SAN FRANCISCO -- El Camino Trailways has acquired Carson City, Nev.-based Aztec Transportation, expanding El Camino into northwest Nevada, including Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe, and nearly doubling the size of the company.

"With the addition of the Aztec fleet, El Camino Trailways now operates one of the largest charter bus and shuttle services fleets in Northern California and Nevada," said Mike Watson, managing director of El Camino Trailways.

As part of the deal, El Camino acquired 17 motorcoaches that had been owned by Aztec, plus another 8 managed vehicles. El Caminos fleet prior to the purchase totaled 20 motorcoaches.

During the past decade, Aztec Transportation has been one of the fastest growing charter bus operators in Nevada. The company's growth has been fueled, in part, by contracts with Kirkwood Mountain Resort, NorthStar at Tahoe ski resort, and Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort, plus guest and employee shuttle services.

The company also operates trolley and dial-a-ride services for the town of Truckee, Calif.

"This exciting acquisition gives us competitive advantages by adding new bases in Lake Tahoe and Nevada, positioning us to serve our customers from San Francisco/San Jose to Tahoe/Truckee and anywhere in between," said Watson.

"We are delighted to join forces with El Camino Trailways, a leader in the charter bus industry in California with its aggressive growth, progressive and visionary consumer-oriented Internet/Web-based marketing, and strength and quality of its management team," said Tom Parker Sr., who was president of Aztec Transportation and whose family owned the company.

Parker becomes director of El Camino Trailways' Nevada Operation, which is based at the former Aztec location in Carson City.

"After evaluating several acquisition opportunities, we selected Aztec for its strong presence in these markets and strength of its customer relationships," said Kumar Shah, chairman of El Camino Trailways. "Our merger allows us to capitalize on the growth opportunities in tour and travel and the conventions market in the Lake Tahoe and Reno markets."

El Camino Trailways, which is based in South San Francisco, operates throughout northern California. It provides charters, airport transfers, Amtrak Thruway service, school trips, adventure/sports outings and group tours. It also runs day and overnight trips to Oregon, Washington state and British Columbia, as well as to national parks in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Utah.

The company has been in business for more than 45 years, and in 2006, it was named by INC magazine a "Top 100 Fastest Growing Transportation Services Company." For more information go to www.elcaminotrailways.com.