BOSTON TRANSIT

PRIVATE COMMUTER BUS COMPANIES

These bus companies, of a longer distance nature, have provided and continue to provide commuter express service in the Boston area, often subsidized by MBTA.

Almeida Bus Lines - existed from 1940's until 1979. Had operated subsidized commuter routes which in 1979 were transferred to other carriers.

Concord Coach Lines - in 1980 took over former Continental Trailways routes serving New Hampshire, and enhanced commuter service between Boston and Concord NH. In 1988 sold route serving Newburyport and Dover to C&J.

Englander Coach - from 1965 to 1979 operated commuter service between Boston and Fitchburg via Acton. Various successor bus companies assumed service, in 1986 assumed by Yankee Bus.

Peter Pan Bus Lines - began operations in 1933, continues to exist.

The Short Line - began operations in 1925 primarily in Rhode Island, including acquiring the Rhode Island Bus Co. during 1950's. Expanded in 1958 by acquiring many routes from New England Transportation Co. which ceased operations. In 1965 acquired Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Co.'s Fall River Division, which included bus route from Boston through Fall River to Newport RI. In 1971 renamed Bonanza Bus Lines, and in 1978 acquired route between Boston and Woods Hole from Almeida Bus Lines. In 1979, the more local service between Boston and Fall River was sold to Bloom Bus Lines. Sold in 2003 to Peter Pan Bus Lines.


COMMUTER BUS HISTORIC ROUTES


Bloom  Boston-Taunton-West Bridgewater  Almeida   1940's
Boston Boston-Manchester NH                       2007
Cav.   Boston-Post Road-Northborough    B&W       1926
Cav.   Boston-Framingham-Marlborough    B&W      SC  1928
C&J    Boston-Newburyport-Dover         Concord   1980's
Coach  Boston-Haverhill                 Michaud   1965
Coach  Boston-Newburyport               Michaud   1965
Concd. Boston-Concord NH                Concord   1980
DATTCO Boston-Taunton-New Bedford       Almeida   1940's
PPB    Boston-Worcester                 B&W       1926
PPB    Boston-Providence                Short     1965
PPB    Boston-Fall River-Newport        EMSR     SC  1931
PPB    Boston-Woods Hole                Almeida   1940's
P&BSR  Boston-Plymouth                  P&BSR     1949
P&BSR  Logan-Boston-Plymouth-Hyannis    P&BSR     1961
P&BSR  Boston-Marshfield-Duxbury        P&BSR     1949
P&BSR  Braintree-Hanover-Marshfield     MBTA      1982
Yankee Boston-Concord-Acton             Englander 1965

Abbreviations

Bloom - Bloom Bus Lines
Boston - Boston Express
Cav. - Cavalier Coach
C&J - C&J Trailways
Coach - Coach Co.
Concd. - Concord Coach Lines
DATTCO - DATTCO
PPB - Peter Pan Bus Lines
P&BSR - Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Co.
Yankee - Yankee Lines


CURRENT PRIVATE BUS COMPANIES/WEB LINKS

Bloom Bus Lines
Boston Express
Cavalier Coach
C&J Trailways
Coach Co.
Concord Coach Lines
DATTCO
Peter Pan Bus Lines
Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Co.
Yankee Lines


More Obscure Suburban Lines

Additional obscure bus companies previously existed, according to the 1952 "Mass Transportation's Directory", and the WPA American Guide Series of state guidebooks.


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