03/08/2007

• Budget coach service offers $1 fares from Los Angeles to six major cities
• Online booking engine on track to hit 500,000 US customers this summer

Stagecoach Group is expanding its megabus.com budget coach operation in the United States with the launch of a major new West Coast hub.

Passengers will be able to travel from the new West Coast hub in Los Angeles to six major cities, including Las Vegas, Oakland, Phoenix/Tempe, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, from 8 August. Booking for all new routes is now open.

Around 450,000 passengers have travelled with megabus.com in the United States since it was launched in April 2006.

Low-cost fares are already available for express travel to 14 Midwest cities through its Chicago hub and the number of passengers is expected to break through the 500,000 barrier later this month.

Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, said: “We have been delighted with the growth of megabus.com in the United States and the positive response of passengers to our high-quality of service and low-cost fares.

“The latest expansion is part of our strategy to develop the brand in North America. Within little more than a year, we have built a network covering 20 key locations.

“megabus.com is clearly attracting passengers out of their cars and we have seen a positive response in particular from female passengers, who are responding to the safe and comfortable travelling environment on board. We believe there is further potential to attract more people in the United States to the benefits of low-cost inter-city coach travel.”

The North American expansion follows the UK success of megabus.com, which carries around 2 million passengers a year on a network of inter-city services covering around 40 locations nationwide.

megabus.com USA operates 55-seat express coaches and booking for the services is via the internet at www.megabus.com.

Research last year showed that megabus.com USA is winning over passengers from cars and trains. Some 45% of megabus.com passengers previously travelled by car and 24% are former train users. A further 17% used to travel by another bus service, while 13% are former airline passengers.

Since the launch of megabus.com, more than 3.5 million people have visited the US secure e-commerce site, which provides full information on arrival and departure times. Passengers can quickly book their travel and purchase tickets from the comfort of their home, office or wireless handheld device.

ENDS

For further information, contact:
Steve Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications
Stagecoach Group
Tel: 01738 442111 (office) or 07764 774680 (mobile)
email: steven.stewart@stagecoachgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

• Full details of routes, timetables and fares are available online at www.megabus.com.
• Midwest cities served by megabus.com are Ann Arbor, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Toledo.
• West Coast cities served by megabus.com are Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose.