25/03/2008
- $1 fares and 55 daily departures from New York to seven major cities
- Greener state-of-the art coaches offer customers free wi-fi and video
- Growing low-cost coach network covers 31 key cities across 17 states
- Online booking engine attracts more than 900,000 US customers
Stagecoach Group today (25 March 2008) announced a major expansion of its growing megabus.com budget coach operation in the United States with a new network of routes on the East Coast.
From May 30, customers will be able to travel for as low as $1 from New York City to seven key cities.
New services will run to Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Buffalo and Atlantic City, New Jersey, as well as a cross border service to Toronto, Canada.
megabus.com will offer up to 55 daily departures from New York in new greener, state-of-the-art coaches, with free wi-fi and on-board video.
Bookings are being accepted from today and all seats reserved for the first week of service (May 30-June 5) are being given away free as an introductory offer, with passengers paying only the standard 50 cent booking fee.
The expansion means the growing low-cost coach network will cover 31 key cities across 17 states – seven locations in the East Coast, 17 Midwest cities and seven West Coast cities
Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, said: “megabus.com is the market-leading budget coach service in both the UK and the United States, offering unrivalled value for money and a high-quality travelling experience for customers.
“We have been delighted with the response of passengers to the product in North America and we believe the new East Coast routes have the potential to significantly expand the market for low-cost travel.”
Since its launch in the United States in April 2006, megabus.com has welcomed on board more than 900,000 passengers, including commuters, students, business and leisure travellers.
Research by Stagecoach Group has found that 52% of megabus.com passengers have switched from using the car as the high price of oil continues to put pressure on fuel prices and climate change concerns increase. A megabus.com coach filled to capacity, removing 56 cars from the road, saves around 1,750kg of carbon emissions for every 100 miles travelled.
The latest expansion of megabus.com in the United States comes only days after services started running to four new locations in the Midwest.
The budget express coach service now operates daily services between its hub in Chicago and 16 other Midwest cities, including Ann Arbor, Mich.; Bloomington-Normal, Ill.; Chicago; Champaign, Ill.; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Columbia, Mo.; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; Madison, Wis.; Memphis, Tenn.; Milwaukee; Minneapolis; St. Louis and Toledo, Ohio.
In August last year, megabus.com launched a major new West Coast hub, allowing passengers to travel from Los Angeles to six major cities, including Las Vegas; Millbrae, Calif.; Oakland, Calif.; San Diego; San Francisco; and San Jose, Calif.
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 is a secure e-commerce site, which is accessible in both English and Spanish and 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. They can also sign up for mobile phone text alerts providing updates on travel reservations and schedules.
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.
