I just read this interesting message on GTE: "GLI G4500 coach # 7272 does have a six monitor flat screen TV/VCR system installed, meal trays, full carpeting, and full window curtains. It is only used on the NYC-Buffalo Pool."
Here's a picture of said vehicle:
http://www.barraclou.com/bus/greyhound/greyhound7272_2.jpg.
I don't know what to say about this.
On the same thread, I found this story on Peter Pan:
"Hi Lloyd,
It seemed like Greyhound would approach competitors with an offer they couldn't refuse, take this pool arrangement or we will put you out of business.
The competitor would be left with a pool arrangement that did not seem very generous.
After Bonanza was sold to CoachUSA in 1998, there was a lot of discussion among the top line operators through personal relationships built up over decades and through industry associations on what the future held, and what would be the best strategy for survival in a fast changing landscape. Sale or consolidation seemed to top the list. Peter Pan, used to dealing with Bonanza as competitors sometimes and allies at other times, found themselves perhaps in the group who might be left behind. They, over many years, had taken their line haul business from Springfield MA to Boston, To DC, To Baltimore and Phila and especially NYC. This was done incrementally through moves no one ever dared to do earlier, hopping on Greyhounds bread and butter lines.
In one case, about 10 years ago, the fare between NYC and DC was $25 each way. Greyhound lowered their fare to $19. Peter dropped his to $15.
Greyhound dropped their to $10. and Peter dropped his to $5.00. All summer, people could ride either line for $5.00 to NYC or DC, almost 200 miles. At the end of the summer, who blinked? Greyhound...returned the fare to $25 as did Peter. They went head to head on Boston to DC via NYC, Phila, Balto, DC.
Peter Pan had movies, Greyhound did not. Peter left Boston with 23 aboard. Greyhound left at the same time was 23 aboard. It became obvious that there were advantages to romance. But no one was going to hand Peter L. Picknelly a take it or leave it dish of crumbs and expect him to be happy.
It is said Mr. Kerrigan was chosen to negotiate. At the time, Peter was rumored to have 17% of the revenue out of a $75M pie in that corridor.
After all was said and done, he is believed to have walked away with 40% of the pie, gotten rid of lots of buses, reduced staffing greatly, and one other small point, Peter Pan administered the pool ( and presumably and most important, the money.) The term was for 30 years.
Peter was known as a visionary, and one could assume that he was setting up his successors/children in the unlikely event of his passing. But, on Oct 4, 2004, he did pass on.
The pool covers a lot of schedules over varying routes, local and express, and by most accounts, has been well operated. The only fly in the ointment is the arrival of Asian Carriers and others on the express routes running nearly 60 trips per day without any regard or deference to Peter Pan or Greyhound. Bill."
It is notable that current NYD-DCD fares go for as low as $1 on BoltBus, albeit with a booking fee.
