3:46 p.m. - The Montana bus line that said it will take over some of Greyhound's stops in North Dakota is expected to release which stops will remain open within a week, North Dakota transportation officials said Friday.

Greyhound announced it would drop all of its stops in North Dakota, except Fargo, on Aug. 18 because of dwindling ridership. Without Greyhound, there would have been no bus service from Fargo to Billings, where the Greyhound line will pick up again.

But Rimrock Stages Trailways of Billings, Mont., said it would pick up some of the North Dakota stops after Greyhound leaves. The company has not yet said which former Greyhound stops it will service. Officials say they hope the company will pick up as many of the former stops as possible.

"We are encouraging him to make the stops in the same places they are now with Greyhound," said David Sprynczynatyk, state transportation director. "But he's looking at it from a business perspective."

Sprynczynatyk said he hopes to know by next week which former Greyhound stops Rimrock will service.

Greyhound dropped most of its North Dakota stops as part of a plan to eliminate 260 stops in a 13-state region.

(Natalie Storey can be reached at 355-8842)