Megabus goes stateside

[Sprinter]

http://www.stagecoachholdings.com/scg/media/press/pr2006/2006-03-22/

22/03/2006

Successful megabus.com brand set to expand to North America
Fares from $1 on offer between Chicago and eight Midwest cities
Stagecoach Group today (March 22, 2006) announced the expansion of
its market-leading budget coach operation, megabus.com, to the United
States.

Passengers will be able to travel on daily non-stop express coach
services between Chicago and eight other Midwest cities from as low
as $1.

Bookings are being accepted from today and the first services will
start running on 10 April 2006 between Chicago and Cincinnati,
Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis
and St. Louis.

Services will also operate between Indianapolis and Cincinnati, and
between Indianapolis and Columbus.

Brian Souter, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group, said: "megabus.com
has transformed inter-city travel for millions of people in the UK
where our commitment to innovation has successfully established a
market-leading brand.

"We believe there is significant potential to develop the brand and
attract large numbers of passengers to the service in North America
as part of our continuing organic growth strategy for the Group."

megabus.com services, which will be operated with 55-seat express
coaches, will compete head on against budget airlines, and existing
coach and rail services.

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

Booking for the US services is via the internet at www.megabus.com.
The secure e-commerce site 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.

 

[Gareth Hale]

I hope they have bathrooms on board. Its a good idea but Im not 100% sure it will kick off too well over here.

 

[Tom]

Bathrooms? It's a bus...

 

[Gareth Hale]

Well most USA buses have them, also, would like you like to ride a bus for 8 hours without going 'pee pee'?

 

[Tom B]

So you put a toilet in, not a bathroom. A bathroom is a large room with a bath and a shower.

Alternatively, heard of services?

 

[Gareth Hale]

Yes, ive heard of services, they're nowhere near as good as the UK, all they are is Vender Machines and some toilets. And they're called Rest Area's here.

 

[Mojo]

Yes, ive heard of services, they're nowhere near as good as the UK, all they are is Vender Machines and some toilets. And they're called Rest Area's here.

And UK services... good? *cue laughter* Reminds me though, I still owe 2 forks to Reading West.... :thefinge:
I should hope /not/

 

[Tom B]

Yes, ive heard of services, they're nowhere near as good as the UK, all they are is Vender Machines and some toilets. And they're called Rest Area's here.

But since you said people would need to use the toilets on the journey, and the services have toilets, what's the problem?

 

[Guinness]

And UK services... good? *cue laughter* Reminds me though, I still owe 2 forks to Reading West.... :thefinge:
I should hope /not/

I owe about 40 Sugar and Salt packets to Bolton Services on M61....

There must be more of us!
--- edited ---

But since you said people would need to use the toilets on the journey, and the services have toilets, what's the problem?

You read my mind Tom.....

 

[DLA365]

But since you said people would need to use the toilets on the journey, and the services have toilets, what's the problem?

I guess he means the services there simply consist of vending machines and toilets. Compared to here, where you can get food courts, entertainment etc.

 

[Tom B]

Indeed, but if he's saying they need services just to go to the loo, surely the US ones are perfectly adequete?

 

[Gareth Hale]

Yes, but what happens if you want to go and get food or some magazines or whatnot?
--- edited ---

I guess he means the services there simply consist of vending machines and toilets. Compared to here, where you can get food courts, entertainment etc.

That is exactly what I mean

 

[Tom B]

Then you get them before the aforementioned 8 hour trip. Anyway, in your original post you only mentioned the toilet.

 

[Gareth Hale]

The coaches do have a bathroom in. Toilet, Sink and toilet roll holder. Ive been on a coach exactly like the ones they're running.

 

[DLA365]

I'm all confused!

The UK services would be better because you can have something to stop and eat, and they are better than in the US where there are presumably only toilets. However that is still better than most small UK rail stations and streets which don't have any operational toilet facilities whastsoever.

Isn't a bathroom a place where you can have a bath/take a shower and a toilet is the place where you go to relieve yourself (and obviously wash your hands so they don't smell)?

 

[Tom B]

Isn't a bathroom a place where you can have a bath/take a shower and a toilet is the place where you go to relieve yourself (and obviously wash your hands so they don't smell)?

Indeed, but Americans are just difficult and call a toilet a bathroom. What they call a bathroom I don't know.

 

[DLA365]

Indeed, but Americans are just difficult and call a toilet a bathroom. What they call a bathroom I don't know.

Even in America (according to www.dictionary.com), a bathroom is a place where you can take a bath/shower. I think Gareth is confusing the word "bathroom" with the idiom "going to the bathroom", which means going to relieve yourself.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=bathroom