Megabus Discussion

[markymark2000]

I thought that it would be best to start a Megabus general discussion thread seeing as the current discussion for Megabus seems to be linked into the Stagecoach thread. Given Megabus is now mostly with ComfortDelGro (CDG) with Stagecoach mostly just an operator, it makes sense to separate the thread. We also have dedicated threads for NatEx and Flixbus so with all that in mind, here is a general Megabus discussions thread.


I that that I would start with some more news for March. It's already been reported about some of the new routes and some new operators but I see that New Bharat and Eurocoaches are now taking on London to Bristol journeys. Does this mean Stagecoach Bristol are pulling back on their Megabus work or are these resources being deployed elsehwere?

Something else that I don't think has been noted on the forum is that Megabus has restarted international services using Primebus. I've done a search online and can't find Primebus anywhere but their tickets are sold on Megabus for journeys from London Victoria to Paris Gare de Bercy and Amsterdam via Brussels Midi. Both run twice per week. Sadly it seems that through tickets aren't sold and so I doubt the ticket sales are that high. Really missed a trick there I think.

 

[DaveHarries]

I thought that it would be best to start a Megabus general discussion thread seeing as the current discussion for Megabus seems to be linked into the Stagecoach thread. Given Megabus is now mostly with ComfortDelGro (CDG) with Stagecoach mostly just an operator, it makes sense to separate the thread. We also have dedicated threads for NatEx and Flixbus so with all that in mind, here is a general Megabus discussions thread.


I that that I would start with some more news for March. It's already been reported about some of the new routes and some new operators but I see that New Bharat and Eurocoaches are now taking on London to Bristol journeys. Does this mean Stagecoach Bristol are pulling back on their Megabus work or are these resources being deployed elsehwere?

Something else that I don't think has been noted on the forum is that Megabus has restarted international services using Primebus. I've done a search online and can't find Primebus anywhere but their tickets are sold on Megabus for journeys from London Victoria to Paris Gare de Bercy and Amsterdam via Brussels Midi. Both run twice per week. Sadly it seems that through tickets aren't sold and so I doubt the ticket sales are that high. Really missed a trick there I think.

I haven't heard of any new Megabus routes planned: is there a list (or some other info) about them anywhere?

Dave

 

[markymark2000]

I haven't heard of any new Megabus routes planned: is there a list (or some other info) about them anywhere?

Dave

There isn't really any official information on the new routes and nor is there anything half useful from Megabus but this is what I could draw up from having a look through their website trying to book various tickets.

New route Swansea to Canterbury via Cardiff, Heathrow and Gatwick
Friday-Monday Leeds to Gatwick via Manchester, Birmingham and Heathrow service by Thandi
Friday-Monday Manchester to Gatwick via Coventry and Heathrow operated by Orion
Thursday-Monday Leeds to Portsmouth extra run via Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford and Southampton. Ran by Stotts
Weymouth to London is an extension of the current M3 which will be cut down from 6 trips to 4 and a journey time increase on current sections to be up to 50 minutes longer (despite no change to the route)
Norwich to Birmingham route by Prospect Coaches has changed. It seems to show Norwich to Cardiff via current route to Birmingham then via Bristol to Cardiff. Return suggests Bristol, Swindon, Oxford, Birmingham then as current to Norwich. Bit weird.
Norwich to Birmingham does seem to up to 2 per day though rather than 1. Also runs Thursday - Monday
Thursday -Monday Leeds to London via Manchester service ran by J&B Travel.
Barnstable route seems to be being withdrawn

 

[JonathanH]

New route Swansea to Canterbury via Cardiff, Heathrow and Gatwick

Canterbury? That doesn't come up in the list of origins and destinations on their website. It would seem a very incongruous destination.

 

[markymark2000]

Canterbury? That doesn't come up in the list of origins and destinations on their website. It would seem a very incongruous destination.

Looks like it has now been removed with tickets just being sold from Swansea to Gatwick Airport. Not sure what has happened there but Canterbury was on the list, they were going to serve the bus station and the University of Kent.

 

[route101]

Nice to see an extra run from Portsmouth up to the North.

 

[Peter Philips]

Looks like it has now been removed with tickets just being sold from Swansea to Gatwick Airport. Not sure what has happened there but Canterbury was on the list, they were going to serve the bus station and the University of Kent.

Yes I recall studying the timings right through to Canterbury bus station & UKC.

 

[Simon75]

Having been delayed on a Megabus from Leeds today, drivers have said they have had issues with new duties.
Has anyone else experienced similar this week

 

[Ridercross]

Canterbury is now being plugged on the website:

Discover Canterbury

Take a coach to Canterbury and you’ll travel back in time. The city has been a pilgrimage site for over 800 years since the days of Archbishop Thomas Becket and his untimely death – so it’s used to a never-ending series of visitors. While the towering Canterbury Cathedral commands your...

uk.megabus.com

However, despite saying you can arrive from London Victoria, it appears to be only served from London Airports, not central London.

M5 - Swansea - University of Kent,Canterbury

Megabus

bustimes.org

 

[ValleyLines142]

Canterbury is now being plugged on the website:

Discover Canterbury

Take a coach to Canterbury and you’ll travel back in time. The city has been a pilgrimage site for over 800 years since the days of Archbishop Thomas Becket and his untimely death – so it’s used to a never-ending series of visitors. While the towering Canterbury Cathedral commands your...

uk.megabus.com

However, despite saying you can arrive from London Victoria, it appears to be only served from London Airports, not central London.

M5 - Swansea - University of Kent,Canterbury

Megabus

bustimes.org

That first westbound journey (0240 from Canterbury) has some pretty dire journey times. I know it has stops at UWE and Newport but the same amount of time to travel between Heathrow and Bristol as it does to travel between Bristol and Cardiff yet the former is over twice as long mileage-wise! (104 miles vs 43 miles!).

 

[LiviCrazy]

This is probably a really stupid question but if I don’t ask I’ll never know for certain.

Do Megabus ever do non-scheduled pick-ups/drop-offs on route?

The reason I ask is I’m going down to Manchester next month and am booked on the M11 from Glasgow. I live in West Lothian so am planning on parking at Harthill and catching the 900/AIR to Glasgow from there. However, that M11 will be starting in Edinburgh, and, I presume, heading along the M8 to Glasgow, would they stop at Harthill on request?

As I say, I know it is probably a stupid question, but thought I’d ask in case.

 

[JonathanH]

However, that M11 will be starting in Edinburgh, and, I presume, heading along the M8 to Glasgow, would they stop at Harthill on request?

No.

Even if customer services could be approached to agree to a stop, there is no contract or legal obligation for the coach to stop at an unadvertised location, so there would be a large risk that it simply didn't pick you up.

 

[LiviCrazy]

No.

Thanks, I Didn’t think so, but thought I’d ask, just as it happened to be passing. Presume it gives it the option of going the Falkirk route too. Have only ever done the coach routes heading north (combined with Citylink) which have more stops, so not something I’ve ever had reason to consider before.

 

[route101]

This is probably a really stupid question but if I don’t ask I’ll never know for certain.

Do Megabus ever do non-scheduled pick-ups/drop-offs on route?

The reason I ask is I’m going down to Manchester next month and am booked on the M11 from Glasgow. I live in West Lothian so am planning on parking at Harthill and catching the 900/AIR to Glasgow from there. However, that M11 will be starting in Edinburgh, and, I presume, heading along the M8 to Glasgow, would they stop at Harthill on request?

As I say, I know it is probably a stupid question, but thought I’d ask in case.

Is this the M11x operated by Macleans? Never heard of them stopping or dropping off, I thought that dings the insurance or something. I suppose you could of booked from Edinburgh but not sure how handy that would be.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Apr 2023 ==

I noticed at the weekend, that many Megabus routes are not operated by Stagecoach now. I noticed smaller Airsym coaches on M3 and M15 services. Are Megabus moving away from Stagecoach?

 

[bristol1996]

Unfortunately Megabus are losing their way. The services are on the decline, unfortunately, and I do think some of the operators that operate on behalf of Megabus really don't seem to care.

Eurocoaches have recently invested in 2x new evotors for the M10 services. I believe that's all they run currently and it seems to be doing OK, but you have to give them there due; the coaches are well turned out and clean but the management is a mismatch and Megabus aren't supportive at all in any way.

The Megabus own vehicles look rough and worn out too. Drivers seem depressed and appear to have no enjoyment either.

 

[markymark2000]

Unfortunately Megabus are losing their way. The services are on the decline, unfortunately, and I do think some of the operators that operate on behalf of Megabus really don't seem to care.

Eurocoaches have recently invested in 2x new evotors for the M10 services. I believe that's all they run currently and it seems to be doing OK, but you have to give them there due; the coaches are well turned out and clean but the management is a mismatch and Megabus aren't supportive at all in any way.

The Megabus own vehicles look rough and worn out too. Drivers seem depressed and appear to have no enjoyment either.

Megabus just isn't what it used to be for me. Probably means nothing to everyone else (who is just booking for price or because there are no trains). For me though, Megabus was always about getting on the double decker (or overdecker) coaches. Now it's all normal coaches at normal spec and half of them not even in Megabus livery.

Drivers don't seem happy to be doing Megabus work either as you say, it's just a chore or it's a bribe, 'if you do Megabus today, I'll send you on a nice private hire or skiing next week'. Stuff like that.

Megabus as a company don't seem bothered about anything. Most buses don't track, lower standards as they want quick expansion. Little care for ease of passengers planning journeys (route numbers all over the place with no consistency and most operators not showing route numbers on the destination displays.


NatEx, for all of their faults in my eyes, are the better operator at the minute. Megabus is too focused on quick expansion to care about quality.

 

[johnw]

I suppose this expansion is one last roll of the dice until Flixbus come along with their check book. To my mind it always looked liked a good operation using double deck and under deck coaches under Stagecoach. But images I’ve seen of a mixed bag of single decker coaches in the last few months don’t paint a good impression.

 

[Mwanesh]

Megabus are actually doing well. Figures are on the up. To observers it looks like down hill.

 

[route101]

There has been some expansion by Megabus recently. The Scottish routes feature double deckers.

 

[ADB125]

Megabus just isn't what it used to be for me. Probably means nothing to everyone else (who is just booking for price or because there are no trains). For me though, Megabus was always about getting on the double decker (or overdecker) coaches. Now it's all normal coaches at normal spec and half of them not even in Megabus livery.

Drivers don't seem happy to be doing Megabus work either as you say, it's just a chore or it's a bribe, 'if you do Megabus today, I'll send you on a nice private hire or skiing next week'. Stuff like that.

Megabus as a company don't seem bothered about anything. Most buses don't track, lower standards as they want quick expansion. Little care for ease of passengers planning journeys (route numbers all over the place with no consistency and most operators not showing route numbers on the destination displays.


NatEx, for all of their faults in my eyes, are the better operator at the minute. Megabus is too focused on quick expansion to care about quality.

Agree with this. I used Megabus from Huddersfield to Manchester recently, the tracking didn't work correctly and was jumping all over the place, at one point suggesting the coach would be 3 hours late, so I was considering having to get a train instead. Think the issue was they swapped vehicles over but did not change it on the tracker. In the end the service turned up around 25 minutes late. The coach was a bit run down and had a massive crack across the windscreen on the upper deck so didn't really give a great impression. It was OK comfort wise but I prefer National Express; their interiors seem to be much higher quality and you know what to expect with the standardisation across the fleet. This would be acceptable if Megabus were a cheaper option, but the 45 minute journey to Manchester cost around double what National Express fares were from Manchester to Leeds. The NX service I got from Manchester to Carlisle wasn't that much more expensive and that is a much longer journey.

 

[Parebunks]

Was trying to look at megabus timetables on bustimes.org just now, but found it impossible thanks to the hideous presentation - see M36 attached as example, but the other 'cross-country' routes at least were equally bad. Not only is it disgusting to look at, but it doesn't seem to line up with the bookable coaches on megabus's own website at all, with the routes being about right but the times totally different. Does anyone know why this is, and if there's somewhere to find the real full timetables in human-readable format? National Express and Flixbus don't seem to have this problem, so assuming it's something at the company end.

 

[markymark2000]

Was trying to look at megabus timetables on bustimes.org just now, but found it impossible thanks to the hideous presentation - see M36 attached as example, but the other 'cross-country' routes at least were equally bad. Not only is it disgusting to look at, but it doesn't seem to line up with the bookable coaches on megabus's own website at all, with the routes being about right but the times totally different. Does anyone know why this is, and if there's somewhere to find the real full timetables in human-readable format? National Express and Flixbus don't seem to have this problem, so assuming it's something at the company end.

Basically for the details to show up on bustimes.org, Megabus have to put their services into the National Coach Services Database and for some reason, it is a database which is becoming increasingly abandoned or poorly maintained and so someone at Megabus massively messed up their entries and haven't amended them because the database is not seen as an advertising tool, more an administrative burden.

It's not helped as well with Megabus assigning one route number to what is essentially 5+ separate routes. Someone just goes 'oooh, look, that trip follows that trip for 3 stops, let's use the same route number' and so any basic timetable is instantly made messier just because of that.

I don't believe that there is any 'human readable' Megabus timetables available to the public.



Flixbus also suffer from the issue, their timetables are at least a month out of date now and the only human readable timetable for Flixbus is ones made by enthusiasts.

 

[route101]

I do find the timetables on bustimes,org hard to follow. They can show every possibility of route.

I learnt yesterday Megabus have a short working on the M11. Edinburgh to Manchester Airport.

 

[bristol1996]

I do find the timetables on bustimes,org hard to follow. They can show every possibility of route.

I learnt yesterday Megabus have a short working on the M11. Edinburgh to Manchester Airport.

Try driving the routes; they are the most awful, strangest routes to drive. The timings are odd, not to mention hardly any time for a layover/legal break

 

[markymark2000]

Try driving the routes; it is the most awful, strangest routes to drive. The timings are odd, not to mention hardly anytime for a layover/legal break

Preston to London via Liverpool, Warrington, Manchester, Newcastle Under Lyme, Birmingham, Reading City Centre and Heathrow.

Sounds completely logical, I don't know what you mean.

 

[Parebunks]

I don't believe that there is any 'human readable' Megabus timetables available to the public.

Thanks for confirming, that's annoying. There's some lists of departures from major stops available as PDFs on their website, so I might use that as a basis for a spreadsheet of them at some point in the future if I can work out the service patterns.

Try driving the routes; it is the most awful, strangest routes to drive. The timings are odd, not to mention hardly anytime for a layover/legal break

I do often make weird journeys by coach, so appreciate Megabus in that regard, but can see why they'd be a pain to drive!

 

[markymark2000]

Thanks for confirming, that's annoying. There's some lists of departures from major stops available as PDFs on their website, so I might use that as a basis for a spreadsheet of them at some point in the future if I can work out the service patterns.

The issue is, as I say, most of the route numbers are used for vastly different routes and so even if Megabus sorted the details into the database properly, it would still look like a complete mess.

 

[Trainguy34]

If you look at stops, it comes up with Gillingham, Maidstone and Dartford however I can't find any routes from amy of these, are there a planned routes from any of these?

 

[dmncf]

If on the Megabus website you input a location as an origin (e.g. Gillingham (Kent)), then the available destinations (e.g. Creamfields North) sometimes reveal that it's an origin for special event routes only.

 

[Trainguy34]

If on the Megabus website you input a location as an origin (e.g. Gillingham (Kent)), then the available destinations (e.g. Creamfields North) sometimes reveal that it's an origin for special event routes only.

Well that's annoying, was hoping for a new route