Amtrak Thruway

Amtrak Thruway is a system of through-ticketed transportation services to connect passengers with areas not served by Amtrak trains. In most cases these are dedicated motorcoach routes, but can also be non-dedicated intercity bus services, transit buses, vans, taxis, ferry boats and commuter rail trains.

A Van Hool C2045L Amtrak California Thruway Motorcoach at the Bakersfield station

Train and Thruway tickets are typically purchased together from Amtrak for the length of a passenger's journey and connections are timed for guaranteed transfers between the two services.

In addition to providing connecting service to unserved areas, some Thruway services operate as redundant service along passenger rail corridors to add extra capacity.

History and purpose

Amtrak operates the Thruway network to extend the reach of its train services, offering connections to destinations not directly served by Amtrak trains. The earliest incarnation of such a service was launched in January 1973, to provide a connection between Amtrak's Inter-American in Laredo, Texas, and the Aztec Eagle train run by N de M from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.[1] The following year, Amtrak launched an agreement with Greyhound allowing for passengers to buy combined bus and rail tickets for connecting services run by the two companies. These services were the predecessors of Thruway Motorcoach. The first Amtrak bus service to bear the name "Amtrak Thruway" was launched in California in 1993.[2] Amtrak launched a significant expansion of Thruway Motorcoach services across the United States in 2014.[1]

Routes

Northeast
Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach at Newport News station, January 2013

East

Midwest

West

Pacific Northwest

California
Passengers boarding a YARTS bus at the Merced, California, station operating as Amtrak Thruway route 15A to Yosemite.

References
  1. "Historic Timeline — Amtrak: History of America's Railroad". history.amtrak.com. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
  2. Munson, Jeff (April 27, 1993). "Amtrak offers link to valley". The Union Democrat. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  3. Berlin and Conway, NH, Concord Coach Lines. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  4. Littleton and Plymouth, NH, Concord Coach Lines. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  5. "Amtrak Introduces New Round Trip Bus Service for New Bedford and Worcester, Mass. Via Providence" (Press release). Washington, DC: Amtrak. August 3, 2023.
  6. Vacations in North Carolina by Train and Thruway Bus, Amtrak. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  7. Route 5, Piedmont Authority for Regional Transit. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  8. "Cascades (Portland-Eugene) - POINT". Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  9. "Thruway Bus Routes". San Joaquins. San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority. May 15, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  10. "Connecting Amtrak Thruway Bus Service". Pacific Surfliner. LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency. May 25, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  11. "Capital Corridor Connecting Bus Schedule" (PDF). Capitol Corridor. Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority. August 15, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  12. "Amtrak Rt 21 Reinstated Bus Service" (Press release). AmericanStar Tours. November 1, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
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