For the spontaneous Penn State student traveler, an evening of cocktails in New York City may now cost more than the bus ticket to get there.

A new service offered by Dragon Coach offers bus tickets between State College and Pittsburgh and State College and New York City that cost $25 each way.

The bus, which stops in front of the College Buffet, 1631 N. Atherton St., offers a 4- to 5-hour shuttle service to Pittsburgh at 11:30 p.m. everyday and a 5-hour shuttle service to New York City at 1:30 a.m. everyday and 1 p.m. everyday but Thursday.

Caitlin Murtaugh (junior-animal science) said she is very interested in the new bus service.

"I think I would definitely use that," she said. "My uncle lives in New York, and I went up to visit him last Thanksgiving."

Murtaugh said she might take the Dragon Coach to Pittsburgh as well.

"I live out of state, so sometimes I fly out of Pittsburgh," she said.

Cathryn Snyder (freshman-architecture) said she is new to campus and the bus system, but is interested in the shuttle to New York City.

"That's awesome," she said. "I'll definitely be taking that."

Robert Glenn (freshman-telecommunications) said the $25 fares would entice him to use the service instead of other local options.

"I think it's a great idea," he said. "At that price, that's less than Greyhound."

Fullington Trailways, an agent of Greyhound Buses, offers another option for student travelers. Although its tickets to New York City are $49 one way, Fullington offers two different services to Pittsburgh for slightly less than Dragon Coach's rates.

The Fullington service to Pittsburgh includes a daily service with local stops for $21.50 one-way and an express service on Friday and Sunday for $25 one-way. The daily service lasts 5 hours and 30 minutes, and the express service is 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Fullington Trailways offers another advantage to students as well.

"Fullington Trailways appreciates and understands our customers," Fullington Trailways spokesperson Michelle Drager said. "All of our tickets are handled by professional ticket agents at the State College Bus Terminal. And on the Pittsburgh express they show a movie," she added.

Students interested in buying tickets for the Fullington Trailways bus service should call the State College Bus Terminal at 814-238-1100. Dragon Coach can be reached at 212-966-5310 for ticket purchases and schedule information.