[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 243 (Friday, December 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 70181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33464]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket Nos. MC-F-20904, MC-F-20908, and MC-F-20912] \1\


Peter Pan Bus Lines, Inc.--Pooling--Greyhound Lines, Inc.

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

    \1\ These proceedings are not consolidated. A single decision is 
being issued for administrative convenience.
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ACTION: Notice tentatively approving amendments to pooling agreements.

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SUMMARY: The Board tentatively approves certain minor and conforming 
amendments to previously approved operations and revenue pooling 
agreements between Peter Pan Bus Lines, Inc. (Peter Pan), of 
Springfield, MA, and Greyhound Lines, Inc. (Greyhound), of Dallas, TX 
(collectively, applicants), involving routes between New York, NY, and 
Philadelphia, PA, Washington, DC, Boston and Springfield, MA. If no 
opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board 
action. If opposing comments are timely filed, this tentative approval 
will be deemed vacated, and the Board will consider the comments and 
any replies and will issue a further decision on the amendments.

DATES: Comments are due by January 7, 1999, and, if comments are filed, 
applicants' reply is due by January 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of comments referring to STB 
Docket No. MC-F-20904 et al. to: Surface Transportation Board, Office 
of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 
20423-0001. In addition, send one copy of comments to applicants' 
representatives: Jeremy Kahn, Suite 810, 1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20036; and Fritz R. Kahn, Suite 750 West, 1100 New York 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005-3934.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beryl Gordon, (202) 565-1600. (TDD for 
the hearing impaired: (202) 565-1695.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The pooling agreements originally proposed 
were approved by separate decisions in these proceedings, served June 
30, 1997, in STB Docket No. MC-F-20904, April 29, 1998, in STB Docket 
No. MC-F-20908,\2\ and February 12, 1998, in STB Docket No. MC-F-20912. 
The agreements cover separate, but connecting, routes, respectively, 
between New York City and Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Boston and 
Springfield.
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    \2\ Approval of this agreement was conditioned upon applicants' 
submitting to the Board and serving on the U.S. Department of 
Justice, Antitrust Division, at 6-month intervals for 3 years, data 
on the fares charged by Peter Pan and Greyhound for passenger 
service between New York City and Washington, DC. The action in this 
decision makes no change in this condition, and it remains in full 
force and effect, as originally imposed.
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    The terms of these agreements differed somewhat, and in preparation 
for implementation of the three agreements, applicants have filed a 
petition to modify the terms of the agreements, both so as to conform 
the language of the earlier agreements to the approved language of the 
later ones, and to make certain minor modifications, in order to ensure 
that the three agreements are consistent with one another.
    The subject matters of the amendments include: Points of sale of 
tickets; treatment of shortfalls in operating mileage; processing of 
baggage and express claims; placement of signs at bus stations and 
terminals; deductions of fees and charges from the pooled revenues; 
apportionment of package express revenues; terminal costs; 
implementation dates; elimination of Greyhound's right of first refusal 
to acquire the stock of Peter Pan; sharing of advertising expenses; and 
remedies for default. While it appears that these amendments will 
continue to foster improved service and economy of operation, it does 
not appear that any of these subjects will have any significant effect 
upon competition in the affected transportation markets, and, 
accordingly, we find nothing to suggest that these amendments would 
restrain competition within the affected service areas. Accordingly, we 
will tentatively approve the amendments pending the filing of comments 
as discussed above.
    Copies of the petition to amend the pooling agreements may be 
obtained free of charge by contacting applicants' representatives.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.
    It is ordered:
    1. The proposed amendments to these pooling agreements are approved 
and authorized, subject to the filing of opposing comments.
    2. If timely opposing comments are filed, the findings made in this 
decision will be deemed as having been vacated.
    3. This decision will be effective on January 7, 1999, unless 
timely opposing comments are filed.
    4. A copy of this decision will be served on the Department of 
Justice, Antitrust Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20530.

    Decided: December 9, 1998.

    By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice Chairman Owen.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-33464 Filed 12-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-00-P