Megatrain

Megatrain was a low-cost rail-travel brand created by Stagecoach Group in the United Kingdom. It applied a pricing model similar to that used by low-cost airlines and Stagecoach's Megabus coach business: a limited number of seats on selected scheduled train services were sold at low advance fares, with prices generally increasing as demand rose or departure approached. The service was not a separate railway operator. Instead, Megatrain tickets were valid on designated services operated by train operating companies associated with Stagecoach, including South West Trains, Virgin CrossCountry, Virgin Trains West Coast and East Midlands Trains, later East Midlands Railway. The brand launched on 14 November 2005 as a pilot on South West Trains routes from London Waterloo to Portsmouth and Southampton. Initial advertised fares ranged from £1 to £19, and Megatrain passengers were initially accommodated in designated parts of standard scheduled trains. The offer expanded during 2006 to destinations including Bournemouth, Weymouth, Salisbury, Bath Spa, Bristol, Yeovil Junction and Exeter. Later that year, selected Virgin CrossCountry services were added, extending the low-fare proposition to routes linking cities in the Midlands, the South West, northern England and Scotland. Megatrain subsequently expanded onto East Midlands Trains services. From January 2008, tickets were offered on selected journeys between London St Pancras and Sheffield and Nottingham, and from January 2009 on certain services between Sheffield and Norwich. The East Midlands network became the brand's most durable rail presence. After the East Midlands franchise transferred to East Midlands Railway in August 2019, Megatrain tickets continued to be sold on selected services, including London-to-Nottingham journeys, even though Stagecoach no longer operated a train franchise directly. A related product, Megabusplus, combined train travel with connecting Stagecoach-operated coach services. Introduced in March 2009, the offer linked London journeys via East Midlands Parkway with destinations including Halifax, Hull and York, and later also connected with services toward Huddersfield and Hull. This illustrated Stagecoach's broader strategy of integrating its coach and rail businesses around low headline fares and advance booking. Megatrain fares were generally available only when purchased in advance through the Megabus website or by telephone. Promotional pricing was advertised from £1, subject to a booking fee, availability and journey restrictions. Tickets were normally offered Monday through Saturday and excluded Sundays and public holidays. The model provided a cheaper alternative for passengers able to travel on less busy services, but the inventory was limited and not equivalent to an unrestricted standard rail ticket. The South West Trains part of the operation ended in August 2017 during changes associated with the closure and reduced service levels at London Waterloo, followed shortly afterward by the transfer of the franchise to South Western Railway. CrossCountry availability had already ended in November 2007 when the franchise passed to Arriva CrossCountry. Stagecoach ceased operating rail franchises in its own right in August 2019, but the Megatrain offer continued through selected East Midlands Railway services for several years. Megabus confirmed in May 2024 that it was no longer offering Megatrain, bringing the service to an end. Megatrain is therefore best understood as a discontinued fare brand and distribution proposition rather than as an independent railway company.

Megatrain was launched by Stagecoach Group on 14 November 2005 as a low-cost rail-ticketing initiative. Rather than operating dedicated trains, the brand sold a restricted number of advance fares on existing scheduled services. Its commercial model was influenced by low-cost airlines and by Stagecoach's Megabus business: passengers willing to book early, travel at less popular times or accept limited flexibility could obtain fares substantially below ordinary rail prices. The initial pilot covered South West Trains routes from London Waterloo to Portsmouth and Southampton. Advertised fares ranged from £1 to £19, and designated areas were initially used for Megatrain passengers on ordinary services. The scheme expanded in April 2006 to Bournemouth and Weymouth, followed later that month by services to Salisbury, Bath Spa, Bristol Temple Meads, Yeovil Junction, Exeter Central and Exeter St Davids. In July 2006 the brand was extended to selected Virgin CrossCountry services. These included journeys from Birmingham New Street to Bournemouth, Bristol Temple Meads to Penzance, Manchester Piccadilly to Glasgow Central, Manchester Piccadilly to Edinburgh Waverley and Morpeth to Edinburgh Waverley. The CrossCountry element was relatively short-lived. It was withdrawn in November 2007 when the CrossCountry franchise transferred to Arriva CrossCountry. Megatrain entered the East Midlands network in January 2008, offering selected services between London St Pancras and Sheffield and Nottingham. In July of that year, selected Virgin Trains West Coast services between Birmingham and Scotland were added. A further East Midlands route, between Sheffield and Norwich, became available in January 2009. Stagecoach also developed a multimodal extension called Megabusplus. Launched in March 2009, it combined rail travel via East Midlands Parkway with connecting Stagecoach in Lincolnshire coach services toward destinations including Halifax, Hull and York. The arrangement reflected Stagecoach's attempt to use its coach and rail operations as parts of a single low-fare distribution system. The South West Trains offering ended in August 2017 amid changes at London Waterloo and the transition from the South West franchise to South Western Railway. Stagecoach's direct involvement in United Kingdom rail franchising ended in August 2019, but Megatrain remained available on selected East Midlands Railway services after the East Midlands franchise transferred from East Midlands Trains. The surviving offer was associated particularly with journeys from London St Pancras toward Nottingham and other East Midlands destinations. Megatrain tickets were sold in advance through the Megabus website or by telephone. Fares were advertised from £1, with a booking fee, and were subject to availability and restrictions. The tickets were generally offered Monday through Saturday rather than on Sundays or public holidays. In May 2024 Megabus confirmed that it had stopped offering Megatrain, making the brand defunct. Its history is consequently that of a fare product and transport-marketing brand, not a separately incorporated or independently operated railway.

1. 2024Megatrain discontinued

   Megabus confirms that Megatrain is no longer offered.

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2. 2019Service persists under East Midlands Railway

   The brand continues on selected East Midlands Railway services after Stagecoach stops operating franchises directly.

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3. 2017South West Trains operation ends

   Megatrain tickets cease to be offered on South West Trains services.

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4. 2009Megabusplus introduced

   Combined rail-and-coach journeys via East Midlands Parkway are introduced.

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5. 2008East Midlands services added

   Megatrain expands to selected East Midlands Trains services from London St Pancras to Sheffield and Nottingham.

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6. 2007CrossCountry availability withdrawn

   The CrossCountry routes leave the program after the franchise transfers to Arriva CrossCountry.

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7. 2006South West route expansion

   The offer expands to Bournemouth, Weymouth, Salisbury, Bath Spa, Bristol, Yeovil Junction and Exeter.

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8. 2006Virgin CrossCountry services added

   Selected Virgin CrossCountry routes become available through Megatrain.

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9. 2005Megatrain launches

   Stagecoach launches Megatrain on selected South West Trains services between London Waterloo and Portsmouth and Southampton.

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A low-cost, advance-booking alternative to standard rail fares, using restricted availability and yield-based pricing on selected scheduled services.

• Megatrain advance rail ticketsPassenger rail fares2005

  Restricted-availability advance tickets for selected scheduled train services. Prices followed a yield-management approach, with the lowest fares generally available to early bookers or passengers choosing less busy journeys. Tickets were purchased through the Megabus website or by telephone, were subject to route and date restrictions, and were generally unavailable on Sundays and public holidays.

• MegabusplusCombined rail and coach travel2009

  A connected transport offer combining rail travel via East Midlands Parkway with Stagecoach coach services. It was designed to extend low-cost rail journeys from London toward destinations such as Halifax, Hull, York and Huddersfield through coordinated train-and-coach itineraries.

• 2024Discontinuation of MegatrainStrategy

  After years of reduced availability and the end of Stagecoach's direct rail-franchise operations, the remaining Megatrain offer was associated with selected East Midlands Railway services.

  What changed. Megabus confirmed in May 2024 that it was no longer offering Megatrain.

  Aftermath. The Megatrain brand became defunct.

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• 2017Withdrawal from South West Trains servicesStrategy

  Changes at London Waterloo and the transfer of the South West franchise affected the services on which Megatrain tickets had been sold.

  What changed. Megatrain availability on South West Trains ended in August 2017.

  Aftermath. The East Midlands network became the principal remaining rail platform for the brand.

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• 2009Introduction of MegabusplusProduct launch

  Stagecoach aimed to link its rail and coach businesses and provide low-cost onward travel beyond the principal rail network.

  What changed. Megabusplus combined rail journeys via East Midlands Parkway with connecting Stagecoach coach routes.

  Aftermath. The combined transport proposition became part of the broader Megatrain and Megabus distribution model.

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• 2005Launch of a low-cost rail-fare brandProduct launch

  Stagecoach sought to apply the low-fare, advance-booking model associated with Megabus and low-cost airlines to selected seats on scheduled train services.

  What changed. Megatrain was introduced on South West Trains routes from London Waterloo to Portsmouth and Southampton, with advertised fares beginning at £1.

  Aftermath. The model was expanded to additional operators and routes over subsequent years.

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• 2024Megabus confirms discontinuation of Megatrain

  Megabus confirmed that it was no longer offering Megatrain services, ending the brand's remaining rail-fare availability.

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• 2019Megatrain continues after Stagecoach's rail franchise exit

  Although Stagecoach ceased operating train franchises directly, Megatrain tickets remained available on selected East Midlands Railway services.

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• 2017Megatrain ends on South West Trains services

  Megatrain availability on South West Trains ended during service changes at London Waterloo and the subsequent transfer of the franchise to South Western Railway.

  Other
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• 2009Megabusplus launches combined rail-and-coach journeys

  Stagecoach introduced combined journeys using rail services via East Midlands Parkway and connecting coaches toward destinations including Halifax, Hull and York.

  Product launch
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• 2008Megatrain extends to East Midlands services

  Selected East Midlands Trains services between London St Pancras and Sheffield and Nottingham were added to the Megatrain offer.

  Other
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• 2007Megatrain availability on Virgin CrossCountry services ends

  Megatrain tickets on the CrossCountry routes were withdrawn when the franchise transferred to Arriva CrossCountry.

  Other
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• 2006Megatrain expands to additional South West routes

  The service expanded to destinations including Bournemouth, Weymouth, Salisbury, Bath Spa, Bristol, Yeovil Junction and Exeter.

  Other
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• 2005Megatrain launches on selected South West Trains routes

  Stagecoach introduced Megatrain as a low-cost advance-purchase rail-fare scheme on routes from London Waterloo to Portsmouth and Southampton.

  Product launch
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1. Megatrain