02/05/2008

• Growing low-cost coach network covers 32 key cities across 17 states
• Two years of success as passengers ditch car and planes for budget coach
• University expert predicts further growth in low-cost inter-city coach sector

Stagecoach Group announced today (2 May 2008) that its budget inter-city coach service megabus.com has now carried one million passengers in North America.

megabus.com began offering fares for as little a $1 in the United States in April 2006 and has expanded to cover 32 key cities across 17 states, attracting commuters, students, business and leisure travellers.

The company celebrated its success by presenting the millionth customer, Dana Bellers from St Louis, with a laptop computer and complimentary Chicago Double-Decker/Trolley Tour tickets. Her fellow passengers on the same coach also received free sightseeing tickets.

"megabus.com is the inexpensive, convenient and safe way to travel on my own,” she said. "The online reservation system is easy to use and fares are always lowest compared to rail, air and car."

Dale Moser, President and Chief Operating Officer of megabus.com, said: “We have the market-leading budget coach service in North America and the overwhelming popularity of megabus.com’s innovative, express travel means we are continuing to expand.

"We’re excited to have reached our millionth customer and look forward to serving future travellers with the same passion and exceptional value-for-money our existing customers have come to expect."

megabus.com research shows that 79 percent of customers have used the budget service as an alternative to the car, train or plane.

Joseph Schwieterman, Director of the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development and Professor of Public Service Management at DePaul University, said it was a growing trend.

"The public is responding with considerable enthusiasm to the express services provided by megabus.com and other low-cost providers," he said. “After years of decline, the industry is once again poised for growth."

Customers will be able to travel on a new network of routes on the East Coast from May 30. Services will run from New York City 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.

It means the growing low-cost coach network in North America will cover eight locations in the East Coast, 17 Midwest cities and seven West Coast cities

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.
• East Coast cities served beginning May 30 include: New York; Atlantic City, N.J.; Baltimore; Boston; Buffalo, N.Y.; Philadelphia; and Washington in the United States; and Toronto.
• Midwest cities served include: 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.
• West Coast cities served include: Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Oakland, Calif.; Millbrae, Calif.; San Diego; San Francisco; and San Jose, Calif.
• Visit www.megabus.com for additional service routes to and from the listed cities