FAIRFAX, Va. The Trailways Transportation System has added coach operators in Maine and Georgia as members.

Northeast Trailways, formerly Northwest Charter and Tour Co., of Lewiston, Maine, and Swept Away Trailways, formerly Swept Away Coaches and Tours of Savannah, Ga., are the newest operator members of Trailways.

Scott Riccio, president and owner of Northeast Trailways has nearly two decades of experience in the tour and transportation industry. He founded the company more than 10 years ago with one motorcoach. Today, the company has a fleet of eight motorcoaches and transports passengers throughout the northeastern US and eastern Canada.

Charters for regional sports teams, like the Portland Sea Dogs (baseball) and the Lewiston Maniacs (hockey) are a part of the companys customer base.

Riccio expects the Trailways affiliation to help expand charger business opportunities.

Owned and operated by Todd McElmurray and Henrietta Smith, Swept Away Trailways has a fleet of 15 motorcoaches, which it uses for tours and charters, meetings and convention shuttles, as well as military moves throughout the U.S.

McElmurray said that being part of Trailways will provide "impressive brand marketing exposure to the public and added value against competition."

Chairman elected

The Trailways Transportation System board has elected Ron Moore its chairman.

Moore is president and owner of Burlington Trailways in West Burlington, Iowa. He succeeds William (Bill) C. Steele, who served three terms as chairman.

Broadening public awareness of Trailways commitment to safe and secure transportation services will be one of Moores priorities as chairman.

Moore has served several terms on the Trailways board, and also is a member of the American Bus Association board.

Moore grew up in New Jersey, and began cleaning buses for his dads Trailways affiliated company when he was in high school. The family moved to Iowa in 1981 when they acquired a motorcoach company in the Cedar Rapids area.

Burlington Trailways employs more than 100 individuals and maintains a fleet of 25 motorcoaches.