‘Ride the Dog’ in the UK – Greyhound Buses Arriving

From September 14 2009 we will be able to ride Greyhound buses here at home in England. 

A couple of years ago, UK-based FirstGroup purchased Laidlaw, Greyhound’s parent company, with plans to start up a service in the UK. 

Greyhound buses have for decades been as much a part of American life as baseball, apple pie, cookies (edible type) - and even Trailways.   

The buses will not look quite the same, but they will keep the familiar silver livery which prompted the nickname ‘greyhound’ before the company was thus renamed. 

American buses have traditionally been christened with women’s names made famous in pop songs such as Jolene, Barbara Ann, Sweet Caroline and Peggy Sue.  In Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘America’ they sing of ‘boarding a Greyhound in Pittsburgh’. 

Riding a Greyhound in America is still for many international travellers a somewhat romantic and nostalgic experience.  However, Greyhound has been unfortunate to suffer a less than gleaming reputation at home for carrying passengers of dubious repute – all too often confirmed in frightening newspaper headlines of knife attacks, hijackings, crazed beheadings and even cannibalism!

However, travelling by Greyhound has for decades been an inexpensive way to get around and take in the vastness of the United States.  Having said that, it is an experience you may wish to think twice about relating to your mum.  I never told mine about the cross-country Greyhound trip I made from Florida Keys to Denver in the late 80’s.  I chose to travel by Greyhound rather than fly to take in the country – and it was certainly an unforgettable experience. 

The ‘non-stop’ service I was booked on stopped without any notice or warning at a depot in the middle of nowhere in the Texas desert at about 2am.  It had been uncomfortable enough trying to sleep upright in those cramped, itchy seats.  The driver unceremoniously turfed us all off and told us we’d have to wait for the next bus to come through at about 6am.  As a female travelling alone, to say I was a bit perturbed would be a major understatement.  While trying not to make eye contact, I nervously eyed my travelling companions in the dimly-lit and grubby waiting room.  Our environment for the next four hours consisted of a selection of uncomfortable and gaudy plastic chairs, a dirty restroom, a couple of vending machines and an overweight and very visibly-armed security guard. 

Unnerved, for the rest of the trip I recall sitting as close to the front of the bus and the driver as possible.  My survival instinct told me that distancing myself from the characters I had seen emerge from the shadows at the back of the bus was my only chance.  I was thankful for a strong bladder and avoided drinking anything so I would not have to venture back there for the toilet.  Don’t be alarmed though… It’s doubtful that passengers ‘riding the Dog’ from Victoria to Portsmouth will encounter anything like that!

Greyhound will begin by operating an hourly non-stop service from London’s Victoria Station to Southampton and Portsmouth, with plans to expand further and include Scotland. 

Thankfully, the coaches have come a long way since those bad old days.  Designed to be commuter-friendly they come equipped with leather seats, a power socket at each seat, complimentary newspapers, free wi-fi, air-conditioning, extra legroom - and CCTV (to keep an eye on the psychopaths lurking in the back!)

For more information visit greyhounduk.com.

Flickr cc Image:  sillygwailo