Megabus out. $1 rides, we hardly knew ye

Cheryl V. Jackson, Indianapolis Star
·2 min read

Way to throw a monkey wrench into spring break plans, Megabus.

After less than a month of operation in Indianapolis, the low-cost bus service told customers it was halting the vast majority of service here and in other Midwest cities starting Thursday, Feb, 23.

Megabus emailed customers Wednesday to cancel service on some trips.

The company says it's unable to sell tickets because of partner Miller Transportation.

“Due to a recent business decision made (by) our operating partner, Miller Transportation, Megabus will no longer be able to sell tickets in select Midwest cities and will need to cancel trips operated by Miller Transportation,” Megabus told customers. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope to find opportunities to resume service in the future.”

The company provided automatic refunds to impacted customers.

Megabus in Indianapolis:Megabus returns to Indy with $1 fares to select destinations

As of Feb 23, Megabus is no longer servicing the Midwest via Miller Transportation, a partnership that was announced in January 2023.
As of Feb 23, Megabus is no longer servicing the Midwest via Miller Transportation, a partnership that was announced in January 2023.

After pulling out of the market in mid-2020, the low-price bus service — rides are as cheap as $1 plus the $3.99 booking fee — returned to Indy on Jan. 25 with service to dozens of cities, providing connections to Chicago, Nashville, Detroit, Gary and South Bend.

Now, in Indianapolis specifically, service will be reduced but will still be offered to Kokomo, Peru, Rochester, Plymouth, South Bend and Elkhart, the company told IndyStar on Thursday afternoon.

Megabus, which has its U.S. operations based in New Jersey, added several new markets through partnerships with regional transportation companies. In the Midwest, that was Miller Transportation. The 85-year-old company and its subsidiary Hoosier Ride, have shuttled riders throughout Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.

Miller would sell its excess seating through the Megabus website.

Neither company has issued a release or website posting about the change.  Megabus said it would alert more impacted customers in coming days.

IndyStar has reached out to Miller Transportation for comment.

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on Twitter:@cherylvjackson.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Megabus cuts services in Indianapolis and Midwest after only a month