College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Centers & Institutes > Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development > Research and Publications > Intercity Bus Research

Intercity Bus Research

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Chaddick Institute's research on intercity bus service spans nearly a decade, with year-in-reviews for the past five years highlighting the innovation and technological advances undertaken by the intercity bus industry in the United States. The Chaddick staff is available for information requests and interviews about our research. Please contact us at chaddick@depaul.edu or 312.362.5731.

Our recent reports


Intercity Bus Blues​:  Intercity Bus Blues: Public Officials Fail to Act as the Threat of Carriers being Evicted from Chicago Greyhound Terminal Grows & Illinois's Bus Network WeakensMay 7, 2024. 12 Pages (PDF).

Back on the Bus:  2024 Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry in the United States. February 6, 2024. 24 pages (PDF). Our widely read review of industry developments across the U.S. mainland.

Check out our Intercity Bus E-News illustrated newsletters. Each edition has a roundup of industry news in addition to the features listed below. 

  • October 2024​, bulletin, Flix-Greyhound announce temporary Chicago terminal lease extension
  • September 2024, bulletin,​ added​ Gary, IN service as Chicago station closing looms
  • August 2024. bulletin, Megabus routes in Northeast go to Peter Pan and​ Fullington
  • Late Summer 2024, featuring Cape Cod, Coach USA's reorg, and attracting new riders​
  • Late Spring 2024, featuring Midwestern terminals & on-time performance
  • Early Spring 2024, featuring Chicago station problem & Illinois
  • Late Winter 2024, featuring service changes in the U.S. South​
  • ​​Early Winter 2024, featuring New York & New England
  • Late Autumn 2023, featuring airport service & station problems
  • ​Early Autumn​ 2023, featuring North Carolina & So. California
  • Summer 2023, featuring bus-train competition & Virginia Breeze
  • Spring 2023, featuring Greyhound/FlixBus integration & more
  • Autumn 2022, featuring premium lines incl. RedCoach & Vonlane
  • Summer 2022, featuring Colorado’s Bustang and Landline
  • Spring 2022, featuring U.S. news & Greyhound’s cash payments
  • ​​Winter 2021, special bulletin with news on pandemic traffic recovery
  • Autumn 2021, ​featuring U.S.-Mexico border area & FlixBus growth  ​​
  • Summer 2021, Landline launches in Colorado, FirstGroup sells First Student
  • Spring 2021, Comparing Bus Fares and Car Rental Prices
  • Winter 2020,  featuring Coronavirus Relief, Holiday Fare Analysis
  • Autumn 2020, Pandemic Support for Ailing Bus Lines
  • Summer 2020, includes a podcast with David Hall, former BoltBus executive
  • Summer 2019, featuring Port Authority Bus Terminal, First Group sells Greyhound
  • Autumn 2019, featuring Vonlane and RedCoach, Lineline’s Airline Partnership
To receive Intercity Bus E-News (free), email chaddick@depaul.edu

Older reports

April 2023
Greyhound Study


 





February 2023








February 2022

Routes to Recovery Cover

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Intercity Bus Bounceback The​ 4th Quarter 2021 Brings Optimism to a Struggling Sector.
January 2022

Intercity Bus Bounceback





Flixbus Acquisition of Greyhound lines
October 2021
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Thumbnail of Newsletter

Image of bus picking up passengers









NY cover







2020 bus outlook







2019 Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry in the United States

February 5, 2019
Check out our interactive map of premium bus service.

bus study cover


Bus Study 2018

"2018 Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry in the United States"

January 29, 2018
See the study's press release.  

Plus, check out our mid-year news update from Summer 2018 to see what is happening in scheduled bus service.




"The Remaking of the Motor Coach: 2015 Year in Review of Intercity Bus Service in the United States" January 13, 2016. This study includes our widely-cited estimates on the number of passengers the industry handles annually (see page 14).


"2015 Memorial Day Holiday Travel Overview: U.S. Intercity Bus Industry"
May 19, 2015  

"Adding Amenities, Broadening the Base:  2014 Year-in-Review of Intercity Bus Service in the United States"
January 13, 2015

"The Traveler's Tradeoff: Comparing Intercity Bus, Plane, & Train Fares across the United States"
April 15, 2014

"Motoring Into the Mainstream: 2013 Year-in-Review: Intercity Bus Service in the United States"
January 14, 2014

"The Motor Coach Metamorphosis: 2012 Year-in-Review of Intercity Bus Service in the United States"
January 6, 2013

"The Intercity Bus Rolls to Record Expansion: 2011 Update on Scheduled Motor Coach Service in the United States"
​December 21, 2011

"Who Rides Curbside Buses: A Survey of Passengers on Curbside Bus Lines in Six East and Midwest Cities"
August 1, 2011

"The Growth of Intercity Bus Service" (2008 Update)
November 24, 2008
Press Release 

"The Return of the Intercity Bus: The Decline and Recovery of Scheduled Service to American Cities, 1960 - 2007"
December 24, 2007
Press Release