A Montana bus line is expected to replace some Greyhound service in North Dakota next month, Gov. John Hoeven said.

Greyhound is halting service to nine cities along Interstate 94 on Aug. 18. It also is ceasing stops in Grand Forks and Hillsboro, as part of a plan to eliminate 260 stops in a 13-state region. Greyhound is keeping only its Fargo stop.

State officials hope Rimrock Stages Trailways of Billings, Mont., will pick up service to Fargo and the Interstate 94 stops when Greyhound pulls out. Beach, Bismarck, Dickinson, Jamestown, Medora, Richardton, Steele, Sterling and Valley City are losing service.

David Sprynczynatyk, the state transportation director, said Rimrock is not expected to serve Grand Forks and Hillsboro. Jefferson Lines, a Minnesota interstate bus company, already serves Grand Forks.

Tom Forseth, chief executive officer of Rimrock Stages Trailways, met with Hoeven and Sprynczynatyk on Thursday. He has visited several of Greyhound's North Dakota depots, including those in Valley City, Jamestown and Steele, Sprynczynatyk said.

Forseth could not be reached for comment. Sprynczynatyk said he expects the company's ticket prices to be comparable to Greyhound's, and he said Forseth had not requested taxpayer aid.

"He's looking at it right now as an opportunity to run a business and make a profit," Sprynczynatyk said. "He has not asked for (subsidies), and hasn't even suggested that they may be necessary."

Greyhound does not own any facilities in North Dakota. All depots are independently operated by agents, and there are no North Dakota-based drivers. Greyhound has served North Dakota for more than 70 years.

Sprynczynatyk said talks will continue with Harlow's Bus Service and Dietrich Bus Service in North Dakota to see whether they want to provide "feeder" service to service inside the state.