Megabus.com among inter-city bus operators helping Americans save over $1 billion dollars a year

15 Jan 2014

  • New research identifies significant savings over airline, rail and car travel
  • Bus customers save 52% compared to rail, 79% over airlines, 38% on car
  • DePaul University study highlights continued growth in low-cost bus sector

Travellers in the United States saved more than $1 billion last year by taking megabus.com and other discount inter-city bus operators rather than the train or plane, according to new independent research.

The study found bus passengers saved 52% compared with trips by rail on the same route, while they paid 79% less than people who chose to fly to their destination.

Inter-city bus users paid an average of 38% less than motorists, with the savings exceeding 50% when the full costs of owning a car were taken into account.

Research by the DePaul University Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development in Chicago looked at city-to-city trips of 80 miles to 500 miles in the 50 largest metropolitan areas on the US mainland.

On average, bus customers saved more than $36 per one-way trip relative to other transport modes, with cumulative savings of $1.1 billion annually.

The report, entitled Motoring into the Mainstream1, found that inter-city bus carriers expanded their number of daily operations by 4%, exceeding growth rates in city-to-city rail and airline services.

Previous studies by the transportation institute have found that the launch of megabus.com in the United States in 2006 sparked a renaissance in inter-city bus travel after decades of decline.

"Travellers are flocking to the bus. Not only for [the obvious benefits of] the low fares, but also to avoid the stress of flying and driving, said Joseph P. Schwieterman, co-author of the new report. "Bus travel continues on an impressive upward trajectory."

Megabus.com now operates in more than 30 states in the United States and two provinces in Canada, serving more than 120 destinations. Around 10 million customers travel on more than 200,000 trips with megabus.com every year, with more than 50% of passengers previously driving by car.

Customers benefit from the most modern fleet of double-decker buses in North America. The state-of-the-art, green-certified and wheelchair accessible double-decker buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi, power outlets, seat belts and toilets. megabus.com has also created more than 1,000 new jobs over the past seven years.

Dale Moser, President and Chief Operating Office of megabus.com, said: "megabus.com has again been recognised for leading the way in transforming inter-city bus travel. Travellers can make huge savings by leaving their car keys at home and taking the bus to get to work, make a business trip, travel with friends or go on a vacation.

"Our on-board Wi-Fi means customers can make the most of their time travelling. We have also developed an app our customers can use to get real-time information on the progress of their service and any issues affecting their trip."

Stagecoach Group reported last month that revenue from its megabus.com operations in North America increased by more than 20% in the six months ended 31 October 2013 and further expansion is planned in the next 12 months.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Stagecoach Group Communications on 01738 442111 or email media@stagecoachgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

1The full study is online at http://las.depaul.edu/chaddick/docs/Docs/MotoringIntoTheMainstream.pdf

Stagecoach Group

  • Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The Group employs around 36,000 people, and operates bus, coach, train, and tram services.
  • Stagecoach is one of the UK's biggest bus and coach operators with around 8,000 buses and coaches. Around 2.5 million passengers travel on Stagecoach's buses every day on a network stretching from south-west England to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The Group's business includes major city bus operations in London, Liverpool, Newcastle, Hull, Manchester, Oxford, Sheffield and Cambridge. Low-cost coach service, megabus.com, operates between around 60 towns and cities across the UK.
  • Stagecoach is a major UK rail operator, running the South West Trains, Island Line and East Midlands Trains networks. It has a 49% shareholding in Virgin Rail Group, which operates the West Coast rail franchise.
  • Stagecoach also operates the Supertram light rail network in Sheffield.
  • In North America, Stagecoach operates around 2,600 buses and coaches in the United States and Canada. Megabus.com links around 120 key locations in North America. Stagecoach is also involved in operating commuter and transit services, contracted bus services, charters, sightseeing tours and a small number of school bus services.

Megabus.com

  • Megabus.com high-resolution and broadcast-quality content for download:
  • Megabus.com B-roll: http://bit.ly/y6yePs
  • Megabus.com photos: http://bit.ly/eTPSDl
  • Additional safety information about megabus.com can be found in the video here: http://youtu.be/lUOa48278mM
  • Visit www.megabus.com for fares, destinations and booking.
  • For the latest news and travel deals, follow megabus.com on Twitter at @megabus and Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/megabus.com.officialpage.
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