Riders recount rigors of a stifling trip from NYC

And, passengers said, they had only one chance to exit the bus to get some air, during a regularly scheduled stop about an hour outside of Boston. During that time, they said, the driver opened an emergency escape hatch on the bus’s ceiling to try to provide some ventilation.

Though passengers said that effort failed, at least one rider described the atmosphere on the bus as relatively calm during the trip.

“I think we were all too out of it to go crazy,’’ said a worn-out Jerry Cheevers, 30, of Manchester, N.H.

When BoltBus spokesman Timothy Stokes was asked in an e-mail why the air-conditioning did not work, whether anyone on the bus became seriously ill, and if the driver could have stopped more than once to give passengers some air, he responded only that the company is investigating the matter.

Stokes said in an e-mailed response that BoltBus is working to provide a full refund to all affected passengers. He said ticket prices vary based on demand and the company typically does not provide average fares.

Tickets can be purchased for as low as $1, he said.

“The safety and security of our passengers is our core value and something we take very seriously,’’ Stokes said. “Given the unprecedented heat wave that has struck the Northeast, we are working to make sure our customers’ travel experience is as comfortable as possible.’’

Passenger Lindsey Sedlack, 23, of New York, said riders were told that the air-conditioning was pumping hot air because it was fighting with the weather outside, and that things would cool down eventually. That never happened.

Meanwhile, on Twitter last night, at least one potential BoltBus rider shared second thoughts.

“About to purchase [BoltBus] ticket for [tomorrow and] discovered one of their buses was [without] air conditioning entire ride,’’ one tweet read. “$100 for train?’’

Travis Andersen can be reached at tandersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.