Megabus Discussion

[nick291]

21:00 Megabus M42 from Victoria to Bristol is being done by an ex Turners Coaches it would seem. With a blue branded vehicle and hasn't left yet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Oct 2024 ==

UPDATE: 22:00 M42 to Cardiff via Heathrow Central, Swindon, Bristol, Newport has showed up late and is now leaving 30 minutes after it should. Being done by Ex Edwards Avonmouth/NatEx BV67 JYA. Now Owned by Adventure Coachlines. Driver said it was nearly 2hrs late into London as broke down in Newport. Understand the reasons why these happen, however not a good look when these aren't communicated by staff or on Social Media. Good loading as well so it's beggars belief these services are being discontinued after the 4th Dec.

 

[TravelDream]

England-Wales routes don't look to be continuing, think that was poor wording in the statement.

Very strange as they have very good loadings.
Though with both NX and Flixbus offering a frequent service, fares aren't always the highest.

Will be sad to see them leave the market. But is there room for three major intercity operators in the UK? I am not sure there is. Focusing on their home market of Scotland probably makes sense for the company.

 

[nick291]

Should be in Bristol now. But as of writing this comment, I'm stuck in Chieveley Services as the driver needs to take his legal break. Awful, just awful. Hasn't allowed anyone off to stretch their legs either, or for a coffee, cigarette etc.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2024 ==

Final update to the 22:00 M42 London-Cardiff Saga: Left Chieveley and got to the Swindon stop, driver shouted as the mic/PA was broken for the stop in Swindon. 2 or 3 people get off. We leave, woman comes to the front asking if we had stopped there, driver said yes. Then she proceeds to say we didn't or she didn't hear the announcement. She had her family with her so we turned off at the Chippenham junction of the M4 and went back. Made it into Bristol Bond street about an hour and 40 minutes late. Was glad to get off. Pic of the coach for those interested.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Should be in Bristol now. But as of writing this comment, I'm stuck in Chieveley Services as the driver needs to take his legal break. Awful, just awful. Hasn't allowed anyone off to stretch their legs either, or for a coffee, cigarette etc.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2024 ==

Final update to the 22:00 M42 London-Cardiff Saga: Left Chieveley and got to the Swindon stop, driver shouted as the mic/PA was broken for the stop in Swindon. 2 or 3 people get off. We leave, woman comes to the front asking if we had stopped there, driver said yes. Then she proceeds to say we didn't or she didn't hear the announcement. She had her family with her so we turned off at the Chippenham junction of the M4 and went back. Made it into Bristol Bond street about an hour and 40 minutes late. Was glad to get off. Pic of the coach for those interested.

I'm sorry but the driver should have allowed people to stretch their legs. Megabus might say 'We don't have any comfort stops on our services' or something like that but to not be allowed off is very excessive.

 

[-Colly405-]

I’d reckon the only things left will be the Glasgow/Edinburgh-London and the intra-Scottish stuff that I imagine will eventually all get folded into the Citylink brand and Megabus will be no more.

And presumably the Falcon will revert to being just the Falcon, and not (big writing) megabus with (small writing) Falcon...

 

[padbus]

And presumably the Falcon will revert to being just the Falcon, and not (big writing) megabus with (small writing) Falcon...

I do hope so.

 

[route101]

I’d reckon the only things left will be the Glasgow/Edinburgh-London and the intra-Scottish stuff that I imagine will eventually all get folded into the Citylink brand and Megabus will be no more.

I'm sorry but the driver should have allowed people to stretch their legs. Megabus might say 'We don't have any comfort stops on our services' or something like that but to not be allowed off is very excessive.

Sometimes you do get comfort breaks on the overnight Scottish services, I remember stopping at Norton Canes.

 

[nick291]

I'm sorry but the driver should have allowed people to stretch their legs. Megabus might say 'We don't have any comfort stops on our services' or something like that but to not be allowed off is very excessive.

Yeah, Honestly after the whole experience last night, December 4th cannot come soon enough.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2024 ==

Sometimes you do get comfort breaks on the overnight Scottish services, I remember stopping at Norton Canes.

Last time I used the M11X in 2022 it stopped at Tebay South.

 

[Ewan M]

Sometimes you do get comfort breaks on the overnight Scottish services, I remember stopping at Norton Canes.

When I did the overnight M11 from London to Glasgow back in October 2019, there was a short comfort stop at Tebay

 

[Mwanesh]

When your biggest contractor leaves a network there are bound to be problems.Instead of dealing with one focal point you suddenly have a whole country to cover.The Scottish network is self contained.The drivers who interworked for Stagecoach countrywide knew what to do when things went wrong.There are no longer shunters in London who could help in times of problems.

 

[Deerfold]

When your biggest contractor leaves a network there are bound to be problems.Instead of dealing with one focal point you suddenly have a whole country to cover.The Scottish network is self contained.The drivers who interworked for Stagecoach countrywide knew what to do when things went wrong.There are no longer shunters in London who could help in times of problems.

Was it Stagecoach's decision to withdraw?

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

I think that getting rid of the M84 is a bit ludicrous given it's existence for at least 7 years when I've used as the M34 a few times for 2-3 hour journeys.

I really hope National Express decide to offer something similar but have it run either via Manchester then straight up the rest of the M6 or the M1 via Yorkshire!

 

[JonathanH]

Was it Stagecoach's decision to withdraw?

If Stagecoach had continued, it might be imagined that it would have needed to think about fleet replacement with no new vehicles since the 68 batch of Interdecks (*) for Megabus and the earliest ones over ten years old.

Even Falcon is reliant on 64-reg and 65-reg vehicles and a decision will be needed fairly soon on replacements.

(*) I recognise that there were newer vehicles for London to Scotland journeys but not on the English / Welsh services that have been withdrawn.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

If Stagecoach had continued, it might be imagined that it would have needed to think about fleet replacement with no new vehicles since the 68 batch of Interdecks (*) for Megabus and the earliest ones over ten years old.

Even Falcon is reliant on 64-reg and 65-reg vehicles and a decision will be needed fairly soon on replacements.

(*) I recognise that there were newer vehicles for London to Scotland journeys but not on the English / Welsh services that have been withdrawn.

Interesting because the driver of the 12:15 M84 from Oxford to Leeds mentioned about new coaches after Christmas. Shame that this won't happen as Oxford won't be served.

 

[citybus2500]

Was it Stagecoach's decision to withdraw?

Stagecoach moved to being an expensive contractor. Not sure who, if anyone, pulled the plug, but suspect it was a mutual decision.

 

[Temple Meads]

Even Falcon is reliant on 64-reg and 65-reg vehicles and a decision will be needed fairly soon on replacements.

Interdecks 54602/54607/54609/54610 are being transferred to Plymouth, and the strong rumour is that they are to replace the 64-plate Elites, with the possibility of more to follow to replace the 65-plates.

 

[philthetube]

Should be in Bristol now. But as of writing this comment, I'm stuck in Chieveley Services as the driver needs to take his legal break. Awful, just awful. Hasn't allowed anyone off to stretch their legs either, or for a coffee, cigarette etc.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Oct 2024 ==

Final update to the 22:00 M42 London-Cardiff Saga: Left Chieveley and got to the Swindon stop, driver shouted as the mic/PA was broken for the stop in Swindon. 2 or 3 people get off. We leave, woman comes to the front asking if we had stopped there, driver said yes. Then she proceeds to say we didn't or she didn't hear the announcement. She had her family with her so we turned off at the Chippenham junction of the M4 and went back. Made it into Bristol Bond street about an hour and 40 minutes late. Was glad to get off. Pic of the coach for those interested.

The driver cannot lock passengers on the coach and leave them, nor can he/she enforce and passenger rule/ behaviour as they would not then be taking a break, but doing other work.

 

[joieman]

Was it Stagecoach's decision to withdraw?

Stagecoach at one point wanted to merge with the National Express group, so presumably shed Megabus to avert a monopoly.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Hmmm interesting that the M17 is available to book up til the 5th January. That's the best express from Southampton, Newbury and Oxford to Manchester and Glasgow as it doesn't call at nearly every city in the UK!

I think Manchester to Leeds needs it's own service branded the Pennines or something like that but that's for another thread.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Stagecoach at one point wanted to merge with the National Express group, so presumably shed Megabus to avert a monopoly.

I believe that was indeed part of the reason for selling the booking/management part of it to Citylink, yes. Ironically if the merger was being talked about today it might well not have been necessary to do so given how big Flix's competition now is.

 

[Mark J]

Whatever happened to the 'good old days' of...

 

[dmncf]

I heard that Sid quit coach driving and is now earning more as a delivery driver. He also started working out and is looking buff these days.

 

[Mwanesh]

If Stagecoach had continued, it might be imagined that it would have needed to think about fleet replacement with no new vehicles since the 68 batch of Interdecks (*) for Megabus and the earliest ones over ten years old.

Even Falcon is reliant on 64-reg and 65-reg vehicles and a decision will be needed fairly soon on replacements.

(*) I recognise that there were newer vehicles for London to Scotland journeys but not on the English / Welsh services that have been withdrawn.

Summed up what i was going to post. There was need for nearly 100 coaches for the Megabus network .The Scottish operations are getting 43 Volvo coaches Factor in also the Oxford Tube is due for renewal next year when the current fleet gets to 5 years.They were delivered late due to covid .Add in the National Express Unit at Chesterfield getting new coaches it became a mammoth task , with no long term partnership in place it was felt there was no need to bother with Megabus.

 

[JonathanH]

it was felt there was no need to bother with Megabus.

That is a sad statement given what Megabus was, but I guess it is the reality when a devision has to be made about renewal of an operation. In a commercial world, an organisation has to decide what investment is actually warranted and whether it will make a return.

 

[route101]

Hmmm interesting that the M17 is available to book up til the 5th January. That's the best express from Southampton, Newbury and Oxford to Manchester and Glasgow as it doesn't call at nearly every city in the UK!

I think Manchester to Leeds needs it's own service branded the Pennines or something like that but that's for another thread.

I seen its bookable Northbound only, it omits Birmingham northbound. I have taken the Southbound working and it goes overnight, I found it useful going to Manchester Airport once. I guess its a temporary reinstatement over the peak period.

 

[MCR247]

I heard that Sid quit coach driving and is now earning more as a delivery driver. He also started working out and is looking buff these days.

Does he have a brother/lookalike in number 10 by any chance?

 

[Deerfold]

Stagecoach at one point wanted to merge with the National Express group, so presumably shed Megabus to avert a monopoly.

Yes, but that isn't on the cards at the moment - I was asking about whose decision it was for Stagecoach depots in England (and Wales?) to stop being contractors for Megabus this autumn.

 

[JonathanH]

Yes, but that isn't on the cards at the moment - I was asking about whose decision it was for Stagecoach depots in England (and Wales?) to stop being contractors for Megabus this autumn.

Isn't that the point that 'Mwanesh' has made above? It was no longer worth the while of Stagecoach to make the investment to continue to support Megabus and consequently the network has collapsed.

 

[Mark J]

I heard that Sid quit coach driving and is now earning more as a delivery driver. He also started working out and is looking buff these days.

Is it still possible to get a Megabus £1 ticket (+50p booking fee). Or has this now gone to wall, due to the cost of living increases?

Why they didn't they just market the minimum price as £1.50. Rather than guff of £1 + booking fee.

 

[Ewan M]

Is it still possible to get a Megabus £1 ticket (+50p booking fee). Or has this now gone to wall, due to the cost of living increases?

Why they didn't they just market the minimum price as £1.50. Rather than guff of £1 + booking fee.

They ditched the £1 fares years back