busfan4022 Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 I'm pretty sure just about everyone seen one of there buses around the city. They have transit busses but I can't figure out what they are. I checked the website but they aren't mentioned on it for some odd reason. I want to ride on one, seeing as though CTA doesn't -have- it. ;_; Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanbytes Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 They're shuttle buses for Northwestern. I have no idea what the routes are though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetroLINK9013 Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 I'm pretty sure just about everyone seen one of there buses around the city. They have transit busses but I can't figure out what they are. I checked the website but they aren't mentioned on it for some odd reason. I want to ride on one, seeing as though CTA doesn't -have- it. ;_; Those are 1997 or 1998 Nabi high floor buses ex AC Transit in Oakland California. James Roach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 This was previously discussed starting with the indicated post and following with regard to the Northwestern Shuttle, but at the time the buses were blank, instead of with the Free Enterprise logo. However, why the corporate vendor's name keeps changing is a mystery. I see they still give a Lansing number, which would indicate it is still somehow related to the Van der Aa operation. Maybe this Loyola newspaper article explains it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 On any weekday morning theres one traveling NW on the Kennedy around 6:20am. It is one of the exAC Transit Nabis. Those rear ends look very unusual with the rear windows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman8119 Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 They're shuttle buses for Northwestern. I have no idea what the routes are though. They are also doing Loyola shuttles between the north shore and downtown. Those buses are more packed than the Northwestern ones are...but that could be because there are more Northwestern buses running out there than Loyola ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Van Der AA is the parent company of Royal American Charter Lines which operates the Northwestern shuttle. They used to have Bluebird coaches painted in the Royal American paint scheme, but I guess they ditched them for the Free Enterprises. Free Enterprise Systems is a charter operation based out of Jeffersonville, Indiana, which is across the river from Louisville, KY. Free Enterprise is one the 50 largest coach operators in the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 Van Der AA is the parent company of Royal American Charter Lines which operates the Northwestern shuttle. They used to have Bluebird coaches painted in the Royal American paint scheme, but I guess they ditched them for the Free Enterprises. Free Enterprise Systems is a charter operation based out of Jeffersonville, Indiana, which is across the river from Louisville, KY. Free Enterprise is one the 50 largest coach operators in the country. But that doesn't explain how the Loyola and Northwestern shuttles, the first that used Royal American buses and the second that announced that it had a contract with an affiliate of Royal American, now are both served by buses with the Free Enterprise logo, and the faq page of the Northwestern website says to contact Free Enterprise at the Lansing phone number for lost and found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted October 20, 2008 Report Share Posted October 20, 2008 But that doesn't explain how the Loyola and Northwestern shuttles, the first that used Royal American buses and the second that announced that it had a contract with an affiliate of Royal American, now are both served by buses with the Free Enterprise logo, and the faq page of the Northwestern website says to contact Free Enterprise at the Lansing phone number for lost and found. Based on my research, it appears the Free Enterprise System purchased Royal American back in 2007. The Lansing number was a Royal American number (even on the www.royalride.com website), but as you stated, it is answered Free Enterprise System. According to the Secretary of State's Corp/LLC Certificates of Good Standing, when I entered Free Enterprise System, it came up Free Enterprise System/Royal LLC. The certificate date is 10/31/2007. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibebobo Posted October 22, 2008 Report Share Posted October 22, 2008 But that doesn't explain how the Loyola and Northwestern shuttles, the first that used Royal American buses and the second that announced that it had a contract with an affiliate of Royal American, now are both served by buses with the Free Enterprise logo, and the faq page of the Northwestern website says to contact Free Enterprise at the Lansing phone number for lost and found. They are supposed to lose the Free Enterprise logos and be replaced with the school's logo. I think it should have been done by now but it hasn't. Royal American bought out Robinson and now Free Enterprise bought out Royal and assumed the contracts (or got the new ones) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Heres a pic of one of the ex AC Transit Nabis. I caught this bus last week heading WB on I-80 at Torrence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pudgym29 Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 The Chicago Beer Society charters its two motor coaches from Chicago to Madison, WI., for the Great Taste of the Midwest beer festival from Free Enterprise System. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Heres a pic of one of the ex AC Transit Nabis. I caught this bus last week heading WB on I-80 at Torrence.Was doing some bus hunting today, and saw a mess of them (expectedly) coming off I-80 at Torrence. Also, saw a mess of them in Evanston, once of which had an orange LED headsign, with "Have a Nice Day." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twyztdmynd Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Was doing some bus hunting today, and saw a mess of them (expectedly) coming off I-80 at Torrence. Also, saw a mess of them in Evanston, once of which had an orange LED headsign, with "Have a Nice Day." Makes sense... Northwestern Campus shuttles run by Royal American... Now a Free Enterprise System owned company. (By State st and 168th.) Why Torrence? No toll at this exit. My employers coaches met Royals coaches there when we did trips for/with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Makes sense... Northwestern Campus shuttles run by Royal American... Now a Free Enterprise System owned company. (By State st and 168th.) Why Torrence? No toll at this exit. My employers coaches met Royals coaches there when we did trips for/with them. As it appears that they are some sort of successor to Van der Aa/Royal American (previously discussed), that was headquartered in Lansing. Their old website is still up, and Googling that address puts it SE of the 394/80 interchange, i.e accessible only at Torrence. The real question is whether they are deadheading to there, or the Northwestern buses still use the Evanston lot of a predecessor (Robinson Coach). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman8119 Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 The real question is whether they are deadheading to there, or the Northwestern buses still use the Evanston lot of a predecessor (Robinson Coach). I think they deadhead. When I worked a morning job out of Blue Island a few months ago, there were dozens of their buses headed north on the Dan Ryan out of service. On the way home, they were headed back south. I don't think they use the Robinson lot at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.