US shuts cheap Philly-NYC bus lines: UPDATE
Apex, New Century, I-95 suspended in safety move. NEW: list of operators, bus lines; links to USDoT docs.
US shuts cheap Philly-NYC bus lines: UPDATE
Joseph N. DiStefano
NEW: Shuttered bus line linked to 2010 crash death, reports Inquirer's Paul Nussbaum here.
UPDATE: Citing "imminent hazards to public safety," US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he's shut South Philadelphia-based New Century Travel Inc., two New York companies, their owners and affiliates, that carried more than 1,800 passengers a day on dozens of cheap East Coast bus routes from street corners in Chinatown and other neighborhoods.
In addition to shutting the bus services, the government ordered New Century operators Mei Ying Gao, Qi Sheng "Sammy" Zhang, Qiao Zhen "Jenny" Liu, and Amy Li (also known as Amy Mei Fang, Amy Chen Li, and Amy Peterson) to stop running bus lines until they could prove their companies and buses are properly registered and their drivers are properly trained and understand federal bus regulations. LaHood called the move "the largest single safety crackdown" in the history of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is supposed to police bus routes. The shutdown followed a year-long investigation. The other holding companies targeted are I-95 Coach Inc. and Apex Bus Inc.
New Century's Pennsylvania lines also include Wahoo Tour and Charter of Philadelphia, Fujian Tourism Co. Ltd. of Springfield, Antai Tours, 2003 Coachand Super Luxury Tours, both based in Wilkes-Barre, among others. I-95 Coach lines include Philadelphia-based Universe Bus, Lancaster-based RA Transportation,Wind Gap PA-based All State Travel Bus, and State College-based New Egg Bus and Asia Tours, among others.
EARLIER: US Department of Transportation today shut a series of low-fare bus lines linking Philadelphia, New York and other cities. Among the lines stopped: Apex, New Century, I-95.
To read U.S. DOT information about each company, click here.
AP story at http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/155901635.html
It's about time— angrywhtguy- I saw the boarding process for one of these bus lines in NY's Chinatown and it was anything but orderly. There was a woman from the bus line selling snacks from a basket to the passengers as they boarded. I guess that was their "food service."— theromneycult
- I took New Century once from Washington to Philadelphia. Awful experience.— DwightinDC
- What bus line has food service?— dreinterests
- Took APEX before. Was great. What's the big deal about a lady selling fool? Bunch of trolls on here— Eman84
thanks obama for eliminating a cheap alternative to amtrak. we're not all like his rich 1% supporters who can afford the acela— barry m goldwater- Better to go by wagon train.— Joe Pyne
- I never had a bad experience on a Chinatown bus. I've had more bad experiences with people putting their funky feet in the seats of the Megabus. How is that service any different? They pick people up and drop them off on the curbside too. It's the end of an era.— suzuka22
- NOOOO~!~ now the lines at megabus will be MILES long!— macho_tron
It's absurd that Amtrak, SEPTA, NJ Transit, and MARC continue to ignore the incredibly high demand for affordable and convenient travel between DC, Philly, and NYC. Of course, the real absurdity is that this backwater nation refuses to subsidise rail transportation at anywhere near the level of highways, forcing public transit to "pay for itself", yet funding highways 100% via taxes.— Pelti- Highways=Oil it's not hard to understand that equation. I shouldn't have to pay 80 bucks for transportation from Philly to DC or NYC. I am glad they are looking after safety— ConverseB24
- Greyhound just doubled their fare to NYC and NJ Transit cut a few trains to compensate for the 5 weeks of paid vacation its employess take over the summer.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- Horrible news. The end result is make more money, like the result of everything going on in America today. Crazy. I hope they get back correct, cause 20 dollars round trip to nyc is impossible from philly no matter how you travel. I feel sorry for anyone who conducted business in NYC and travelled this way. This country is going to s.— Bobby Digital
- Another pay to play move made by big corporations. Someone at the USDOT is retiring soon and going to get a high paying position at Greyhound. These Chinese bus operators need to start making political contribution to the local officials. PAY UP OR SHUT UP!— ioucho
