Here comes the bus

Greyhound Lines Inc. plans to start offering its low-cost BoltBus service on runs between Boston and New York City starting next month, a spokesman said today.

Greyhound has already begun selling tickets for as little as $1 on BoltBus runs between Washington, D.C. and New York planned to start March 27, with other fares as high as $25 depending on demand.

In the other cities BoltBus runs will drop off and pick up passengers at curbside locations. But in Boston BoltBus will run to South Station, said Greyhound spokesman Dustin Clark, like regular Greyhound buses and competing lower-cost services such as Fung Wah Bus Transportation Inc.

Curbside pickups reduce fees that lines must pay to terminal operators. BoltBus also will have lower costs because tickets can only be purchased online or on a walk-up basis when seats are available.

Exact schedules and ticket costs between Boston and New York are still being worked out, Clark said, but prices will start at $1.

Aimed at students, commuters and travelers seeking express service between the large cities, BoltBus coaches will have extra legroom by having 51 seats per vehicle, Clark said, compared to the industry average of 54 seats, and will have WiFi access and bathrooms.

The market for lower-cost bus travel in the Northeast Corridor has heated up in recent years with the arrival of Fung Wah, Lucky Star, and the newest entrant, Vamoose. Vamoose, which operates between New York and Washington, attempted to add Cambridge to its list of destinations, but ran afoul of local regulations.
(By Ross Kerber, Globe staff)