Flixbus terminates Megabus cross-channel contract

[HY_4273]

Courtesy of the Coach & Bus Week magazine website https://cbwmagazine.com/flixbus-terminates-megabus-cross-channel-contract/ , FlixBus has given notice to Stagecoach to terminate the cross-channel European Megabus contract.

The cross-channel European Megabus contract has been terminated by Flixbus.
In July 2016, the retail operations of Megabus Europe was sold to Flixbus, though Stagecoach was to continue operating the services as a contractor. This commitment was then reduced at the end of August, with Stagecoach told that all of its branded inter-city coach services from depots in Italy, Germany and Belgium were no longer required.
The decision has now been made to end the cross-channel services operated from the UK to Europe, with effect from April 10, 2017. Megabus services within the UK are not affected, as Stagecoach continues to operate them wholly on a commercial basis with no involvement from Flixbus....

Gaz

 

[overthewater]

A: Can stagecoach reenter the market on its own?

B: Are Flixbus going to keep the cross boundary services going with cheaper labour?

C: How many though passengers were there from elsewhere in the UK?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Interesting - a deliberate pull-out from the market, or not what they intended to happen?

 

[radamfi]

Megabus and Flixbus were competing across Europe so I had always assumed that the network would be rationalised in due course with duplication eliminated.

 

[richw]

They'll be using a cheaper contractor

 

[Temple Meads]

A: Can stagecoach reenter the market on its own?

As they sold the services off in the first place I can't see them trying it again anytime soon, although they could if they so wished.

I imagine any drivers who transfer to domestic Megabus/local bus work will be taking a significant pay drop, as the wages on Europe work were very good. Be interesting to see what happens to the LHD coaches too.

 

[overthewater]

I would love to know if there Flix will be using cheaper labour to cover these routes IF there keeping them on.