Hamilton Gray megabus services

[Robjohns21]

Hi,

I'm trying to workout how many coaches hamilton Gray operate on their megabus services, does anyone have any timetables of the routes they operate, or happen to know how many vehicles are required for their workings????

Thanks,
R.

 

[RT4038]

Currently 5

 

[Temple Meads]

They have 5 Megabus branded coaches, but other coaches from the Midco fleet are frequently used.

The operate all services on the M18 and most on the M14 but these routes are apparently 'under review'.

They also operate a few journeys on the M6 (0445 Paignton-London, 1330 London-Plymouth, 1145 Plymouth-London, 1900 London-Paignton)

 

[JonathanH]

Edit - Oops - I'm confusing Hamilton Gray with another company whose coaches are branded Hamilton - the below is off topic (although I am still interested to know what is going on)

On more than one recent Saturday morning, a Hamilton coach has substituted for a Megabus Interdeck on the 0100 London to Glasgow via everywhere M12/M19 service.

This morning was MF13CYE. The same coach was used on 20 June.

What is the difference in capacity? Why is the Megabus fleet short?

The 0100 M12 always seems to load pretty well (in contrast to the 0100 Saturday only M1 service to Birmingham which I have been using).

 

[Robertj21a]

Edit - Oops - I'm confusing Hamilton Gray with another company whose coaches are branded Hamilton - the below is off topic (although I am still interested to know what is going on)

On more than one recent Saturday morning, a Hamilton coach has substituted for a Megabus Interdeck on the 0100 London to Glasgow via everywhere M12/M19 service.

This morning was MF13CYE. The same coach was used on 20 June.

What is the difference in capacity? Why is the Megabus fleet short?

The 0100 M12 always seems to load pretty well (in contrast to the 0100 Saturday only M1 service to Birmingham which I have been using).

Hamilton of Uxbridge have been working on Megabus for some years now - usually as dupes.
.

 

[richw]

To me, geographically speaking at least, it would make sense for them to operate Penzance to Victoria, but that is currently operated by Midland Red.

 

[overthewater]

Does Scotland still send down a dup on a Friday night from Glasgow and return from London on Sunday night?

 

[Temple Meads]

To me, geographically speaking at least, it would make sense for them to operate Penzance to Victoria, but that is currently operated by Midland Red.

Yes, it would seem to make more sense for HG to operate all of the far South West M6 services, it's also probably worth pointing out that the M14/M18 services may be served a bit easier from Stagecoach's depot at Cwmbran.

The Stagecoach operated Megabus services do currently have a few drivers based at Exeter.

 

[Robjohns21]

Thanks, anyone know who's going to be taking over the services?

 

[Martin1988]

I regularly see a Hamilton Gray Megabus vehicle loading up in Bristol of a morning. Normally they use a Megabus liveried one but sometimes, one in Hamilton Gray livery puts in an appearance- including one in Mid Devon Coaches livery and one in Majestic Livery

 

[Robertj21a]

Isn't the plan for Stagecoach to run them, from Plymouth ?

 

[Martin1988]

I've heard something about that too.

I wonder if Hamilton Gray will still do dupe/replacement work for Megabus?

 

[swifty]

Isn't the plan for Stagecoach to run them, from Plymouth ?

Yes, I believe that is the plan. HG have been given notice on the contract for an early September finish.

 

[Temple Meads]

I don't know how things have been behind the scenes, but from a personal point of view it's a shame to hear that HG have lost the work - not had a vehicle defect or personnel issue delay any of the services I've been on operated by them.

Hope the drivers find employment elsewhere (Plymouth for Stagecoach perhaps?), if HG have to let them go - I doubt they would have enough work to go around.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
M18 withdrawn from September 1st. Megabus quoting 'continued low passenger numbers', which isn't my experience.

 

[radamfi]

M18 withdrawn from September 1st. Megabus quoting 'continued low passenger numbers', which isn't my experience.

Norwich to Cardiff also withdrawn from that date.

 

[Surreyman]

Can someone clarify please?
There is a company called "Hamilton Gray" based in Exeter who operate Megabus 'duties' and there is a company in Uxbridge/West Drayton called "Hamiltons" who operate duplicates on Megabus routes?
I assume they are separate companies & have no connection?

 

[mbonwick]

No connection between Hamilton Gray and Hamiltons of Uxbridge, they just happen to both do Megabus dupes.

 

[Martin1988]

For anyone interested, Hamilton Gray appear to have taken over operation of a new Friday and Sunday only journey on the Bristol to London route. 1650 ex Bristol returning 2100 from Victoria.

Tourismo BD64NDC in Hamilton Gray livery was on there today but with the driver in Megabus uniform.

To be honest I am rather surprised this operator is providing this diagram as this diagram starts and terminates in Bristol so it must be a lot of dead mileage for them.

Even more unexpectedly, Hamiltons Of Uxbridge turned up on the newly introduced Friday to Sunday journey 0750 off of Bristol. I wonder if they ran down to Bristol from London empty or if they duped another service down to Bristol on Thursday night?

 

[Temple Meads]

For anyone interested, Hamilton Gray appear to have taken over operation of a new Friday and Sunday only journey on the Bristol to London route. 1650 ex Bristol returning 2100 from Victoria.

Tourismo BD64NDC in Hamilton Gray livery was on there today but with the driver in Megabus uniform.

To be honest I am rather surprised this operator is providing this diagram as this diagram starts and terminates in Bristol so it must be a lot of dead mileage for them.

Possibly a coach on hire to Stagecoach due to shortages - there's been a Plaxton Panther from Snowdons of Peterlee on hire to Midland Red South this week.

 

[Martin1988]

I am aware that Hamilton Gray have had at least one coach on hire to Megabus this week but from what I understand that was a different service.

The equivalent of the 1650 journey from Bristol was, up until last week operated by Stagecoach Cwmbran depot with the vehicle duping in from London on an M6.