Notice2026-18420
Flixbus SE, Flix North America Inc., and Greyhound Lines, Inc.-Control-Greyhound Central 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
September 10, 2026
Effective
October 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Surface Transportation Board
Abstract
On August 11, 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 Greyhound Central Bus LLC (Central), a newly formed subsidiary of Applicants, upon Central 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 174 (Thursday, September 10, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 174 (Thursday, September 10, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57675-57677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18420]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. MCF 21155]
Flixbus SE, Flix North America Inc., and Greyhound Lines, Inc.--
Control--Greyhound Central Bus LLC
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.
ACTION: Notice Tentatively Approving and Authorizing Continuance in
Control.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On August 11, 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 Greyhound Central Bus LLC (Central), a newly formed
subsidiary of Applicants, upon Central 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 October 26, 2026. If any comments are
filed, Applicants may file a reply November 9, 2026. If no opposing
comments are filed by October 26, 2026, this notice shall be effective
on October 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Comments, referring to Docket No. MCF 21155, 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: Sarah Fancher at (202) 740-5507. 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
[[Page 57676]]
(Americas Affiliates).\1\ (Appl. 2-4.) Flix North America and Greyhound
are both Americas Affiliates. (Id. at 4-6.) 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 3.)
\2\ The application states that two Americas Affiliates, FlixBus
Mexico S.A. de C.V. and FlixBus Peru S.A.C., also provide a
brokerage network technology platform for intercity passenger motor
carrier service in Mexico and Peru. (Id. at 4.) These affiliates are
majority owned by a Mexican entity, Flix LATAM S.A. de C.V (LATAM).
(Id.)
\3\ Additional information about the Americas Affiliates that
are passenger motor carriers, including USDOT numbers, motor carrier
numbers, USDOT safety fitness ratings, approximate vehicle count,
and approximate driver count, can be found in the application. (See
id. at 5-10; id., Exs. A-4, B.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<bullet> Greyhound, a Delaware corporation headquartered in Dallas,
Tex., that is directly owned and controlled by Flix North America \4\
and provides nationwide scheduled intercity passenger bus service,
including links to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
intercity rail service, (id. at 5-6); \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The application explains that the prior applications in
Docket Nos. MCF 21142 and MCF 21150 erroneously stated Greyhound is
directly owned and controlled by FlixBus Inc. (FBI). (Id. at 5 n.3.)
\5\ 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 5-6.)
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. at 6.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<bullet> Valley, a Texas corporation headquartered in Brownsville,
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 6-7); 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).\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ 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 number 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:
<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; id., Ex. A-4);
<bullet> FBI, 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), (id. at
4);
<bullet> FlixBus Canada, an Alberta company headquartered in
Calgary, Alta., Canada, (id. at 5);
<bullet> Safe Transport, a Delaware company headquartered in
Dallas, Tex., that owns 0.1% of the equity stock of Greyhound Mexico,
(id. at 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 Delivery, LLC,\7\ (id.);
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ LSX Delivery, L.L.C., is a Delaware limited liability
company previously described in Applicant's earlier application
regarding the control of Pacific Northwest Bus, LLC (Pacific), in
MCF 21142, and has since been dissolved. (Id. at 4 n.2.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<bullet> Pacific, a newly created Delaware company headquartered in
Dallas, Tex., that is wholly owned and controlled by Greyhound. (Id.)
Pacific has no current operations, (id.); however, Applicants obtained
Board approval to control Pacific, Flix SE--Control--Pac. Nw. Bus LLC,
MCF 21142 (STB served Mar. 13, 2026). Pacific intends to begin
operations before the end of 2026, (Appl. 9);
<bullet> Greyhound Midwest Bus LLC (Midwest), a newly created
Delaware company, headquartered in Dallas, Tex., that is wholly owned
and controlled by Greyhound. (Id.) Midwest has no current operations,
(id.); however, Applicants obtained Board approval to control Midwest,
Flix SE--Control--Greyhound Midwest Bus LLC, MCF 21150 (STB served June
25, 2026). Midwest intends to begin operations before the end of 2026,
(Appl. 9);
<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 is 99.9% owned
by LATAM and 0.1% owned by Flix SE, (id. at 9-10);
<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 is 99.998% owned by LATAM and 0.002% owned by Flix North
America, (id. at 10); 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 Central upon its obtaining authority to operate as a
regulated passenger motor carrier.\8\ According to Applicants,
Greyhound intends to move routes currently operated by Greyhound into
the operations of Central, with the service anticipated to include the
Nashville-Tallahassee, Dallas-Nashville, St. Louis-Nashville, Atlanta-
Houston, Houston-Tallahassee, Houston-San Antonio, Houston-Laredo, San
Antonio-Brownsville, Houston-Brownsville, Dallas-Denver, Dallas-Tulsa,
Houston-Texarkana, Dallas-Laredo, Dallas-Brownsville, St. Louis-Baton
Rouge, and St. Louis-Denver lines. (Id. at 12.) The application states
that Greyhound, through Central, seeks to regionalize its operational
structure in this region in order to operate more efficiently and
[[Page 57677]]
deliver stronger results for customers. (Id.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ Notably, FMCSA authority is required to operate as an
interstate motor passenger carrier and 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
Central 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 ending not more
than six months before the date of the agreement of the parties, see 49
CFR 1182.2(a)(5).
Applicants submit evidence that granting the application would be
consistent with the public interest. (Appl. 12-14.) According to
Applicants, Applicants and Central have identified service areas that
will be operated by Central as a regional affiliate of Greyhound,
instead of as presently operated by Greyhound. (Id. at 12.)
Accordingly, Applicants anticipate that services available to the
public will not change, except for the expected improvements in
services to be gained through the efficiencies of a regionalized
operational structure. (Id. at 12-13.)
Applicants state that this transaction may result in additional
fixed costs to the extent that Central borrows funds to finance a
portion of equipment acquisition over time. (Id. at 13.) However,
Applicants assert that any such increase will not have a material
impact on the transaction or Central's implementation of services.
(Id.) Applicants further state that the proposed transaction will not
adversely affect Central's employees, as Central is a newly formed
entity that has no current employees. (Id.) Applicants state that the
contemplated action and resulting assumption of scheduled intercity
passenger service will continue to require the same jobs for drivers,
mechanics, and other support personnel. (Id.) Applicants therefore
conclude that employee interests, although future in nature, will be
served to the greatest degree possible. (Id.)
Based on their representations, the Board finds that Applicants'
continuance in control of Central 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 Central 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 October 27, 2026, unless
opposing comments are filed by October 26, 2026. If any comments are
filed, Applicants may file a reply by November 9, 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: September 1, 2026.
By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, Hedlund, Kloster, and
Schultz.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2026-18420 Filed 9-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 10, 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.