New York and Washington first cities to receive 79-passenger closed top-buses

NEW YORK (June 17, 2008) – Megabus.com, an express bus service which offers fares as low as $1 via the Internet, will introduce closed-top, double-decker buses into its Northeast service today. The first double-decker is traveling between New York and Washington. Megabus.com is the first company in the United States to use double-decker buses for city-to-city travel.

Megabus.com offers service to seven Northeast cities to and from New York including Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Buffalo, N.Y. and Atlantic City, N.J. in the United States; and Toronto. Double-deckers will continue to be introduced into megabus.com’s Northeast cities over the next three months.

“Based on the high volume of ticket sales since megabus.com’s Northeast launch this March, we knew there would be a need for double-decker buses,” said Dale Moser, president and COO of megabus.com. “Megabus.com is the leader in introducing new concepts in intercity, express bus travel in the United States, and the double-deckers allow us to be innovative while making the journey unique and exciting for our customers.”

The megabus.com double-decker buses are a first in the United States and were specially designed by Belgium-based Van Hool to meet U.S. specifications.

The 13.2 feet high, double-decker buses offer a panoramic view, free Wi-Fi and video, and are equipped with seat belts for every passenger and reclining seats. With two doors and low ground-level entry, passengers in wheelchairs can enter curbside at the second door. Luggage is kept in the back of the bus instead of underneath, allowing more room for passengers.

Each new double-decker bus has the potential to remove 79 autos from the highway and offers environmental benefits. According to Moser, the double-decker will only use .46 gallons of fuel per passenger while a single-passenger car would use 2.75 gallons. A 737 airplane uses 3.73 gallons.

“The double-decker also produces seven times less CO2 than does a passenger car, thus making megabus.com the environmentally friendly alternative to driving or flying,” said Moser.

Customers are encouraged to book early to secure fares as low as $1 and will pay competitive fares the closer they book to the day of departure. Visit www.megabus.com for route availability, arrival and departure times and travel alerts. The Web site is available in English and Spanish.

About megabus.com
Megabus.com is the first intercity, express bus line dedicated to bringing high-quality, low-cost travel options to eight East Coast cities and 17 Midwest cities as low as $1 via the Internet. Service for megabus.com operates daily. Fares shown are one-way and include all government taxes. Since its launch on April 10, 2006, megabus.com has served one million travelers. East Coast cities served 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.

Elizabeth, N.J.-based megabus.com is a subsidiary of Coach USA. Paramus, N.J.-based Coach USA owns and operates more than 20 local companies in North America, some that have been in business for more than 35 years, which operate scheduled bus routes, motor coach tours, charters and sightseeing tours. Megabus.com is also a sister company of Gray Line New York Sightseeing which has been operating in New York since 1926.

Posted: June 17, 2008 at 2:44 pm by Amanda