Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
[quote user="henry6"] Shortline/Coach USA introduced Megabus to Upstate NY a year or so ago with fares as low as a buck, too.  Of course it is selecte bus schedules like pre dawn departures, not busy times, ticket purchase well in advance of date of travel, etc.  It does not seem to have much of an impact  as both it and Greyhound seem to be running without touting the Megabus fares.  I doubt it will interefere with Amtrak even in Texas if for the only reasons that people must plan well ahead of time and those who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford full fare jump on for a buck before others have a chance. [/quote] It could have a major impact on the Eagle and Heartland Flyer.  These are once a day trains that are not a serious travel option for most people.  Megabus, on the other hand, coupled with Greyhound's improved express schedules, will offer numerous departures throughout the day.  Moreover, the bus (Megabus and Greyhound) runs from Dallas to San Antonio in approximately 4 hours and 50 minutes.  The Eagle takes 10 hours and five minutes and costs nearly double the proposed fares on Megabus.   Had Amtrak focused on developing corridor service between Dallas and Houston and San Antonio, where passenger rail makes sense, instead of wasting billions of dollars on long distance trains, we might have had a competitive passenger rail system in Texas. Unfortunately, Amtrak is a government agency that responds to political pressures more-so than market forces.  Megabus and Greyhound are market competitors that respond to markets. Time will tell, of couse, but they are likely to take away most of the DFW to San Antonio Eagle passengers.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag