FAIRFAX, Va. The Trailways Transportation System has announced the launch of an interactive travel Website that has been under development for months.

Coupled with the Website is a robust online search-engine marketing program.

The new e-portal 'enables consumers to schedule and book group-charters and tours online with Trailways from around the world and the clock,' said Trailways. The address is www.trailways.com.

Trailways earlier Website mainly provided information about the organization and its members. The new portal permits travel consumers to interact one-on-one with any of the networks transport and tourism service providers.

The Trailways Web upgraded was developed by Accelar Inc., a Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company that specializes in developing Web portals for the charter and travel industry.

'Trailways sought the creation of a customized, private-labeled portal to help showcase its network of companies, well-known travel brand, and vast menu of transport and tourism services,' said Trailways President Gale Ellsworth.

The new site features a 'visually richer end-user interface, a first for this industry,' said Ellsworth.

It also provides a large-scale, e-Commerce marketing and sales portal, using what is called Web 2.0 technology, that helps expand Trailways reach and promotion of all its travel services, Ellsworth noted.

The Website has several other features, including:

Interactive trip planning, integrated with Google Maps

Destination planning, including a comprehensive list of customized set of destinations and attractions

Personalized trip management functions itinerary planning and management accessible through a private, secured log-in port for each website-customer

'The new e-portal provides travel consumers (with) the latest internet technology that will help them easily and effectively locate and secure group charters, specialized tours, intermodal connections, and ticket purchasing from our network of transport and tourism companies,' said Ellsworth.

The portal also permits Trailways operators and service providers to adopt a variety of individualized marketing strategies.

It also has a more comprehensive online search-engine marketing program, involving Google, Yahoo! and MSN search engines.