We remember Bob Tourigny, a funny, thoughtful, conscientious Peter Pan driver from 1986 to 2000 - loved his job. He had been ill with heart problems.

Funeral for Bob Tourigny, a Marine Corps Veteran will be on Veterans Day, Wed. Nov. 11, 2009. Burial at later date Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, Ma.

Obiturary Bob Tourigny

A lawsuit that names MCI as one of the defendants in a horrific motorcoach accident from Jan.6, 2008 near the Four Corners section of Utah is bringing attention to the motorcoach industry. 49 of 50 bus occupants were ejected from the crash, resulting in 9 mortalities, 40 injuries.

Attorneys for the victims and family members will cite the lack of reinforced roof, laminated windows, and safety belts on the motorcoach as primary reasons why the toll was so high. NTSB report cites the lack of seat belts/use of seat belts as a primary reason for the numerous ejections.

NTSB report click: NTSB press release
Newer NTSB report on Texas bus accident, click: Texas bus tire blowout on bridge

Web article click: MCI in the hot seat (without a seat belt)

Photo of Bill Fontanella

Your wit & wisdom will live on
Your jokes and kindness too
The utmost service you'd provide
To customers, old and new.

You were a true "captain of your coach"
On every mile you drove
Your dedication - beyond reproach
To the company you loved.

Too soon you had to leave this world
For a better one, we pray
But we're certain you're still driving
On that "Heavenly Highway"

We Miss You, Bill
Rest in Peace
from us all!

The "New Look" Peter Pan wrap was unveiled Sept. 11, 2009. It is reminiscient of styles from the 1960's, with 3D logo over black background. The front and back of the coach are green. Click here: New 2010 Peter Pan look Marketing and management are taking a new critical look at this design, and may be planning a lighter color, more similar to the current wrap for the next generation of D's and J's.

A new wrap of Peter Pan coach #744 (formerly Hoop Hall) features the 50th Anniversary of the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. unveiled during this enshrinement weekend inducting Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan, John Stockton and C. Vivian Stringer. Today's article: Article/ and photo (3rd photo in slide show) of new bus wrap

Andrea Sachs spends 30 days reviewing the different choices of motorcoach travel between Washington, D.C. and New York City. Here is her experiences and (video) interviews: Click: Today's bus travel

Apparently, First Group PLC, which bought all of Laidlaw assets in 2007 likes the "Greyhound" label! While speculation of the 2007 acquisition had First Group not interested in Greyhound, quite the opposite is true! First Group introducing British, Scotish, coach passengers to the Greyhound logo (adding it to USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand). Details here in this Guardian article. Click here First Group bringing Greyhound to UK

Brother Mario Hornsby Sr., Springfield Division operator, was interviewed by local NPR Radio Station WFCR-FM, about his community organization "Families United" and their efforts to change the nature of gang violence, and building a garden memorializing lost youths from Springfield. A plot of land was purchased that will have a community garden bordered by bricks -each one bearing a name of a murdered child. Mario Hornsby Jr.'s garden plot will have raised organic beds of zuchini, tomatoes and squash and a memorial bench with engraved scripture. Click here for link to this broadcast: Mario Hornsby interview

New service for Mystic, CT area residents on the I.95 corridor served by the Providence-New York line run. Click here: New Mystic bus stop

Peter Picknelly spoke in Washington at the Congressional Ways And Means Sub-Committee on the importance of the intercity bus segment of the nation's transportation infrastructure. His testimony illustrated the superiority of the motorcoach as an energy-efficient mode of public transportation, environmentally friendly, importance to rural America, affordability to the public as a transportation alternative, importance in reducing highway congestion in densely populated areas such as the Northeast corridor,...and discussed government subsidies given to air, rail and city transit busses, compared to the negligible partial federal fuel tax subsidy existing since the 1970's. Congress is writing a new six-year plan for the U.S. Highway Trust Fund - which is experiencing financial strain - and may run out of money as early as Sept. 2009.

Read the article describing Picknelly's visit. Click here: Picknelly testifies before Congress on importance of Diesel fuel tax rebate

READ FULL TESTIMONY of Peter Picknelly (minor changes were made at actual hearing).
Click "1 Attachment" below:

We, in the industry, know how newer modern motorcoach design has revolutionized the travel experience for line haul passengers over the last few decades. But, many of them have not yet experienced the luxury $500K plus motorcoaches that we drive and maintain every day.

Here is a new customer who describes his experience on a Washington to New York trip. Note: He did refer to the new "Bus Junction" website to compare prices and features. Click here for article: Giving the bus another chance