Megabus, the intercity bus service of Coach USA LLC, has partnered with Spokane-based Northwestern Stage Lines to offer expanded bus service options to 35 cities in Washington and Idaho, as part of East Coast company’s first foray into the Pacific Northwest.

New trips to destinations such as Colfax, Washington; Ritzville, Washington; Boise, Idaho; and Seattle are among those now offered on the Megabus website. 

Kathy Pope, sales, marketing, and media representative for Northwestern Stage Lines, says the partnership with Megabus is an added step to creating a nationwide, intercity bus system.

A 54-passenger buses arriving at and departing from the Spokane Intermodal Center at 221 W. First, in downtown Spokane, will be Northwestern Stage Lines vehicles.

Colin Emberson, commercial vice president for Megabus, says the expanded service is only the initial phase of the partnership.

“In the future, it can be compared to a connected flight, with possible connections to farther geographies,” he says. 

Future connections could include destinations such as Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, he says.

Megabus, an international company with U.S. headquarters in Elizabeth, New Jersey, was launched in 2006 and offers express-bus service to more than 500 cities across North America. 

Northwestern Stage Lines is a family-owned business founded in the 1930s. It offers scheduled services throughout Washington and Idaho, connecting to hundreds of cities across the U.S. and Canada the press release says.