some streets were ters of Edmonton and Calgary. closed and commercial vehicles Over the years, a number of near the area were being inspected. companies have tried their hand at Homeland Security Director similar services, but only a handful Tom Ridge raised the terror threat have found much success. Most level for financial institutions in cashed in within a year or so, say- New York, Washington, and ing not enough travelers were Colborne and General Manager secret of success. it. So, it’s really hard to say why Newark, N.J., to orange, or high willing to pay the price for the Joel Trudell have some ideas as to “A lot of companies have start- we’ve been so successful,” said alert, the second-highest level on nontraditional service of luxury why their company has been able ed similar operations and failed Trudell. the government’s five-point system. and special attention. to defy the trend, but neither can and some have even used us as He believes much of the Ridge said terrorists using trucks loaded with explosives could be Red Arrow President Michael pinpoint with certainty their true their model and still didn’t make CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 þ CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 þ BUS & MOTORCOACH NEWS — August 15, 2004 — 3 OPERATOR NEWS Rimrock Stages grabs runs in North Dakota BISMARCK, N.D. — On Aug. tain I-94 bus service and connec- 18, Rimrock Stages Trailways of tions with Minneapolis and Bill- Billings, Mont., will begin serving ings,” said Gov. Hoeven. all North Dakota towns along Greyhound’s big announce- Interstate 94 that have stops being ment in June that it was restructur- abandoned by Greyhound Lines. ing its northern and western region Initially, however, there will be hit North Dakota about as hard as only one Rimrock Stages coach in any state. It said it was dropping each direction and its westbound North Dakota service except for trip out of Fargo, N.D., will be Fargo, which would become the overnight. end of the line for westbound North Dakota Transportation Greyhound coaches across the Wrap promotes popular games Director Dave Sprynczynatyk an- northern U.S. nounced that Rimrock will start The new schedule looks like wearer in a high-tech walking com- bureau is using a bus wrap to pro- with one bus and assess ridership this: From Minneapolis, Grey- Operator donates mercial. Upwards of 10,000 cabs in mote the massive 2005–2007 patterns. “If it’s warranted, they will hound will arrive in Fargo at 10:20 coach for program major cities will soon be sporting Keystone Games, the state’s largest do more,” he said. Picking up a new p.m. and Rimrock will depart west wheel covers that promote Taco athletic festival. route through North Dakota is at 11 p.m. Previously, Greyhound YORK, PA — Marketers across Bell, Jiffy Lube and others. A coach owned by Bailey “quite an adjustment” for a region- had two westbound buses leaving the U.S. are trying all sorts of new But while marketers experi- Travel Services and Bailey Coach al line like Rimrock, he added. Fargo, at 1:15 and 9:30 a.m. gimmicks to capture increasingly ment with the new mediums, the Inc. of York has been wrapped with “The critical thing is that Rimrock will keep stops in fragmented audiences. ubiquitous bus wrap continues to a swimmer on one side and the they’re making all nine stops” that Valley City, Jamestown, Steele, Two of the latest advertising capture its share of the action. passing of a runner’s baton on the Greyhound is dropping along I-94, Sterling, Bismarck, Richardton, fads are ads placed on the wheel That’s because bus wraps are high other. Company owner John Bailey noted Don Canton, spokesman for Dickinson, Medora and Beach. covers of taxicabs and T-shirts with impact, mobile and cost effective. donated the coach for the promo- North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven. Rimrock service will continue west 11-inch embedded video screens In Pennsylvania, the York tional program. “It’s critical to North Dakota’s to Billings, Spokane and Seattle. County Convention & Visitors economic well-being that we main- and mini-speakers that turn the CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 þ CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 þ CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 þ POSTMASTER: Return postage guaranteed for return of undeliverable copies of Bus&MotorcoachNEWS. Return to 717 W. Pierson, #160, Phoenix, AZ 85013 4 — August 15, 2004 — BUS & MOTORCOACH NEWS The Air brake FMCSA to target outlaw buses, trucks WASHINGTON — Rogue The agency likely would work of Transportation numbers. “I can tell you that nearly every bus operators and truckers would with state and local law enforce- Hoemann believes there’s a sig- beating heart within FMCSA is roadchecks be the target of a new initiative ment authorities, as well as suppli- nificant number of over-the-road working on this issue,” he said. being planned by the federal gov- ers of equipment and services, such carriers that aren’t registered, and Horan said he believes the on Sept. 1 ernment. as new and used bus and truck they probably are the carriers in rejected rules represented an excel- Safety enforcement officials dealers or truck stops. greatest need of safety oversight, lent compromise among the de- WASHINGTON — The would go after carriers that try to Horan discussed the proposed Horan says. “We want to level the mands of safety advocates, eco- Operation Air Brake Campaign escape regulatory scrutiny and in- program at a meeting earlier this playing field and get unsafe guys off nomic needs of the trucking indus- is adding a new feature next surance responsibilities by operat- month of the Highway Committee the road.” try and mandates from Congress. He month to its annual program ing without federal motor carrier of the National Industrial Trans- Asked about the FMCSA’s re- noted that the regulation wouldn’t designed to improve commercial authority. portation League in Toledo, Ohio. sponse to last month’s federal court necessarily have to be changed if vehicle brake safety. The Federal Motor Carrier The league is an organization that rejection of the current hours-of- FMCSA successfully appeals the This year’s second Operation Safety Administration is consider- represents truckload shippers. service regulations, Horan said the court’s decision or comes back with Air Brake inspection program ing the “non-entrant” inspection Horan said the program is the agency is weighing its options and a regulation that offers further justi- will be Sept.

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