OWOSSO, Mich., Feb. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Indian Trails, Inc.—which operates one of the largest fleets of deluxe motorcoaches in Michigan—launched the new national bus-ticketing system developed by Transcor Data Services (TDS).
Called the Multi-Modal Cloud Platform, or MMC for short, the TDS system enables Indian Trails to expand connections with almost 80 independent interlining bus companies nationwide. Interlining gives travelers the ability to buy one ticket online, or from an agent, for a trip that includes two or more carriers in the national transportation network.
For decades, thanks to interlining, passengers have been able to buy a single ticket for travel across America on buses and trains. But Greyhound—which operated the former ticketing system called TRIPS—announced in September 2022 that it was terminating interline agreements with all carriers and discontinuing TRIPS effective February 21. As a result, many passengers were unable to buy bus tickets after that date, and there was widespread disruption in the national transportation network.
Greyhound had been acquired by Flix SE, a German company, in November 2021. Flix proposed new interline agreements with all carriers in October 2022. Indian Trails objected to the terms of the proposed new agreements and ended its nearly 100-year interlining arrangement with Greyhound.
Expanding Services
Using Transcor’s MMC ticketing platform, Indian Trails—which currently operates 31 schedules serving over 80 locations—will continue to interline with all other carriers nationwide, including those providing intercity service in Michigan, such as Miller Transportation, Barons Bus, and soon Adirondack Trailways, which plans to begin Detroit–Toronto service this spring.
“We’re excited about the expanded capabilities of the new MMC ticketing platform,” said Chad Cushman, president of Indian Trails. “This new system will allow Indian Trails to grow its current network of interlining carriers throughout the country, while providing our mutual customers with a much-improved ticket buying experience.”
“The bus industry, especially the intercity bus network, is evolving rapidly, creating new and better opportunities for passengers,” said Terry Cordell, CEO of TDS. “With the MMC platform integration, Indian Trails is well positioned to maximize these opportunities.”
Starting March 1, Indian Trails will also expand its own daily routes to include new service between Detroit and Chicago with three roundtrips per day. The new service will connect with all of its daily schedules north of I-94.
Thanks to the greater flexibility of the new MMC interline ticketing system—which supports interline ticketing with all carriers, online booking, point of sale transactions, schedule and fare management, and more—the U.S. intercity bus network is expected to expand by 15-20 carriers.
Indian Trails will continue to provide numerous outlets for purchasing tickets, including its webstore at https://www.indiantrails.com/bus-tickets, as well as ticket agencies statewide and beyond. Anyone who experiences difficulties in purchasing a ticket should call Indian Trails’ customer service toll free at 800-292-3831, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Indian Trails, Inc has served as Michigan’s premier, family-owned, intercity motorcoach carrier for 113 years, and is based in Owosso, Mich. Each year, the company’s vehicles travel over 3.5 million miles and transport more than 1 million passengers. Its daily scheduled routes—which also connect with Amtrak trains—extend throughout Michigan and into Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In addition, its services include group charters, the Michigan Flyer airport shuttle, the D2A2 Express Bus service, airport transfers, and more. On the web at www.IndianTrails.com.
News media contact:
Mark Holoweiko
Stony Point Communications
517-339-0123
[email protected]
SOURCE Indian Trails, Inc.
