I still don't understand their business model though. On the UK website, I've never seen prices over £5. Multiply that by often not completely filled up buses, say 50 people, and you've got 250 pounds for a 100-mile trip.
Same here - I remember when I was a student, everyone would use MegaBus rather than the trains as they were always much cheaper.
I've seen them remove unprofitable routes, but even then I can't figure it out, since running a fleet of buses must be a fairly costly operation.
The Bolt Bus from NYC to Boston and back for $30 round trip was one of the best decisions I'd ever made. Clean, quiet, and room enough to get my work done along the way.
FWIW, in the multiple times I've taken these buses between Boston NYC, the wi-fi on Bolt Bus seems a lot more reliable than Megabus.
In the article they mentioned an old greyhound promo of $99 for 99 days of unlimited travel. Anyone know if the us equivalent of eurail passes exists? Or the modern bus equivalent?
IIRC correctly, Greyhound has/had passes for a certain duration that allowed you to travel any place, any number of times within that time period.
Short summary: Megabus are one of a few companies operating low-overhead, curbside pickup intercity bus service. "On most city-to-city trips under 300 miles, the curbside bus offers tickets that cost a tenth of those of Amtrak and far less even than the price of the gas to get there by car." Passengers book online, tickets are delivered to cell phones, busses are equipped with WiFi and power outlets at each seat. Art…
Just to put the lid on the kettle here, WIFI works on about 1/10 Megabus trips.
Short summary: Megabus are one of a few companies operating low-overhead, curbside pickup intercity bus service. "On most city-to-city trips under 300 miles, the curbside bus offers tickets that cost a tenth of those of Amtrak and far less even than the price of the gas to get there by car." Passengers book online, tickets are delivered to cell phones, busses are equipped with WiFi and power outlets at each seat. Art…
Even lengthening existing Amtrak trains can take years of time and bureaucratic approval. The design of the Acela trainsets is such that Amtrak could add four more business class cars, which would double the number of business class seats per trainset, while keeping the current power cars. Transportation improvements over time tend to make some trips possible in much less time than was previously possible; this is tr…
> High speed rail has the potential to increase the distance that can be covered in a 60-90 minute commute.
Yes, but at what cost?
And then there's that pesky "and how many people will benefit?" problem.
This article reinforces the cost arguments that libertarian types have made for years against expanded subway/rail. Not even counting the regulatory hurdles buses are easier to get "moving."
Short summary: Megabus are one of a few companies operating low-overhead, curbside pickup intercity bus service. "On most city-to-city trips under 300 miles, the curbside bus offers tickets that cost a tenth of those of Amtrak and far less even than the price of the gas to get there by car." Passengers book online, tickets are delivered to cell phones, busses are equipped with WiFi and power outlets at each seat. Art…
Just to put the lid on the kettle here, WIFI works on about 1/10 Megabus trips.
Does the power strip work? Given the ubiquity of 3G coverage, I don't mind lacking wifi that much anymore.
Short summary: Megabus are one of a few companies operating low-overhead, curbside pickup intercity bus service. "On most city-to-city trips under 300 miles, the curbside bus offers tickets that cost a tenth of those of Amtrak and far less even than the price of the gas to get there by car." Passengers book online, tickets are delivered to cell phones, busses are equipped with WiFi and power outlets at each seat. Art…
> Busses can go wherever needed on existing roads and reconfigure routes easily.
This can be a pro, but also a con; in particular, it means people are unable to assume stable routes when planning things like new developments or where to live/work. Bus routes change all the time, but I can count on the subway station near my apartment probably still being there in 10 years, and probably still running roughly the same line as it does now.
I took a round trip on the Chicago to Des Moines route last summer, it wasn't a good experience. The wifi was spotty, apparently provided by the same 3G cell service that wasn't working on my phone. Not that it mattered, I didn't have enough room to have a laptop open in front of me. A shorter person may have had a better time. I now feel lucky every time I'm on an airplane in the spacious standard economy seats. I w…
I've had a similar experience. WiFi doesn't work, no room to use laptop anyway. Also, something be aware of, if you book a trip with a connection and your bus misses the connection, they will not take responsibility. You will be stuck where you are unless you book a new ticket. Customer service is extremely difficult to contact as well, I was in this situation and the "Sales Representative" only offered to sell me a new ticket. I couldn't even talk to anyone from customer service.
The thing I like about riding the bus and trains versus plains is how low tech they are. When I fly it seems like 1000 people had to work together to ensure my safety, with buses it seems like 10 or 20.