National Express or Megabus-Which is better?

[Martin1988]

Does anyone have an opinion over which operator out of National Express or Megabus provides the best service?

Until recently I used to prefer the National Express service from Bristol to London but over the last year or so I've actually preferred Megabus. Aside from the lower fares which Megabus potentially offer, I think the van-hools run by Stagecoach are more comfortable and make for a better ride than the levantes run by National Express. Also, in some instances, Megabus seem to operate a better level of service than what is provided by National Express. For example, cross country journeys to places like Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds which run earlier and later in the day than National Express.

However Megabus does have several drawbacks for me. Most notably having to wait at a cold/rainy bus stop in Bristol with no proper seating/shelter or toilet/refreshment facilities and the fact that on the longer journeys there is no opportunity for a refreshment break mid-way through the journey.

Does anyone have an opinion over which service is the best of the two?

 

[radamfi]

on the longer journeys there is no opportunity for a refreshment break mid-way through the journey.

That is actually why I prefer Megabus as you get a quicker journey and there is no danger of people bringing back hot food back onto the vehicle.

Megabus used to allow passengers off the bus during driver changes but that doesn't seem to be the case now.

Megabus offers quicker journey times because they do not serve so many minor locations. National Express on the other hand try to maintain their nationwide presence, which inevitably means slower journey times for the main routes, although some routes do have express journeys.

National Express is particularly competitive on the London to Bristol route because of the fast and frequent non-stop service.

National Express also have a hybrid fare system incorporating traditional standard returns with demand responsive Funfare singles. I wish they would change to singles only like Megabus.

 

[telstarbox]

Megabus for me. If the train is too expensive for a given journey then the coach may as well be as cheap as possible which usually means Megabus.

Usually the Megabus services are quicker (non-stop from Manchester/Sheffield to London), their services are at more useful times (early morning and late evening) and they're no less comfortable/professional than National Express.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Megabus every time. Quicker, often cheaper- and the added bonus (from Huddersfield at least) of either a far nicer coach than NatEx OR a rubbish coach, but only as far as East Mids Parkway- where a HST is always going to be better!

 

[WestCoast]

I've travelled with NX and Megabus a fair bit recently, mainly between Preston and Birmingham. I've done so mainly at peak times when it has been too late to book a cheaper fare on the train. Some observations over the past year or so,

-megabus offered free WiFi on every journey whereas NX had no WiFi
-megabus drivers were generally a tad friendlier
-megabus was generally cheaper than NX, though with a Coachcard the difference wasn't all that large
-megabus was scheduled to take less time, but often didn't
-megabus Astromegas gave a smoother ride than Levantes, but I still prefer Levantes over the single decker coaches mega bus use.

-NX was often quieter and I remember having more space on more journeys
-NX offered excellent facilities at Birmingham Coach Station compared to megabus pick up on Hill Street (little more than a bus shelter).
-NX came across as more professional with regards to information, keeping us well informed of any delays. The coach tracker is excellent, means you can check where you coach is, nothing of the sort is offered on megabus.

 

[Deerfold]

I find megabus are generally quicker - but as they don't offer connections between most services (they do for passengers going to/from Europe) if you need to change you're taking a chance on your first coach being on time or you need to allow plenty of time.

One downside is you cannot generally book on megabus services for the same day so last minute travel can only be done with NX (the only recent journeys I've had with NX have been when the EC line was down and megabus wouldn't let me book).

 

[Tetchytyke]

-megabus was generally cheaper than NX, though with a Coachcard the difference wasn't all that large

Don't forget that you get a concessionary rate on Megabus if you have an NUS Extra card.

Generally I find National Express still provide a better and more thorough service, but that you pay for the bells and whistles that you don't have on Megabus.

 

[theageofthetra]

On Sat I need to get one way to Oxford from London. On the Megabus site it seems to suggest that it is run by Oxford tube & will cost £7. Is that the best way to do this journey? I am coming back on a rugby supporters coach so only need one way.

 

[Deerfold]

On Sat I need to get one way to Oxford from London. On the Megabus site it seems to suggest that it is run by Oxford tube & will cost £7. Is that the best way to do this journey? I am coming back on a rugby supporters coach so only need one way.

Both Megabus and the Oxford tube are Stagecoach companies.

They allocate a number of seats on each coach to Megabus tickets.

Bear in mind that although the Oxford Tube is very frequent (can be every 10 minutes) you have to catch the specific coach you're booked on - even if it's late.

Assuming you're not a student and are aged 27-59 it'd be £14 for a ticket valid on whichever service you caught.

I don't know what time you're travelling but Advances on the train start at £7.20 that morning.

For me, the main reasoning behind choosing one or the other of these would be which was easiest for my travel at either end.

 

[camerig]

Maybe you can use the X90?

http://x90.oxfordbus.co.uk/

 

[Martin1988]

Over the last month or so I've experienced the journey from Leeds to Bristol with both National Express and Megabus. I found that the National Express journey took considerably longer than Megabus as it served more stops en-route and I also had to change coaches and have an hour long wait at Birmingham Digbeth. The Megabus service was also more convenient for me due to the fact there is a friday evening service to Bristol which National Express don't offer.

On this particular NX journey, both vehicles were non national express vehicles. The Leeds to Birmingham section was a plaxton panther from Stotts of Huddersfield and the Birmingham to Bristol section was a plaxton premiere from South Gloucestershire Bus and Coach. Neither service was very heavily loaded although this was the additional weekend service with fewer connectional opportunities available.

The Megabus journey was on a plaxton interdeck coach from the Rugby depot. It was the most heavily loaded between Manchester and Birmingham but other than that it wasn't too bad. I'm assuming it was quieter due to the fact it was january and fewer people were traveling.