29/12/2008
- Passenger milestone reached within five years
Stagecoach Group’s UK market-leading budget coach service megabus.com has welcomed its 10millionth customer on board.
The inter-city coach service is now attracting around 2million passengers a year in the UK and Stagecoach has recently expanded its North American services.
Declan McDermott of London, was the company’s landmark 10millionth customer, winning a holiday of a lifetime to New York complete with a trip to Boston on a megabus.com service direct from the Big Apple.
megabus.com was established in the UK in 2003 by Stagecoach Group and has since expanded into America. Offering fares from as little as £1, the company has experienced massive growth as more and more people look for alternative and cost effective ways to travel around the country.
megabus.com is proving popular as people look for bargain travel alternatives during the current tough economic climate. The services allow passengers to travel simply and quickly and offer excellent value for money.
The UK success of megabus.com is being mirrored in America. Since launching in the Midwest in April 2006, megabus.com in the US has seen passenger numbers rise to around 150,000 a month. Now operating across 28 cities including New York, Chicago, Toronto, Memphis and Washington, megabus.com offers fares from as little as $1 and has received almost 2 million bookings since it was established.
Stagecoach recently announced a $60 million investment in 96 new vehicles for the US operation and further expansion planned across North East states.
The UK operation – which connects over 40 destinations from Inverness to Plymouth - is also continuing to develop. This year, further service improvements are being made, including the purchase of 11 new coaches in July at a cost of £2.2million.
Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, Brian Souter said: “Since its launch in 2003 megabus.com has grown into a successful global brand which is still growing.
“Many families are feeling the pinch at the moment with rising bills and household costs. This is the perfect product to make their pound or dollar go further.
“We wanted to recognise the achievements of megabus.com over the last five years and what better way than by rewarding our 10 millionth customer with a wonderful prize. We are delighted to be sending Declan to New York and Boston and hope he has the trip of a lifetime.”
Speaking of his prize Declan says: “I was overwhelmed to be told I had won the prize as I had simply logged onto the megabus.com website to book a trip home to London from Cardiff. To think that I only spent £20 on my tickets and now I’m heading over to America is unbelievable. I can’t wait to visit New York and the trip to Boston will be fantastic too I am sure.”
For further information about megabus.com please visit www.megabus.com
ENDS
For further information please contact Liz Eddy on 01642 584790 or email elizabeth@velvetcommunications.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs around 30,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services.
- To book or for further information go to www.megabus.com
- Bookings are also accepted by phone on 0900 160 0900. Lines are open 7am to 10pm 7 days a week. Calls cost 60p a minute from landlines. Mobile calls may vary.
- For customer services enquiries, please call 08705 50 50 50. Calls cost 10p a minute from landlines. Mobile calls may vary.
