Greyhound seats and fleet questions

[Swadian Hardcore]

IMHO: hboy: While a few people like being packed like sardines in a metal container, most people don't. While it is true most folks will tolerate it when flying - in the name of quickness - it takes a special kind of masochist to enjoy it at groung level for days upon days upon days without seeing an end in sight. h34r:

Dude, DL3s aren't that bad!

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Then go find a website for bus freaks, we are train freaks here.

 

[GG-1]

I think someone should do us all a favor and start a discussion forum on LD bus transportation.

Aloha

As one of the voting members of the moderators, I do not support a special forum for Long distance Bus discussions. I do feel that this Forum for Non-Rail Transportation covers this subject. But since a lot of our members do like LD Bus discussions, I would support a pined LD Bus Thread.

Les see how other Mod's and members respond.

 

[lthanlon]

I think someone should do us all a favor and start a discussion forum on LD bus transportation.

Aloha

As one of the voting members of the moderators, I do not support a special forum for Long distance Bus discussions. I do feel that this Forum for Non-Rail Transportation covers this subject. But since a lot of our members do like LD Bus discussions, I would support a pined LD Bus Thread.

Les see how other Mod's and members respond.

A thread would be nice.

 

[lthanlon]

Then go find a website for bus freaks, we are train freaks here.

There's the Yahoo group that I know of. If there's an actual website, as well, I haven't found one.

 

[the_traveler]

1350598171[/url]' post='400107']Anyway, what about when two buses are ready with no room for an extra? Which one is used?

How common are extras? I seldomly see one.

I'm not sure about now, but back in the 70's and 80's when I lived in upstate New York State, if there were more passengers than the bus would hold, many bus stations had extra buses on standby to carry those extra passengers. When I lived out west in the 90's, I expected the same thing. I took a bus from LV to my home in Laughlin, NV. The bus was at midnight, but when that bus filled up they said "Next bus is at 5 am"!

But being downtown LV, there were many things to occupy the wait! (Casinos I mean!

)

 

[the_traveler]

1351284694[/url]' post='402020']

1351235629[/url]' post='401896']I think someone should do us all a favor and start a discussion forum on LD bus transportation.

Aloha

As one of the voting members of the moderators, I do not support a special forum for Long distance Bus discussions. I do feel that this Forum for Non-Rail Transportation covers this subject. But since a lot of our members do like LD Bus discussions, I would support a pined LD Bus Thread.

Les see how other Mod's and members respond.

I agree with what Eric said. I also feel this forum covers all subject not rail related.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Then go find a website for bus freaks, we are train freaks here.

I know, I tried, but at least this is the Non-Rail Transportation section. I'm a train enthusiast, too, I just ad some questios about buses. If you can check, you will find that most of my posts are still in the Amtrak Rail Discussion and directly relevent to trains.

Anyway, what about when two buses are ready with no room for an extra? Which one is used?

How common are extras? I seldomly see one.

I'm not sure about now, but back in the 70's and 80's when I lived in upstate New York State, if there were more passengers than the bus would hold, many bus stations had extra buses on standby to carry those extra passengers. When I lived out west in the 90's, I expected the same thing. I took a bus from LV to my home in Laughlin, NV. The bus was at midnight, but when that bus filled up they said "Next bus is at 5 am"!

But being downtown LV, there were many things to occupy the wait! (Casinos I mean!

)

Too bad Greyhound dosen't many buses sitting around anymore! Drivers, too!

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Hey, I know this is an old thread, but I have a question and I don't want to start a new thread bucause it's not too significant.

Anyway, apparently buses cannot drive on the Henry Hudsin Parkway, so how does Greyhound 104/105/108 get out of NYD north to BOS? Do they go north on Eighth Avenue or do they go through the tunnel, then back on the George Washington Bridge? I haven't taken one of these runs in quite a long time because I don't live near NYD.

 

[Amtrak Cajun]

Well, when I rode out of NYP in September on Greyhound, we had other buses following us through the tunnel, because you end up on I-95, and then when you merge onto I-95N, you have a choice. You can continue on I-95N, or you can merge onto I-80W *which my bus did towards PA*. I watched other buses split onto I-95N.

Im sure they have other ways out of NY as well, but that seems to be the easiest way onto I-95.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Well, when I rode out of NYP in September on Greyhound, we had other buses following us through the tunnel, because you end up on I-95, and then when you merge onto I-95N, you have a choice. You can continue on I-95N, or you can merge onto I-80W *which my bus did towards PA*. I watched other buses split onto I-95N.

Im sure they have other ways out of NY as well, but that seems to be the easiest way onto I-95.

I meant the buses to Boston. If you go on ID-80 westbound, wouldn't you end up in Cleveland? If you keep going on one of the Dual-Duals northbound you would cross the GW Bridge back to New York. That sounds like a waste of time, fuel, and tolls.

BTW, can buses go on the Henry Hudson Parkway?

 

[Amtrak Cajun]

My bus took the I-80W split, but I saw other motorcoaches taking the I-95 split. When you depart NY via the tunnel, there are signs as you merge onto I-95N that say No tolls, keep moving.

I found something quite interesting though, as you exit the tunnel going WB, you go around this loop, and I thought to myself, whoever created this loop must have been drunk. Yep, we are just gonna make a tight loop here, that should give the bus drivers some fun. Haha.

Maybe next time Im up there I will do an experiment, I will board a Boston bound bus, and tell you how they exit NYC Now you have me curious as to how many exits they have out of NYC. Thanks alot Swadian

 

[AlanB]

I found something quite interesting though, as you exit the tunnel going WB, you go around this loop, and I thought to myself, whoever created this loop must have been drunk. Yep, we are just gonna make a tight loop here, that should give the bus drivers some fun. Haha.

That loop was the only way to shoehorn the tunnel into the existing available space there and still have a grade that trucks & buses could climb to reach the top of the hill, better known as the Palisades a line of steep cliffs/low mountains. The only other option would have been to bring the tunnel up on the other side Palisades much like Amtrak's tunnels come up on the western side of the Palisades. But that would have meant that people living right in that area would then have to drive west, in order to go east via the tunnel.

As for buses from the PA Terminal, they cannot use the Henry Hudson Highway/West Side Highway combo. They could however run up any avenue they like to I-95, they could go out the Midtown Tunnel almost opposite on the other side of Manhattan and to Queens, or they could go up to either one of the free bridges to the Bronx or the Triborough/RFK toll Bridge to Bronx and then on to 95 from there.

I have no knowledge of what they actually do, but knowing traffic in NYC, I can say that it would be faster for the buses to just go out the Lincoln Tunnel and then up the Turnpike and back over the George Washington Bridge. It's the more expensive way to go; but generally it would be the faster way to go.

One other final though on the buses that you saw going that way. In addition to bus service in that area of NJ, they could have also been headed to the 175th Street/George Washington Bridge PA Bus Terminal right at the end of the GWB. In fact, just like downtown, there are direct ramps to/from the upper level of the GWB to the bus terminal. It's not as busy & popular as the 42nd Street terminal, but it still does serve a fair number of buses.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

It really stinks that the Henry Hudson Parkway cannot be used by buses. That would shave 10 or 15 minutes off the current route and Eighth Avenue dosen't seem that cogested anyway. Argh, whatever.

 

[AlanB]

There are plenty of times during the day that the HHP is nothing more than a parking lot.

One bit of trivia however, when riding Amtrak's Empire Connection just after popping out of the tunnel going north, you can see the HHP immediately to your left. The tracks gradually ramp down and go under the HHP. The HHP is once again partially overhead just before reaching the northern tip of Manhattan and crossing the river.

 

[Amtrak Cajun]

Thanks for the info on that loop. It makes sense. Curiosity fulfilled.

So, the buses do have a few ways to get out. Interesting.

 

[railiner]

Greyhound exits the North Wing onto 41st Street, turns north on 10th avenue which becomes Amsterdam Avenue, turns east on 110th Street, turns north on 7th Avenue which becomes Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Avenue, turns east on 135th Street, turns north onto Madison Avenue onto the bridge, turns South on I-87 (Major Deegan Expwy) until it curves around becoming Bruckner Expwy, and continues east on that until it runs into I-95 north the New England Thruway.

There are a few options thru Harlem, and also sometimes schedules will go north on I-87 onto the New York State Thruway up to I-287 the cross Westchester expwy east to I-684 north to I-84.....

Peter Pan uses the same basic routes. An interesting exception is Peter Pan's Bonanza division.....they use the Lincoln Tunnel to I-495 west to the New Jersey Turnpike north to

I-95 North over the George Washington Bridge then to I-87, 287, and 684.....

Anytime traffic conditions warrant it the driver's will use whatever option is forecasted as the best.....

The only carrier's that go thru Queens I believe are the Chinatown operators that use the Williamsburgh Bridge and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to the Triboro Bridge....

 

[railiner]

My bus took the I-80W split, but I saw other motorcoaches taking the I-95 split. When you depart NY via the tunnel, there are signs as you merge onto I-95N that say No tolls, keep moving.

I found something quite interesting though, as you exit the tunnel going WB, you go around this loop, and I thought to myself, whoever created this loop must have been drunk. Yep, we are just gonna make a tight loop here, that should give the bus drivers some fun. Haha.

Maybe next time Im up there I will do an experiment, I will board a Boston bound bus, and tell you how they exit NYC Now you have me curious as to how many exits they have out of NYC. Thanks alot Swadian

That "loop" refered to locally as "The Helix", is also designated as I-495. It connects the Lincoln Tunnel with the New Jersey Turnpike and also NJ-3. It has a few local exits and a parallel service road at surface level. It runs from Weehawken, thru Union City toward Secaucus. As AlanB explained, it is designed to ease the grade from river level up to cross the Palisades. All long haul buses from New York City to and from points south, west, and north, use it. In the morning rush hour, there is a contra-flow bus only lane.

For first-time traveler's to New York City, if arriving during daylight or evening dusk, it offers one of the most dramatic entrances to any city. You are traveling thru a depressed highway below street level.....on your left side is the outcropping of the Palisades, until suddenly, you are in the clear, and get a brief, spectacular vista of the entire midtown and downtown Manhattan skyline, the Hudson River and New York Harbor. All too soon you plunge into the Lincoln Tunnel....

Sometimes driver's may elect to use the 'low road' (service road), if the helix is backed up too much....

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Greyhound exits the North Wing onto 41st Street, turns north on 10th avenue which becomes Amsterdam Avenue, turns east on 110th Street, turns north on 7th Avenue which becomes Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Avenue, turns east on 135th Street, turns north onto Madison Avenue onto the bridge, turns South on I-87 (Major Deegan Expwy) until it curves around becoming Bruckner Expwy, and continues east on that until it runs into I-95 north the New England Thruway.

There are a few options thru Harlem, and also sometimes schedules will go north on I-87 onto the New York State Thruway up to I-287 the cross Westchester expwy east to I-684 north to I-84.....

Peter Pan uses the same basic routes. An interesting exception is Peter Pan's Bonanza division.....they use the Lincoln Tunnel to I-495 west to the New Jersey Turnpike north to

I-95 North over the George Washington Bridge then to I-87, 287, and 684.....

Anytime traffic conditions warrant it the driver's will use whatever option is forecasted as the best.....

The only carrier's that go thru Queens I believe are the Chinatown operators that use the Williamsburgh Bridge and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to the Triboro Bridge....

Why don't they just go on 10th until 125th Street then east to the Robert Kennedy Bridge and then Bruckner Expressway? Or just loop around PABT and use 8th Avenue. It seems weird to have to switch over to 7th Avenue because 135 Street is blocked west of it.

 

[AlanB]

Greyhound exits the North Wing onto 41st Street, turns north on 10th avenue which becomes Amsterdam Avenue, turns east on 110th Street, turns north on 7th Avenue which becomes Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Avenue, turns east on 135th Street, turns north onto Madison Avenue onto the bridge, turns South on I-87 (Major Deegan Expwy) until it curves around becoming Bruckner Expwy, and continues east on that until it runs into I-95 north the New England Thruway.

There are a few options thru Harlem, and also sometimes schedules will go north on I-87 onto the New York State Thruway up to I-287 the cross Westchester expwy east to I-684 north to I-84.....

Peter Pan uses the same basic routes. An interesting exception is Peter Pan's Bonanza division.....they use the Lincoln Tunnel to I-495 west to the New Jersey Turnpike north to

I-95 North over the George Washington Bridge then to I-87, 287, and 684.....

Anytime traffic conditions warrant it the driver's will use whatever option is forecasted as the best.....

The only carrier's that go thru Queens I believe are the Chinatown operators that use the Williamsburgh Bridge and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to the Triboro Bridge....

Why don't they just go on 10th until 125th Street then east to the Robert Kennedy Bridge and then Bruckner Expressway? Or just loop around PABT and use 8th Avenue. It seems weird to have to switch over to 7th Avenue because 135 Street is blocked west of it.

Because the RFK bridge is a toll bridge and the Madison Avenue bridge is free. And 125th Street is a very busy street, often backed up. And 10th Avenue is generally faster than 8th Ave.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Greyhound exits the North Wing onto 41st Street, turns north on 10th avenue which becomes Amsterdam Avenue, turns east on 110th Street, turns north on 7th Avenue which becomes Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Avenue, turns east on 135th Street, turns north onto Madison Avenue onto the bridge, turns South on I-87 (Major Deegan Expwy) until it curves around becoming Bruckner Expwy, and continues east on that until it runs into I-95 north the New England Thruway.

There are a few options thru Harlem, and also sometimes schedules will go north on I-87 onto the New York State Thruway up to I-287 the cross Westchester expwy east to I-684 north to I-84.....

Peter Pan uses the same basic routes. An interesting exception is Peter Pan's Bonanza division.....they use the Lincoln Tunnel to I-495 west to the New Jersey Turnpike north to

I-95 North over the George Washington Bridge then to I-87, 287, and 684.....

Anytime traffic conditions warrant it the driver's will use whatever option is forecasted as the best.....

The only carrier's that go thru Queens I believe are the Chinatown operators that use the Williamsburgh Bridge and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to the Triboro Bridge....

Why don't they just go on 10th until 125th Street then east to the Robert Kennedy Bridge and then Bruckner Expressway? Or just loop around PABT and use 8th Avenue. It seems weird to have to switch over to 7th Avenue because 135 Street is blocked west of it.

Because the RFK bridge is a toll bridge and the Madison Avenue bridge is free. And 125th Street is a very busy street, often backed up. And 10th Avenue is generally faster than 8th Ave.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Apparently Greyhound equipment is getting more predictable. Greyhound 540 has been reported with almost only G4500s. Refurbished 102DL3s had been spotted on this route but not anymore. Pax coming to SFD from the east will now have to endure a ride on the worst Greyhound bus!

601, 502, and 509 are now exclusively G4500s. The MC-12s that used to run up there got moved to Canada.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Say, if I ever gotta ride a G4500 again, what should I do to not turn it into a horror story?

Last time I was on a totally full G4500 back when they weren't all moved to the West and the trash can outside the restroom plus an unstable ride made this the first and only Greyhound bus I ever hated!

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I just found out that Greyhound transferred its last MC-12 and 102D3s to Canada. They were reported all gone by November 2012. They're also shifting some refurbed DL3s to Canada, I don't know why. The Canadian network is cutting service and already has plenty of buses.

 

[railiner]

Greyhound has to be 100% ADA compatible in the States now.......