I have had cause over the last 3 weeks to travel on Megabus a number of time between London and Manchester and on 3 journeys have had the new interdecks and what a disaster theese veichles are on the first journey there was no heating and the power points failed to work. The second journey in heavy sleet and snow the water was streaming in through the front windows and on the third journey there was no heating again and the skylights were leaking. Theese new coaches seem very poor build quality considering a driver told me they retailk at £300,000 each.
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Megabus Interdecks
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Blindtraveler
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not yet experienced one of these, have any made it to Scotland and if so any idea of its diagram?
I dont like much of what ADL does but the Plaxton end of it is usually ok, look at all the 100s of Panthers in service everywhere?
Over to the experts!
Experienced Megabus once from Sunderland-Exeter and return used the £5 wednesday offer making it a £10.50 Return, Even though so cheap never again a would rather pay the extra and either take the train just under ten hours in comfort or fly down 1.5 hours, 12 hours on megabus with someone falling asleep on you never again.
BestWestern
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How is the 'Sleeper' doing; all gone very quiet?!
Blindtraveler
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interesting to have this confirmed, I had heard this elsewhere and indeed experienced a faulty vehicle on a boxingday run up to Inverness. Whats been the problems with those? And has the plant, workforce or anything else building them changed?
I note from this years recently announced Stagy order that the coaches are being done by a Plaxton Subsidiary in Scarburgh?
BestWestern
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Plaxton have always been in Scarborough I believe, though things may have been built elsewhere during the 'Transbus' era. There has been lots of chopping and changing over the years, having been owned for a time by a group called Henlys and then the short lived Transbus International debacle. The firm are now part of Alexander Dennis, partly owned by Stagecoach's Brian Suiter, which combines the Plaxton range with the Alexander bodybuilding and former Dennis chassis building facilities; hence the Enviro range are essentially Dennis Darts with Alexander bodies.
Sad to hear that the products aren't up to scratch, the current Plaxton range certainly look the part and it was high time they took the plunge and built something more stylish than 'sensible'!
Sad to hear that the products aren't up to scratch, the current Plaxton range certainly look the part and it was high time they took the plunge and built something more stylish than 'sensible'!
The interdecks seem to be appearing on the M17 and M20 departure as well as the strange routed M12 service that turn into the M19 at Leeds a nice 11 hour slog from London-Glasgow calling at Milton Keynes, Leicester Loughborough, Meadowhall, Leeds, Manchester, Bolton, Preston, Lancaster talk about a scenic route but regularly there are passengers on from London to Glasgow.
The sleeper seems to be doing very well I believe reading somewhere that megabus have ordered some new coaches for the sleeper and are expanding it on to the Paris and Amsterdam service.
The sleeper seems to be doing very well I believe reading somewhere that megabus have ordered some new coaches for the sleeper and are expanding it on to the Paris and Amsterdam service.
Blindtraveler
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Yes was aware of this. Interesting thing though is the tried and tested Panther is in squadran service on Scottish Meagabus and Citylink work and although the older ones and even some of the updated newer versions are plagued by little niggles like door problems the services keep moving and they are certainly nice to travel on.
Also noteworthy is that even outfit like Parks of Hamilton are buying lots of them often with quite high spec interiors. Going a bit off here I know but anyone else done an interdeck? Also who has used West Cost Moters Scanias on the Oban, Fort Bill etc Citylink runs?
The sleepers are doing very well with Astromegas on order for this year that will have beds fitted. No details yet on what routes they'd be for, but I doubt it would be for the continental runs as they have VH Altanos on order...
Just been on Interdeck last Tuesday, from London to Glasgow and back on M11 service, stopping Manchester and Preston only, no heater working both ways, this seemed to be the only problem, which been told is due to sensors on floor not being set properly, supposedly been fixed last week or this week. Comfortable to travel on, good looking coach, neat design, had SF62 CPU and SF62 CMV, think once got teething problems out of way should be good to travel on, they go well and are quick, bet Brian Souter not happy, looking forward to next trip on Interdeck, see if heating fixed.
Class 33
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Overnight sleeper services between London, Amsterdam, and Paris would be great.
HOWEVER, it would not be possible to be able to sleep all the way through the journey. The problem is the passport/customs check at Dover or Calais, where everyone needs to disembark the coach. Also once the coach is on the ferry, it is a requirement that everyone (again) disembarks the coach and boards the decks of the ferry. So a bit pointless really having beds onboard the coach! If however they had a proper passport/customs check at London Victoria, Paris, or Amsterdam and one could stay on the coach when it is on the ferry, it would be great.
Eurotunnel?
starrymarkb
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Would an Altano fit in Le Shuttle?
overthewater
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZrQEozsoZs this will explain a few facts for people
[youtube]GZrQEozsoZs[/youtube]
[youtube]GZrQEozsoZs[/youtube]
MK Tom
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This service calls at Milton Keynes and I've used it twice now. I've had a VERY positive experience. My only quibble would be the passport check in London could perhaps be done at Dover, removing the hour long stop there. But the service is always on time, the drivers are excellent and very friendly, and when a vehicle fault caused my service to be terminated at London coming home one time they diverted the next northbound service to serve MK so I got back at exactly the same time.
The new vehicles on order are left hand drive and 72 seaters. I don't know what model that makes them.
MK Tom
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What's the difference between that and the Astromega?
The use of LHD vehicles seems a little odd given the number of stops in the UK and the fact the stops at Boulogne and Paris work fine for RHD ones.
The use of LHD vehicles seems a little odd given the number of stops in the UK and the fact the stops at Boulogne and Paris work fine for RHD ones.
The Altano is more like the Plaxton Interdeck (or rather, the Interdeck is like an Altano), whereas the Astromega is a proper double deck coach.
The use of LHD coaches is to allow more destinations to be served, and different drop-offs at existing cities.
The use of LHD coaches is to allow more destinations to be served, and different drop-offs at existing cities.
From http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/trade/coach-operators/faqs/
4.2 metres 13' 9" is the limit
This is also the limit for the truck vehicles (I'm surprised actually, as I thought they'd be taller).
starrymarkb
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