New bus challenges Amtrak in Seattle, Portland

An upstart bus company hopes Wi-Fi, low fares, more legroom
and electrical outlets for iPods and other devices will
attract passengers to a new service between Seattle and
Portland.

BoltBus, a Dallas-based carrier owned in
part by Greyhound, will begin non-stop service between the
two cities on May 17.

The company is one of several giving Amtrak and airlines a
serious run for their money on the East Coast, but the first
in the Northwest.

Fares between Seattle and Portland will range between $1 and
$27, with departures from Seattle at 8:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.,
2 p.m., and 6 p.m. An online schedule says the trip will
take approximately 3 hours, 15 minutes.

Amtrak’s website says tickets start at $32, with the trip
taking 3.5 hours.