Academy Bus Lines is a bus company in New Jersey providing local bus services in northern New Jersey, line-run services to/from New York City from points in southern and central New Jersey, and contract and charter service in the eastern United States from Boston to Miami. In 2014, Academy acquired Go Buses, which currently operates bus service between Boston and Washington, D.C., and in southern Florida. On September 27, 2023, Academy acquired James River Transportation, which operates in Virginia. Academy is the third-largest motorcoach operator in the United States and Canada.
Academy's fleet consists of a variety of motor coaches, including MCI D4500 (in the process of being retired), MCI J4500, Van Hool CX35, Van Hool CX45, Van Hool C2045 motorcoaches, and Mercedes Tourrider coaches which are used for commuter and charter services. ENC Eldorado, Nova Bus LFS and New Flyer Industries low floor buses are used for university contracts and charters, such as Columbia Transportation. Services operated under contract to New Jersey Transit use NJT-owned (and branded) North American Bus Industries buses.
Under contract to New Jersey Transit (NJT), Academy Bus operates the following routes using NJT-owned equipment. Routes are listed by county. NJT did not renew its contract with Academy for Hudson and Middlesex Counties following a fraud settlement with Academy.
Under contract to Rutgers University, Academy Bus operated the campus shuttles for the New Brunswick and Piscataway campuses under a 10-year contract, until June 30, 2011, after which time First Transit Services, Inc. took over operations of the Rutgers Campus Buses. Academy has filed a lawsuit against the university over the loss of the contract. Despite the loss of shuttle operations, the company continues to provide the chartered bus operations used for tours and other events. Academy Bus took back the Rutgers University Bus contract for Newark on January 20, 2026 from Transdev. They will take the New Brunswick contract on July 1, 2026.
Academy operates Columbia Transportation for Columbia University, using both Columbia-branded transit buses and Academy-branded coaches.
Academy continues to run a separate operation in New York City for New York University and various operations for universities in southern Connecticut and around Boston. Also, Academy Bus operates long-term parking shuttles around Newark Liberty Airport under contract to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey using Port Authority-owned and branded Orion VII buses, and using their own fleet as well.
In January 2014, Academy began operation of the SIM23 and SIM24 (formerly X23 and X24) routes between Manhattan and Staten Island, formerly operated by the now bankrupt Atlantic Express. These routes were subsidized by and operated under contract to the New York City Economic Development Corporation. On January 3, 2022, operations of the two routes transferred to the MTA, with minor changes to the operating times and routing.
As of October 1, 2014, Academy operates the MTA Maryland Commuter Express routes #410, #411, & #420 under contract to and using MTA Maryland owned buses. The #820 was also awarded by MTA Maryland and began operations on July 1, 2015.
In 2017, Academy began a contract with UNC Charlotte to operate shuttles for Niner Transit, where Academy currently operates 13 New Flyer XD-40 Buses. Academy's Contract is expected to expire June 30, 2028.
In 2021, Academy Bus Lines began operating the Tri-Rail Community bus network, where they operate a fleet of 21 ElDorado E-Z Rider II buses.
In July 2022, Academy Bus took over operations of Disney World's Cruise Line Bus route. This service was previously done by Mears Transportation, until they lost the contract in June 2022. Academy Bus also added a new Disney World Sunshine Flyer service in November 2022. As of 2021, Academy is also contracted by Disney for shuttles for their Disney College Program participants. The routes are only for Flamingo Crossing Village residents in the College Program.
As of September 27, 2023, Academy Bus acquired James River Transportation of Richmond, Virginia. As part of the acquisition, Academy took over Amtrak Thruway service between Charlottesville and Richmond that was previously operated by James River Transportation.
On June 17, 2024, Academy Bus took over EZRide from Paul Revere Transportation. Academy Bus increased service, while adding new Eldorado buses to run the service.
Academy operated under contract BestBus, which provides intercity buses between New York and the Washington area. BestBus was acquired by competitor DC Trails.
Academy formerly operated under contract to Bridj, a private, app-based, on-demand transit service, in the Greater Boston area.
Academy Bus also provides Uber shuttle bus service, as of July 2024.
Academy Bus provides commuter line run service along several routes from Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean counties in New Jersey.
The full route is shown for each except for branching. Unless otherwise noted, passengers are carried to and from New York only.
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Academy Bus operates several regularly scheduled line services from points in the New York metropolitan area to and from casinos in Atlantic City, Yonkers, and Connecticut, with service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal operated in partnership with Coach USA as a Megabus service, the M25 (buses carry Academy markings).
Academy Bus runs an intercity bus common carrier service under the "Go Buses" brand, servicing the Northeast United States from Boston to Washington, D.C.. Go Buses markets its service with amenities such as free Wi-Fi, electrical outlets, and a free bottle of water upon boarding, along with a frequent rider rewards program. Offering tickets as low as $5 per one-way trip, Go Buses competes with other low-cost intercity bus services, such as Megabus, BoltBus, and various Chinatown bus lines. Academy Bus acquired Go Buses in 2014.
As of March 2026, Academy Bus Lines manages 25 locations along the East Coast in order to facilitate its Scheduled, Charter and Contract Service operations.
Academy Bus, LLC is a limited liability corporation and holding company that owns four operating companies: Academy Lines, LLC, Academy Express, LLC, Airport Express LLC, and No. 22 Hillside Corporation.