Does anyone have experience using Megatrain (sounds like a movie title)? If I understand their web page it is possible for me to travel by train from London to Portsmouth and back for about 2 GB#s. Is there a catch? Is is like Ryanair where the basic fare is cheap but they charge you for incidentals. Also is it possible to purchase tickets using a USA issue credit card? This seemed to be a problem in the 2000s.
Thanks for your input.
Geor(ge)
Megatrain is part of the Stagecoach group that have a major stake in the British train company - South West Trains - who have the franchise for routes out of London (Waterloo). The Megatrain site will have really cheap fares for certain point to point journeys on specific services. These services may well be at off peak times so that could be regarded as the only catch. You will be sitting on exactly the same type of trains as all the other people who have usually paid considerably more. So, don't worry about having to ride in some van at the end of the train!
I am not sure about the use of US cards but you could try the site & see what happens. If it offers you the option to print your own ticket, you simply do that & bring the print out and present it at the barrier gates (if present) to a member of staff. On board staff will also check it. If you have the option to collect ticket from a machine at station on arrival, be sure to bring the SAME card with you as you have to insert it into the machine and type in your booking number - & out will come the tickets. (Print out the booking reference as proof). You could 'probably' also take the booking reference printout to the station booking area & they 'should' give you the ticket as an alternative to using the machine.
Megatrain tickets are for disposal of excess capacity, usually well off peak, and only between specific stations with no ability to board or leave at intermediate stations, and only on the specific train named on the ticket.
Megatrain ticket holders are by reserved seat only, and any attempt to sit anywhere else, or to wander out of the specific carriage(s) given over to Megatrain will be seen by the conductor as ticketless travel requiring a new full priced ticket to be purchased and the Megatrain ticket will become valueless.
