Megabus Discussion

[cambsy]

Does McLeans still operate the MX20 service for Megabus or is it run by another operator? If it is McLeans are they still using their 18-plate Van Hool double decker?

 

[route101]

I believe so. Last time I seen it was a VDL single decker coach. Comfort wise best to avoid any service operated by Macleans.

They also operate the M11X which starts from Edinburgh.

 

[markymark2000]

To all Woolley Edge and Tibshelf based staff.
Sent via Blink
31" July 2024
Dear Colleague
Announcement re Megabus
This announcement is to confirm that that the contract for drivers who operate Megabus journeys from Woolley Edge and Tibshelf will, from 2nd September 2024, no longer be operated by Stagecoach.
Our current understanding is that none of our people are principally connected to the contracted work as it will be operated going forward and therefore TUPE does not apply. The transfer of the contract is due to take place on the 2nd of September and from that date the Megabus work will no longer be available. We do have roles available in the OpCo and we will be reaching out to you individually to discuss the options for your continued employment with Stagecoach.
I understand this this process may cause concern and be a difficult time for you. I would like to reassure you that you will be fully consulted through the process, and we will do everything in our power to ensure the transition to other roles is as smooth as possible.
If you have any immediate questions or concerns about any of this communication, please do reach out to your line manager [redacted personal info]
I would like to thank you for your continued commitment to Stagecoach.
Yours sincerely,
Bill McCartney
Operations Director, Yorkshire

Videos circulating on TikTok and various drivers comments on numerous social media platforms suggest that this is a widespread and affects all Stagecoach depots in England and Wales. Supposedly work is going to 3rd party operators but I've yet to see these bits officially confirmed.

 

[D6130]

Megabus drivers at Wooley Edge and Tibshelf have been given their notice today due to contract changes.



View attachment 162765

Videos circulating on TikTok and various drivers comments on numerous social media platforms suggest that this is a widespread and affects all Stagecoach depots in England and Wales with one or two exceptions.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2024 ==

Megabus drivers at Wooley Edge and Tibshelf have been given their notice today due to contract changes.

Videos circulating on TikTok and various drivers comments on numerous social media platforms suggest that this is a widespread and affects all Stagecoach depots in England and Wales. Supposedly work is going to 3rd party operators but I've yet to see these bits officially confirmed.

A friend who is a bus driver in Calderdale told me tonight that all Megabus services will be terminating in four weeks time and that their drivers have been given notice of redundancy today by text message. This may well be a case of the story 'improving with the telling'....who knows?

 

[overthewater]

Is Megabus terminating the routes? Is Megabus being sold off? is Flixbus taking stuff over? or is Stagecoach new owners outsourcing everything?

 

[MATTWILLIS2016]

Think passengers deserve to know who will be running the services!

 

[Scott mac]

Is Megabus terminating the routes? Is Megabus being sold off? is Flixbus taking stuff over? or is Stagecoach new owners outsourcing everything?

Stagecoach sold megabus years ago

 

[Flange Squeal]

Think passengers deserve to know who will be running the services!

I doubt the vast majority of passengers know who the current individual contractor(s) for the route(s) they use is anyway, most likely assuming Megabus as an entity own and run the vehicles.

 

[henryb]

Videos circulating on TikTok and various drivers comments on numerous social media platforms suggest that this is a widespread and affects all Stagecoach depots in England and Wales. Supposedly work is going to 3rd party operators but I've yet to see these bits officially confirmed.

Stagecoach Plymouth only just started the M52….

 

[henryb]

Rumors all Stagecoach England depots are dropping Megabus work, would this see the (very new) M52 and FLCN going?

 

[Simon75]

Rumors all Stagecoach England depots are dropping Megabus work, would this see the (very new) M52 and FLCN going?

So who will take over the work then ?

 

[Megafuss]

Think passengers deserve to know who will be running the services!

I doubt the average punters cares - so long as preferably a Megabus branded coach turns up at the time stated on the ticket.

Nobody bats an eyelid when National Express move contracts around.

 

[Titfield]

Think passengers deserve to know who will be running the services!

It is a legal requirement but that is met by the details displayed on the O disc in the vehicle windscreen and the operator's legal lettering displayed on the nearside of the vehicle.

 

[markymark2000]

Stagecoach sold megabus years ago

Sold Megabus to Scottish Citylink but they bought a bigger stake in Scottish Citylink so arguebly Stagecoach still own Megabus, they own Megabus via a company that they part own. Least that is my understanding of it, I'm happy to be corrected on that.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

I'm told by Megabus on X that basically the services will still exist but be run by different operators. I hope they do well! I'd love to see a more premium brand for the longest routes!

 

[swinny1990]

Am I right in guessing stagecoach will no longer operate megabus in England from 2nd September and it will all go out to different operators?

 

[overthewater]

So does anyone know, who might be getting the contracts and does that mean there will be few spare coaches up for grabs?

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

Sold Megabus to Scottish Citylink but they bought a bigger stake in Scottish Citylink so arguebly Stagecoach still own Megabus, they own Megabus via a company that they part own. Least that is my understanding of it, I'm happy to be corrected on that.

Stagecoach still only own 37% of Scottish city link so don't have majority control.

 

[Deerfold]

Am I right in guessing stagecoach will no longer operate megabus in England from 2nd September and it will all go out to different operators?

I suspect the answer will differ by route or depot. August 2024 is likely to be the end of many contracts. Citylink may be replacing some of them, but presumably only where they can get a better price or reliability with another operator. I'd be surprised if they were deliberately cutting Stagecoach depots just because they're Stagecoach depots.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

My nearest location for Megabus services is Oxford and is served by Plaxton InterDeck coaches. From the 2nd September, what's likely to run these services? I'm guessing this explains why bookings haven't been open further than 6th October.

 

[lightning76]

Am I right in guessing stagecoach will no longer operate megabus in England from 2nd September and it will all go out to different operators?

The announcement at Walkergate refers to a drop in driver requirement of 50%, so presumably Stagecoach will continue to operate some Megabus contracts.

 

[Parebunks]

My nearest location for Megabus services is Oxford and is served by Plaxton InterDeck coaches. From the 2nd September, what's likely to run these services? I'm guessing this explains why bookings haven't been open further than 6th October.

6th October is the seasonal timetable change, only loosely related to this

 

[Mwanesh]

All Stagecoach Depots in England and Wales will cease Megabus operations on 2 September. South Wales work will be going to Watts and New Adventure Travel who are doing it at present with Cwmbran depot. The drivers are gutted

Mod note. internal staff memo via Blink
(The staff app)

 

[markymark2000]

All Stagecoach Depots in England and Wales will cease Megabus operations on 2 September. South Wales work will be going to Watts and New Adventure Travel who are doing it at present with Cwmbran depot. The drivers are gutted

Cwmbran ran quite a bit so that's a lot to move to Watts and NAT in one go. I am surprised it's taken this long though for NAT to get a lot more Megabus work considering NAT is owned by ComfortDelGro.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Do we have any idea as to why this decision has been taken? And what of Megabus cross border routes such as the M11 and M20, which are theoretically operated from West Scotland but use English drivers for large chunks of the root

 

[darloscott]

Do we have any idea as to why this decision has been taken? And what of Megabus cross border routes such as the M11 and M20, which are theoretically operated from West Scotland but use English drivers for large chunks of the root

Walkergate Depot in Newcastle are still going to operate some Megabus work so they’ll presumably be providing drivers for the M20 for example.

 

[richw]

Stagecoach Plymouth only just started the M52….

At present the two depots from a single opco has made any announcement to staff surrounding ceasing their megabus. I’d assume that will the facts that only those depots are affected now at this time. Nowhere, anywhere has said all England stagecoach are withdrawing.

 

[markymark2000]

And what of Megabus cross border routes such as the M11 and M20, which are theoretically operated from West Scotland but use English drivers for large chunks of the root

M20 will remain operated by Cumbernauld but will use Newcastle Walkergate drivers still for Newcastle - London. This is the only work that Walkergate will keep according to drivers.

M11, the Manchester Airport trip is operated by Parks. I believe some trips are already operated by McLeans (a 3rd party operator) so in that respect, some trips will see no change.
As for what Stagecoach run on the M11, is any of that English drivers? The only Stagecoach Megabus base I can think of along the M11 would be Rugby and how much do they do on the M11?

At present the two depots from a single opco has made any announcement to staff surrounding ceasing their megabus. I’d assume that will the facts that only those depots are affected now at this time. Nowhere, anywhere has said all England stagecoach are withdrawing.

Walkergate Newcastle depot has confirmed they are having a 50% cut in drivers required. I've not seen any official announcement but staff at Rugby and Cwmbran are saying they have had the same announcement as Wooley Edge/Tibshelf saying no more work.

MEGABUS ANNOUNCEMENT
WALKERGATE DEPOT
This announcement is to confirm that that the contract to operate Megabus journeys from Walkergate depot will, from 2nd September 2024 now be significantly reduced and our driver requirement will by drop by around 50%.
Our current understanding is that none of our people are principally connected to the contracted work as it will be operated going forward and therefore TUPE does not apply.
The transfer of the contracts affected is due to take place on the 2nd of September and from that date the Megabus work will therefore be reduced. We do have roles available in the depot and we will be reaching out to you individually to discuss your options for your continued employment within Stagecoach North East.
I understand that this process may cause concern and be a difficult time for you. I would like to reassure you that you will be fully consulted through the process, and we will do everything in our power to ensure the transition to other roles is as smooth as possible.
Colin Newbury, Operations Director

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Sold Megabus to Scottish Citylink but they bought a bigger stake in Scottish Citylink so arguebly Stagecoach still own Megabus, they own Megabus via a company that they part own. Least that is my understanding of it, I'm happy to be corrected on that.

Was Megabus not sold to Comfort DelGro (who part own Scottish Citylink with Stagecoach) rather than Megabus sold to Scottish Citylink?
This would mean that Stagecoach do not own Megabus in any form of part/full ownership as it's Citylink's parent that owns Megabus, not Citylink.

 

[Volvodart]

Was Megabus not sold to Comfort DelGro (who part own Scottish Citylink with Stagecoach) rather than Megabus sold to Scottish Citylink?
This would mean that Stagecoach do not own Megabus in any form of part/full ownership as it's Citylink's parent that owns Megabus, not Citylink.

Stagecoach sold it's Megabus and Falcon operations, which were not part of the joint venture, for an increased share of the joint venture ownership.