Talk about a surge of supply.

Just as Penn State launched a direct bus service to New York City last week, a private bus line, All State Bus, added extra trips to the city from State College.

And a third provider, KK Bus, last week began to run daily trips from the Centre Region to New York, too. KK appears to be a newcomer to the Centre County market, though an effort to reach its owner was not successful Wednesday.

Throw in nondirect routes offered by Greyhound, and the region now counts at least four bus lines that make regular trips into the city.

Jimmy Chen, president of the bus-marketing Web site www.gotobus.com, said the sudden glut is more than what the market here can sustain.

'Three would be too many,' Chen said.

His company is based in Cambridge, Mass., and offers online ticketing for All State and KK.

At Penn State, transportation director Teresa Davis said the new lines will not prompt any schedule or service changes to the university's Big Apple Express program.

The program, begun last week, offers weekend New York City trips from the North Atherton Street bus depot in State College. Operated by Fullington Tours under a yearlong trial contract, coaches make two round trips each weekend.

Prices are set at $40 each way. Buses stop briefly in Dover, N.J., before reaching their New York destination: the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan.

Twenty-three people used the service to ride to New York or New Jersey last Friday, Davis said. She touted its safety, reliability and careful booking practices. Tickets are available through the bus depot.

'We're not going to decide next month that we're not running anymore,' Davis said, soon adding: 'If you buy a ticket, you have a seat.'

As for the other services, she said: 'More power to them. It provides added service to the area.'

Penn State counts a growing base of alumni and students in the New York City area. The city also is a prime destination for its arts and theater students.

But commercial bus service to Manhattan from Centre County has varied dramatically over the last several years. Some rider reviews of private operators have been unsavory.

All State in recent months has provided service from the Wal-Mart parking lot on North Atherton Street, State College, but most of those trips had -- until recently -- departed about 1 a.m.

All State's State College-to-New York bus runs now include a trip at 1:30 p.m. Fridays and another at 9 a.m. Saturdays, according to goto bus.com.

Chen said KK began running New York-bound buses from here on Oct. 4. It runs two or three buses daily from a Minit Mart on West College Avenue, according to the Web site.

All State and KK both charge $35 apiece for each one-way run; they also sell return trips.

All State drops its New York-bound passengers on Lafayette Street, near Chinatown. KK leaves passengers on Allen Street in Manhattan, several blocks west of the Williamsburg Bridge.

Adam Smeltz can be reached at 231-4631.