Notice2026-04887
Flixbus SE, Flix North America Inc., and Greyhound Lines, Inc.-Control-Pacific Northwest Bus LLC
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
March 13, 2026
Effective
April 28, 2026
Issuing agencies
Surface Transportation Board
Abstract
On February 13, 2026, Flix SE, a noncarrier, Flix North America Inc. (Flix North America), a noncarrier, and Greyhound Lines, Inc. (Greyhound), an interstate passenger motor carrier (collectively, Applicants), filed an application seeking Board approval to continue in control of Pacific Northwest Bus LLC (Pacific), a newly formed subsidiary of Applicants, upon Pacific becoming a federally regulated passenger motor carrier. The Board is tentatively approving and authorizing the proposed continuance in control. If no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 49 (Friday, March 13, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12481-12483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04887]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. MCF 21142]
Flixbus SE, Flix North America Inc., and Greyhound Lines, Inc.--
Control--Pacific Northwest Bus LLC
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.
ACTION: Notice tentatively approving and authorizing continuance in
control.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On February 13, 2026, Flix SE, a noncarrier, Flix North
America Inc. (Flix North America), a noncarrier, and Greyhound Lines,
Inc. (Greyhound), an interstate passenger motor carrier (collectively,
Applicants), filed an application seeking Board approval to continue in
control of Pacific Northwest Bus LLC (Pacific), a newly formed
subsidiary of Applicants, upon Pacific becoming a federally regulated
passenger motor carrier. The Board is tentatively approving and
authorizing the proposed continuance in control. If no opposing
comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action.
DATES: Comments must be filed by April 27, 2026. If any comments are
filed, Applicants may file a reply by May 12, 2026. If no opposing
comments are filed by April 27, 2026, this notice shall be effective on
April 28, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Comments, referring to Docket No. MCF 21142, may be filed
with the Board either via e-filing on the Board's website or in writing
addressed to: Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW,
Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, send one copy of comments to
Applicants' representative: Andrew K. Light, Scopelitis, Garvin, Light,
Hanson & Feary, P.C., 10 W Market Street, Suite 1400, Indianapolis, IN
46204.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathaniel Bawcombe at (202) 915-3555.
If you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities
Act, please call (202) 245-0245.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: According to the application, Flix SE is a
privately held German holding company that owns and controls affiliates
in several countries, including in the Americas (Americas
Affiliates).\1\ (Appl. 2.) Flix North America and Greyhound are both
Americas Affiliates. (Id. at 4-5.) The Americas Affiliates provide a
brokerage network technology platform for intercity passenger motor
carrier travel in the United States and Canada, through a network known
as FlixBus. (Id. at 3.) They also provide nationwide passenger bus
service that utilizes and operates the service network provided through
Greyhound.\2\ (Id. at 3-4.) The Americas Affiliates include the
following passenger motor carriers: \3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Flix SE also owns and controls affiliates that provide
mobility platforms of networks for intercity motor coach and rail
passenger transportation in Europe, and affiliates that provide
mobility platforms of networks for intercity motor coach passenger
transportation in South America, India, Turkey, and Australia.
(Appl. 2.) According to Applicants, none of these affiliated
entities operate in the United States, and thus they do not have a
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number, a USDOT safety
rating, or a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
docket number. (Id. at 2-3.)
\2\ The application states that two Americas Affiliates also
provide a brokerage network technology platform for intercity
passenger motor carrier service in Mexico and Peru. These affiliates
are majority owned by a Mexican entity, Flix LATAM S.A. de C.V
(LATAM). (Id. at 4.)
\3\ Additional information about the passenger motor carrier
Americas Affiliates, including USDOT numbers, motor carrier numbers,
USDOT safety fitness ratings, approximate vehicle count, and
approximate driver count, can be found in the application. (See
Appl. 5-7, Ex. B.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<bullet> Greyhound, a Delaware corporation headquartered in Dallas,
Tex., that provides nationwide scheduled intercity passenger bus
service, including links to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation
intercity rail service, (id. at 5-6); \4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The application states that Greyhound and FlixBus together
serve approximately 1,600 destinations in North America and annually
transport approximately 12 million passengers. (Id. at 5.) According
to Applicants, Greyhound essentially operates as a single
transportation system with its affiliates, Valley Transit Co., Inc.
(Valley), Americanos U.S.A., L.L.C. (Americanos), and Greyhound
Lines Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Greyhound Mexico). (Id.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<bullet> Valley, a Texas corporation headquartered in Dallas, Tex.,
that is a wholly owned affiliate of Greyhound and operates scheduled
intercity passenger bus service, particularly in South Texas and United
States-Mexico transborder areas, (id. at 6);
<bullet> Americanos, a Delaware corporation headquartered in
Albuquerque, N.M., that is a wholly owned affiliate of Greyhound and
operates part of Greyhound's nationwide scheduled intercity passenger
bus service, particularly in the United States-Mexico transborder areas
of Texas and California, (id. at 6); and
<bullet> Greyhound Mexico, a Mexican corporation headquartered in
Monterrey, Nuevo Le[oacute]n, that is an affiliate of Greyhound with
primary service areas in Mexico that range to the United States-Mexico
transborder areas of Texas and California, (id. at 7).\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Greyhound Mexico is an interstate passenger motor carrier in
Mexico, but it does not have authority to operate as a passenger
motor carrier in the United States. (Id. at 7.) Accordingly,
Greyhound Mexico does not have an FMCSA docket dumber or USDOT
safety fitness rating. (Id.) According to the application, Greyhound
Mexico is indirectly wholly owned and controlled by Greyhound, which
owns 99.9% of its Greyhound Mexico equity stock and indirectly owns
the remaining 0.1% equity stock through its 100% ownership of Safe
Transport, LLC (Safe Transport). (Id.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The remaining Americas Affiliates do not hold operating authority
and are described as follows:
[[Page 12482]]
<bullet> Flix North America, a Delaware corporation headquartered
in Dallas, Tex., that is a holding company and shared services provider
for its subsidiaries, (id. at 4, Ex. A-4);
<bullet> FlixBus Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered in
Dallas, Tex., that provides the brokerage technology platform for
FlixBus and directly owns and controls FlixBus Canada ULC (FlixBus
Canada) and Greyhound, (id. at 4);
<bullet> FlixBus Canada, an Alberta company headquartered in the
City of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, (id. at 4-5);
<bullet> Safe Transport, a Delaware company headquartered in
Dallas, Tex., that owns 0.1% equity stock of Greyhound Mexico, (id. at
7);
<bullet> LSX Delivery, L.L.C. (LSX), a Delaware company
headquartered in Dallas, Tex., that is wholly owned by Greyhound, (id.
at 7-8);
<bullet> Atlantic Greyhound Lines of Virginia, Inc., a Virginia
corporation headquartered in Dallas, Tex., that is wholly owned by
Greyhound, (id. at 8);
<bullet> BUS Risk Retention Group, Inc., a South Carolina
corporation headquartered in Charleston, S.C., that is a captive risk
retention entity that writes primary general and automotive liability
insurance for affiliated entities of Flix North America, and whose
equity ownership is as follows: 99% Greyhound, 0.25% Valley, 0.25%
Americanos, and 0.25% LSX, (id.);
<bullet> Pacific, a newly created Delaware company headquartered in
Dallas, Tex., that is wholly owned and controlled by Greyhound and has
no current operations but whose contemplated activities are the subject
of the Application, (id.);
<bullet> FlixBus Peru S.A.C., a Peruvian corporation headquartered
in Lima, Peru, that provides a brokerage network technology platform
for intercity passenger motor carrier travel in Peru, and which is
99.9% owned by LATAM and 0.1% owned by Flix SE, (id. at 8-9);
<bullet> Flixbus Mexico S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation
headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico, that provides a brokerage network
technology platform for intercity passenger motor carrier travel in
Mexico, and which is 99.998% owned by LATAM and 0.002% owned by Flix
North America, (id. at 9); and
<bullet> LATAM, a Mexican corporation headquartered in Mexico City,
Mexico, that provides various support services by contract for the
Americas Affiliates, including accounting and human resources, and
which is 99.998% owned by Flix SE and 0.002% owned by Flix North
America, (id.).
In the application, Applicants seek Board approval to continue in
control of Pacific upon it obtaining authority to operate as a
regulated passenger motor carrier.\6\ According to Applicants, the
addition of regular route intercity passenger service is warranted in
unserved or underserved areas of California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon,
Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. (Id. at 11.) The application states that
Pacific will gradually introduce new or additional regular route
intercity passenger motor carrier service in such areas, thereby
increasing and improving services to the public. (Id. at 11-12.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Notably, FMCSA authority is required to operate as an
interstate motor passenger carrier and thus is not granted by this
decision. See 49 CFR pt. 365.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), the Board must approve and authorize a
transaction that it finds is consistent with the public interest,
taking into consideration at least (1) the effect of the proposed
transaction on the adequacy of transportation to the public, (2) the
total fixed charges resulting from the proposed transaction, and (3)
the interest of affected carrier employees. Here, Applicants have
submitted the information required by 49 CFR 1182.2, including (1)
information to demonstrate that Applicants' continuance in control of
Pacific upon it becoming a regulated passenger motor carrier is
consistent with the public interest under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), see 49
CFR 1182.2(a)(7); and (2) a jurisdictional statement under 49 U.S.C.
14303(g) that the aggregate gross operating revenues of the involved
carriers exceeded $2 million during the 12-month period immediately
preceding the filing of the application, see 49 CFR 1182.2(a)(5).
Applicants assert that granting the application would be consistent
with the public interest. (Appl. 12.) According to Applicants, services
to the public will be increased and improved by their continuance in
control of Pacific upon it becoming an interstate passenger motor
carrier, as Pacific intends to add scheduled intercity service in
unserved or underserved areas in California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon,
Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. (Id. at 11.) Applicants state that,
where routes or areas are unserved, introduction of new service will
benefit the traveling public. (Id. at 12.) Applicants also state that,
where routes or areas are underserved, the entry of new carrier service
will increase competition and therefore benefit the public by providing
options or choices of carriers and fares. (Id.)
Applicants concede that this transaction may result in additional
fixed costs to the extent that Pacific borrows funds to finance a
portion of equipment acquisition over time. (Id. at 11.) However,
Applicants assert that any such increase will not have a material
impact on the transaction or Pacific's implementation of services.
(Id.) Applicants further state that the proposed transaction will not
adversely affect Pacific's employees, as Pacific is a newly formed
entity that has no current employees. (Id.) Rather, Applicants state
that the proposed transaction will create new jobs for drivers,
mechanics, and support personnel. (Id. at 11-12.)
Based on their representations, the Board finds that Applicants'
continuance in control of Pacific is consistent with the public
interest. The application will be tentatively approved and authorized.
If any opposing comments are timely filed, these findings will be
deemed vacated, and, unless a final decision can be made on the record
as developed, a procedural schedule will be adopted to reconsider the
application. See 49 CFR 1182.6. If no opposing comments are filed by
expiration of the comment period, this notice will take effect
automatically and will be the final Board action in this proceeding.
This action is categorically excluded from environmental review
under 49 CFR 1105.6(c).
Board decisions and notices are available at <a href="http://www.stb.gov">www.stb.gov</a>.
It is ordered:
1. Applicants' continuance in control of Pacific upon it becoming a
federally regulated passenger motor carrier is approved and authorized,
subject to the filing of opposing comments.
2. If opposing comments are timely filed, the findings made in this
notice will be deemed vacated.
3. This notice will be effective on April 28, 2026, unless opposing
comments are filed by April 27, 2026. If any comments are filed,
Applicants may file a reply by May 12, 2026.
4. A copy of this notice will be served on: (1) the U.S. Department
of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; (2) the U.S. Department of
Justice, Antitrust Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20530; and (3) the U.S. Department of Transportation,
Office of the General Counsel, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington,
DC 20590.
Decided: March 9, 2026.
[[Page 12483]]
By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, Hedlund, and Schultz.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2026-04887 Filed 3-12-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 13, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.