INTERCITY BUS COMPANIES

ILLINI SWALLOW LINES

1948 MAP

In Illinois, had its beginnings in 1924 as Illini Coach Co. Routes serving Illinois were introduced in the years indicated, by the companies indicated.

Champaign-Bloomington (1927, Illini Coach Co.)
Hoopeston-Bloomington (1928, Cross County Coach Co.)
Champaign-Decatur (1928, National Roadway Lines)
Bloomington-Peoria (1929, Cross County Coach Co.)
Danville-Covington-Crawfordsville IN (1923, Reo Motor Bus)
Hoopeston-Danville (1922, Hoopeston-Danville Motor Bus Co.)
Danville-Terre Haute (1925, Danville-Terre Haute Limited Bus Co.)
Bloomington-Pekin-Peoria (1937, Illini Coach Co.)
Bloomington-Decatur (1943, Illinois Highway Transportation Co.)

In Indiana, had its beginnings in 1925 as Swallow Coach Lines, primarily operating from Danville to Indianapolis. In addition, American Stages began operating in 1930 between Crawfordsville and Indianapolis, possibly to replace a discontinued interurban railway.

In addition, the 1929 Danville City Directory identifies the following bus companies, operating over their namesake routes and likely eventually becoming part of Illini Coach Co. or Swallow Coach Lines.

Danville-Lafayette Bus Line
Danville-Paxton Bus Line
Danville-Broadland Bus Line

In 1946, Illini Coach Co., Swallow Coach Lines, and American Stages began operating together as Illini Swallow Lines, formally merged in 1961. Illini Swallow Lines continued to operate main route from Indianapolis to Peoria, later extended to Davenport, until 2000, when route transferred to new Burlington Trailways company.

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