Soon: A Widener-NY Express

The Vamoose bus company is gearing up to enter the Boston-to-New York market. It says it will bring guaranteed seating, complimentary wireless Internet service, and a stop in Harvard Square to the 215-mile trip. And, of course, a higher price.

Beginning Nov. 8, Vamoose will offer one daily round trip from Boston to New York—with a stop in front of Widener Gate.

Additional buses will run on Fridays and Sundays, with the exact number determined by customer demand and feedback.

Vamoose, a Hasidic-owned company based in New York, is selling one-way tickets for $22 over the phone or at vamoosebus.com.

In an interview yesterday, Vamoose co-owner Florence Bluzenstein pointed to guaranteed seating as an advantage over competitors.

“We only book as many seats as we have available,” she said. “We have approximately 56 seats on every bus.”

Competing bus companies Fung Wah, Lucky Star, and Greyhound Lines, Inc., do not offer guaranteed seating. The seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bluzenstein also said his company’s drivers were particularly reliable. “We are very demanding of our drivers in the quality of service provided,” she said. “Customer service is our top priority.”

In August 2005, a Fung Wah bus burst into flames in Connecticut. In September 2006, another rolled over in Auburn, Mass., injuring more than 30 passengers.

Iain W. R. Kaplan ’08, who lives in the New York area, said he is inclined to take Vamoose over a bus line without guaranteed seating.

“Greyhound gets so crowded on Friday afternoons and holidays,” he said. “I’d definitely think about taking Vamoose during those busy times.”

Vamoose is charging higher prices than its competitors’ online specials. A one-way Boston-New York ticket costs $15 on greyhound.com and luckystarbus.com.

But for some students, the free WiFi offered on some Vamoose buses may prove to be another key selling point—even though the company’s Web site cautions that not all its buses have plug-in power outlets.

“With wireless, traveling would be so much more efficient, knowing I’ll have a seat and can spend the 4 hour ride productively,” said Anesha P. Grant ’08, a Brooklyn native and regular Greyhound passenger.

Representatives of Fung Wah declined to comment. Greyhound Lines did not return several phone calls.