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Punctuality of overnight Megabus?

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Merseysider

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Does anybody have experience of the overnight Megabus (2215 Paris - London Victoria 0730) or if not, other overnight coach services under the water?

I'm booked on one in just over a week's time and need to purchase an onward advance from Euston. I'm wondering if an 0846 departure from EUS will be allowing enough time, factoring in potential delays and the tube transfer, or if I should book the 0946.

I'd imagine road delays are rare during these hours - is that the case?

Thanks!
 
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radamfi

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The main issue is possible delays at immigration. An excessive delay there can mean missing the planned crossing and overnight crossings are less frequent. However there is usually a lot of slack time added to the journey to allow for such delays and you will normally arrive early.
 

Myb

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In 2011, I travelled on Eurolines (Paris 2200 - London Victoria 0615 via Eurotunnel); the coach arrived in Victoria at 0430.

I well remember the joy I experienced when it became clear I would get the two seats for myself, to be replaced mere few seconds before departure by utter annoyance thanks to a passenger sitting in the contiguous seat with a smelly and greasy McDonald's meal; which he didn't care to throw away during the journey! <(

I dropped the return and used Eurostar instead.
 
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HMS Ark Royal

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Does anybody have experience of the overnight Megabus (2215 Paris - London Victoria 0730) or if not, other overnight coach services under the water?

I'm booked on one in just over a week's time and need to purchase an onward advance from Euston. I'm wondering if an 0846 departure from EUS will be allowing enough time, factoring in potential delays and the tube transfer, or if I should book the 0946.

I'd imagine road delays are rare during these hours - is that the case?

Thanks!

That one is normally on time, thought it has been running late from time to time due to the immigrant issue in France.

As far as I can recall, there is normally not that many delays on the roads that time
 

Quakkerillo

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Always use Megabus to do cross-channel travel. Always arrive about 45 minutes early, except when the migrant issues took off last year.
 

Merseysider

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Thanks for all replies. Given that nobody here's got a horror story ( ;) ) I've booked the 0846. My megabus turning up an hour late at Brussels isn't exactly a confidence boost though :lol: It's probably one I'd like to Eurostar at some point in the future, regardless of how the coach turns out.
 
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MrGrumpy

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I used Ouibus last September overnight from Victoria to Amsterdam. NEVER again will I travel on long-distance international coaches, the experience put me right off.

Firstly, the seat wasn't very comfortable and the at-seat plug sockets didn't work.
Secondly, being rather long-legged, I felt crushed up in my seat.

Thirdly, we were three hours late into Amsterdam after spending the wasted time in a Dutch service station awaiting the delivery of a mouthpiece for the breathalyzer which was connected to the vehicle's ignition system!

On top of that, you're stuck on a bus for eleven hours.
 

Bletchleyite

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It's a shame that the regulations in some countries won't permit sleeper coaches as they'd be ideal for international travel. Even as a 6+ footer, the Megabus Gold sleeper was comfortable enough to get a reasonable amount of kip - more, in fact, than I get on a sleeper train with transverse bunks, as you avoid the blood alternating head/feet issue as the train corners. (The bus bunks run end to end rather than across the bus).

Best kip I ever got on a Sleeper train was one of the old DB passive tilt[1] Talgo sets on the lengthways couchettes. Shame the new Caledonian Sleeper won't do these - but I might well consider a pod flatbed in preference to a cabin as a result.

[1] The coach is mounted on the wheelsets via a top mount, allowing it to swing out at the bottom on corners - this makes for an odd looking coach as it is tapered towards the bottom rather than the top.
 
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