? Megatrain ?

[ricki]

Would someone please explain Megatrain. I understand the prices using it are very reasonable. Are there restrictions or is it limited to UK residents?

 

We will be taking a train from Dover to London and from London (ideally Victoria Station) to Southampton.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Ricki

[tartanexile81]

Ricki,

 

Megatrain is available from the megabus website http://uk.megabus.com/.

 

You put in the dates you want to travel and if there are any tickets available that day, they will give you the times and prices. The tickets can be as low as £1, particularly if you can travel late morning it seems to me. They're usually available a few weeks in advance. I've just had a look and they're selling tickets from London Waterloo to Southampton on Friday 9th August for £1 each. Amazing!!

[John Bull]

Megatrain is owned by UK transport conglomerate Stagecoach, it was created to fill empty seats on Virgin & South-west trains by offering restricted bucket-price seats on some routes.

 

The major restrictions which would affect you:

 

London to Dover trains are operated by a different train operator, and there are no Megatrain tickets on that route.

 

They're offered South-west Train's London to Southampton route, though this is for trains from London Waterloo, not London Victoria which in a different train operator. The service from Waterloo is much quicker than the service from Victoria, which follows a longer route.

No Megatrain tix available for sundays or bank holidays, occasionally other dates as well.

South-west trains run about three trains per hour between London Waterloo & Southampton. Megatrain tickets are available on only about 20% of those trains.

From Waterloo to Southampton they're spread through the day, but from Southampton to Waterloo the first Megatrain tix are from about 1pm (morning trains to London are busy, no need to offer cheap seats).

 

Megatrain tix must be bought in advance, & you must select a date/time when you book. Not refundable, not amendable.

 

Anyone can book Megatrain, including you.

 

Certain carriages are designated for Megatrain passengers. They're exactly the same as the other carriages on the same train, just with "Megatrain" sigs in the windows - if they remember to fit them :rolleyes:.

I get the impression this isn't enforced.

 

So, quite restrictive.

Worth the bother?

You can buy a regular unrestricted ticket at the station for about £37.

If the Megatrain times suit, you can buy in advance for around £4.

 

JB :)

[ricki]

Thank you, John Bull and Tartanexile81! Your information is VERY helpful!

 

Ricki

[Dianneon2]

We booked Megatrain tickets from Waterloo to Southampton for 2 GBP each. Tickets go on sale about 6 weeks or so prior to travel date and there are limited tickets sold at that rate. Very easy to book and the train was very convenient. hopped on a taxi for the short ride to the train. Only hassle was leaving our camera in the taxi but with the much appreciated assistance of other cab drivers, the camera was located and returned very quickly.

[eandj]

Unfortunately we weren't able to purchase the megatrain tix due to a local festival a couple weeks ago. But the actual train experience was very easy. Waterloo is an easy to figure out station. Trains are comfortable and schedules are good. Easy to move and travel with suitcases. You don't have to climb up steps to get into the car.

 

Megatrain will start listing availibility 30 days out. So mark your calendar and on that day start watching the website. Depnding on cruise traffic, the tickets to Southampton can go FAST.