Trailways Transportation System
The Trailways Transportation System is an association of independent bus agencies.
History
Trailways Transportation System was founded on February 5, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois. Its offices are presently located in Fairfax, Virginia.
It was founded by five independent U.S. bus companies:
- Burlington Transportation Company
- Frank Martz Coach Company
- Missouri-Pacific Stages
- Safeway Lines, Inc.
- Santa Fe Trail Transportation Company
Timeline of important events
1936: Trailways is founded. Five independent transportation companies form a small motorcoach network, the Trailways National Bus System, to compete with the large and connected Greyhound Bus Lines.
1946: Approximately 40 independent companies now make up the network’s expanding system. “Born of the Night” is a prevailing Trailways bus theme for transporting passengers, mostly Armed Forces personnel, in the darkened hours of the night. With World War 2 over, the system is flourishing and ridership is booming.
1966: Trailways operates with 60 bus companies who are still independent, but now all mostly have the same logo and appearance. The company promotes one set of standards for all.
1976: The bi-centennial year, Continental Trailways, then owned by Holiday Inn, changed its name to Trailways Inc., absorbing the majority of the smaller and well-known network operations nationally as well as later re-acquiring the Eagle production facilities (in 1981).
1986: 50th Anniversary. The event is low key as Trailways faces two of its greatest challenges since its inception: deregulation and the sale of Continental Trailways to Greyhound Lines. Intercity ridership continues to drastically decline.
1996–2000: Only 14 companies remain from the system’s earlier force of 77. The first female President/CEO, Gale C. Ellsworth, is hired in 1997 and begins to rebuild the organization. The offices are relocated from Washington, D.C., to the suburb of Fairfax, Virginia in 1999.
2006: 70th Anniversary. Trailways grows to 70 independent operators and adopts the theme, “Team Trailways.” The company expands membership to include 80 industry partners. The focus is on promoting safety and security foremost, including the requirement that all members have DOD-certification, and quality. The stockholders are strongly committed to the brand.
2011: 75th Anniversary. There are now 90 motorcoach stockholders including Canada and Europe.
2016: 80th Anniversary. Collaboratively, the Trailways network operates more than 10,000 for-hire group transport vehicles, of which, 2,000+ are over-the-road, full-size motorcoaches (buses). Trailways travels over 20 million miles annually. Trailways began developing a new strategic plan in preparation of celebrating its 80th Anniversary on February 5, 2016.[1]
Membership
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United States 
AL: Capital Trailways of Alabama, Capital Trailways of Huntsville, Colonial Trailways, Thrasher Brothers Trailways
AZ: VIA Trailways of Arizona
CA: Amador Trailways of California, AmericanStar Trailways, Orange Belt Trailways, Pacific Coachways Trailways, West Valley Trailways.
DC: First Priority Trailways, Gold Line Trailways
FL: First Class Trailways
GA: Capital Trailways of Georgia, Coastal Georgia Trailways, Samson Trailways
IL: Prairie Trailways
IN: Excursions Trailways of Indiana
IA: Burlington Trailways
LA: Louisiana Trailways, Red River Trailways, Salter Trailways
ME: NorthEast Trailways of Maine
MD: A.S. Midway Trailways, First Priority Trailways, Gold Line Trailways
MA: Cavalier Coach Trailways
MI: Dean Trailways of Michigan
MS: Mississippi Trailways, Mississippi Trailways of Madison
MO: Central States Trailways, Heartland Trailways, Huskey Trailways, Viking Trailways
NY: Adirondack Trailways, Birnie Trailways, New York Trailways, Pine Hill Trailways, West Point Tours Trailways
NC: Rose Trailways
ND: Amador Trailways of Nevada, Harlow's Trailways
OH: Excursions Trailways of Ohio, Precious Cargo Trailways
PA: David Thomas Trailways, Fullington Trailways, Martz Trailways, Mlaker Trailways, Susquehanna Trailways
RI: Flagship Trailways
SC: Cross Country Tours Trailways, Lancaster Trailways, Lancaster Trailways of Charleston
SD: Dakota Trailways, Prairie Coach Trailways
TN: Gentry Trailways
TX: Arrow Trailways of Texas, Sun Travel Trailways
UT: Utah Trailways
VA: Abbott Trailways, National Coach Trailways (a Martz Group subsidiary)
WA: Northwestern Trailways
WI: Kobussen Trailways
Canada 
Germany 
DE: Seitz-Reisen Trailways of Germany
Netherlands 
NE: Elbo Trailways, the Netherlands