BoltBus, the Affordable Bus Service That Would Ferry Portlanders as Far North as Vancouver, B.C., Has Shut Down Indefinitely

BoltBus sought to upgrade the experience of long-distance bus travel, offering Wi-Fi, expanded legroom and reserved seating at affordable rates, including $1 tickets that could be won via raffle.

BoltBus BoltBus in downtown Portland, 2014. IMAGE: Steve Morgan.
By Matthew Singer

Update, 7/6: A Greyhound spokesperson says BoltBus is “undergoing service renovations” and the service change is temporary. There is currently no timeline for a full return to service, however.

BoltBus is no more.

This week, Greyhound, the company that owns the 13-year-old discount bus operator, told The Seattle Times that it is suspending service indefinitely. It had previously canceled routes during the pandemic due to a drop in demand.

Launched in 2008 in the Pacific Northwest and Northeast United States, BoltBus sought to upgrade the experience of long-distance bus travel, offering Wi-Fi, expanded legroom and reserved seating at affordable rates, including $1 tickets that could be won via raffle.

In the Northwest, BoltBus ran from Eugene up to Vancouver, B.C., with stops in Salem, Portland, Seattle and other cities in between.

Initially started as a partnership between Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Lines, Greyhound assumed sole ownership in 2017. A spokesperson for Greyhound told The Seattle Times that Greyhound will take over the BoltBus routes.



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Matthew Singer

Matthew Singer

A native Southern Californian, former Arts & Culture Editor Matthew Singer ruined Portland by coming here in 2008. He is an advocate for the canonization of the Fishbone and Oingo Boingo discographies, believes pro-wrestling is a serious art form and roots for the Lakers. Fortunately, he left Portland for Tucson, Arizona, in 2021.

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