Coach Company Reconsiders Boston Commuter Bus; Drops Newburyport

(File photograph.)

Area commuters may not have to scramble to find a new way to get to and from work in Boston after all.

About two weeks after the Coach Company, which garages buses in Plaistow, N.H., said it will end its bus runs between the North Shore and Boston on April 19, the company announced it will keep most of those trips going. For about 40 years, Coach Company has shuttled residents from Boxford, Georgetown, Newburyport, Peabody and Topsfield in and out of Boston for work.

Last month, the company said it would stop providing that service due to slumping ridership, a sharp rise in insurance costs and the lack of a state subsidy. On Wednesday, Coach Company owner Benton Smith announced that his company will continue to make trips in and out of Boston from Boxford, Georgetown, Peabody and Topsfield, but cannot keep its Newburyport service going due to specific issues there.

“After much planning and an overwhelming support from the passengers we have decided to continue Commuter service for the Towns of Georgetown, Topsfield, Boxford and Peabody,” Smith said in an email to the News Service. “These towns have no other public transportation options and we are planning some outside the box solutions in order to continue a quality service.”

Smith said a “lack of parking and high commission fees” charged by the company that sells tickets at the Newburyport park and ride “makes it impossible for us to continue service from Newburyport.” He said there is “plenty of free parking” in Georgetown, Topsfield, Boxford and Peabody, and suggested Newburyport riders consider taking a bus from one of those towns.

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