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Arrivals & Departures

Megatrain

On Monday 14th November 2005 the and launched "Megatrain", their new low-cost, ticketless, internet booked, off-peak deal between Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour and Waterloo and Southampton Monday to Saturday only.  Seats in a  single clearly designated coach (see below!) on certain off-peak services can be booked on a capacity controlled basis and it is important to realise that they are not valid to and from intermediate stations.   This was initially an experiment to run for up to 34 weeks but being a success after Easter 2006 it was extended to include the additional destinations of Bath, Bournemouth, Bristol, Exeter, Salisbury, Weymouth and Yeovil.

Megatrain poster on platform
Megatrain poster being fixed to window inside a class 444 unit
photographs by Mike Cook

Petersfield Taxibus

The end of October 2005 saw the closure of an experiment in integrated public transport by and . In an attempt to alleviate pressure on the parking facilities at Petersfield station, a taxibus service, utilising three Mercedes minibuses (two of which are pictured together below) operated by  , was introduced on November 9th 2004. It served a number of local housing estates for a fare of £1.  The service was withdrawn due to declining custom.

SWT Taxibus outside of Petersfield Station
Two Taxibuses
photographs by Mike Cook