First-instance bus rider finds few bumps in the road

LONDONDERRY – Those who travel before dawn each day are a special breed. I did the Boston Express bus to South Station recently to re-visit the commuter world and see what the newest technology has to offer.

The first thing was a pleasant surprise. When I dialed 1-800-639-8080 Donna answered, and she not only was not a recording, but she helpfully walked me through my downloaded schedule (bostonexpressbus.com) and filled in the details I needed for my journey south.

The North Londonderry bus station opens at 4:30 a.m. each day, and I could purchase a ticket anytime thereafter.

Next morning my alarm went off at “O-dark thirty”, a Navy term. At 5:45, the bright lights of the new North Londonderry terminal complex welcomed me back to what used to be my drive time. This time, my senior status qualified me for a $6.50 one-way fare to South Station.

Kelley Adhikari took my ticket and welcomed me and about 40 others aboard her bus, and we were on our way, on schedule, to Boston.

As we hit the Interstate everyone quieted down. No reading lights were on. A few iPods were in evidence but no one seemed to be connected to the satellite radio outlets at each seat. Wifi is promised after the first of the year.

The dark cabin felt more like the red eye from L.A. than the 6 a.m. to Boston.

It is a very quiet ride. Kelley knows her business. We were at speed with multiple bus lengths in front of us that she used to adjust to the first few traffic surges we encountered.

Satisfied with her command of the situation, I switched on my blue light to re-read things required for my morning meeting. Dawn arrived around Wilmington and Medford had us down to stop-and-go speeds.

The big bus is much smoother in traffic than you might expect. I didn’t look up again from my work till we hit the express lane in Somerville, leaving the mere mortals in their cars

to creep along in NASCAR formation all the way to the Bunker Hill Bridge.

We joined them again to enter the Big Dig, exiting the Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Memorial Tunnel at State Street.

Topside, 20 passengers got off at our first quick stop and Park Street and Tuffs Medical took away a few more. There were only six of us left as we rolled into the South Station terminus at 7:15, right on schedule. An escalator ride down to street level and I was on my way for the day.

I had planned on a three o’clock departure but my seminar ended early and rather than add to my city stops I decided to get back to my New Hampshire office early to finish out my day. That had me being greeted by Eric Schnitzlein driver of Boston Express’s 1 p.m. to North Londonderry.

Arriving at two minutes to one I was the last one to board and off we went. Off commuting hours was a breeze. By 1:50 I was back to my starting spot in the Granite State. It was then I noticed I was well rested and ready to go. The big buses and their drivers delivered.

On the last couple of Boston adventures I had parked at the Wellington Circle T Stop in Somerville and used my Charlie Card to finish the trip on the Orange line. I now had a new perspective.

The Boston Express Bus is a new way to go to the old city to our south. I could pick up the T at South Station for the future times my presence was required in town.

Perhaps a little later start time might be arranged but it was worth a pre-dawn beginning to see my former commute from a different elevation.

Bobby, Kyle, Dale Jr. and all of their friends were still out there just as I remembered them. Kelley and Eric did the job for me this time and I look forward to riding with them again.