A passenger boards the bus at Portland Transportation Center on Monday morning for the inaugural direct trip to New York City.

Tickets are $49 one-way, $98 round-trip for travel between Nov. 2 and Feb. 1. In February tickets increase to $79 one-way, $158 round-trip.

Ray Corey helps Mohammad Pasandalan of the Philippines with his luggage before the inaugural Portland to NYC bus trip.

Driver Roger Dubay checks his mirrors before departing from the transportation center in Portland.

Karen Roen of Waldoboro reads a paper while waiting to depart on the direct bus trip to New York City.

The bus will depart from Portland at 6:30 a.m., seven days a week, and arrives in mid-town Manhattan at 12:15 p.m.