People traveling between many major cities encountered rail and bus schedules requiring more travel time in 2002 than in 1995, according to new findings by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). BTS studied 261 city-pair markets and found that: --Since 1995, scheduled travel times for direct intercity bus and rail service without an enroute transfer measurably lengthened in most major-market city pairs. --Long-haul rail city-pairs affected by service changes and short-haul city pairs had the highest incidence of lengthened scheduled travel times. --Two categories of trips became quicker: intercity bus markets with an enroute transfer to a different bus, and rail city-pairs served by Amtrak's Acela Express. These data are based on schedules published by commercial transportation carriers, not on actual travel times. From 1995 to 2002, scheduled travel time lengthened for direct service in 61% of rail markets and 52% of bus markets. Scheduled travel times grew in 62% of rail markets where transfers are needed but only in 40% of bus markets that involved transfers. Overall, 46% of bus markets had longer schedules in 2002 than in 1995. For more information log on to, www.bts.gov