Bus riders departing from Temple and Killeen should double-check their tickets before leaving home for the depot. Arrow Trailways in Temple has cut back on station hours and routes to Austin, Waco and Houston.

Temple depot manager Susan Peoples said Arrow Trailways was trying to hold down the cost of tickets while faced with high energy prices.

“We’re constantly changing our schedule to see what works and accommodate our passengers,” Ms. Peoples said. “It’s a big change.”

The Temple and Killeen Arrow Trailways buses work as feeder routes to express lanes operated by Greyhound. These lines then connect to a nationwide network across North America. Ms. Peoples said they were adapting to new schedules for Greyhound “express buses” that depart from Austin and Waco.

At the same time Arrow Trailways was adapting to higher energy costs, their ridership is increasing. Although summer is typically the busy travel time of year, Ms. Peoples said travelers are opting for the bus over driving.

Recent reports across the county point out $4 per gallon gasoline has arrived.

Ms. Peoples did not have specific information on increased ridership; however, a Greyhound representative in Dallas agrees that more people are filling seats on their buses.

“We have seen some pretty packed buses lately,” said Abby Wambaugh, spokeswoman for Greyhound Lines Inc.

When it comes to record gas prices resulting in more folks taking the bus, Ms. Wambaugh said she could not connect those dots. They don’t take customer surveys and have no specific data.

Ms. Wambaugh said they were working with Arrow Trailways to “get customers where they need to be,” and to improve services.

Here in Temple, the new schedule is not permanent.

“We’re trying to see what works,” Ms. Peoples said. “These schedules aren’t set in stone.”

Arrow Trailways on the Web: www.arrowtrailways.com