So I noticed that there isn't a tread dedicated to megabus!
So here is some news then.......
Stagecoach have been recruiting a lot of drivers lately at Rugby and will continue for a while. They are to start shortly some new Europian rooutes into Germany and now to the south of france.
Also (only rumour this though) Megabus will have its own station at Heathrow airport at the new terminal 2 building and there services will serve t2 only. this is due to start when t2 opens and one service will be in competition with national Express's 210 service. but with fares from £1 and nx starting at £15 its gonna be war me thinks!
And a lot of the recruited drivers at Rugby have been ex NXWM drivers, who have left due to NXs hostile behavior towards its drivers.
Also tthe rumour is that Stagecoach are looking at land in Longbridge for a new depot....
Quote from: YW4355 on August 26, 2013, 12:45:13 PM
And a lot of the recruited drivers at Rugby have been ex NXWM drivers, who have left due to NXs hostile behavior towards its drivers.
Also tthe rumour is that Stagecoach are looking at land in Longbridge for a new depot....
I've heard that rumour about Longbridge. Another rumour was Hill Top
Quote from: Ex BC driver on August 26, 2013, 11:44:03 PM
Quote from: YW4355 on August 26, 2013, 12:45:13 PM
And a lot of the recruited drivers at Rugby have been ex NXWM drivers, who have left due to NXs hostile behavior towards its drivers.
Also tthe rumour is that Stagecoach are looking at land in Longbridge for a new depot....
I've heard that rumour about Longbridge. Another rumour was Hill Top
Does the rumour suggest that are Stagecoach are looking to set up a bus operation in the West Midlands in competition with NX?
Is it an out of town Megabus site that people can be dropped off at which is also close to the motorways?
Longbridge and Hill Top are just bogus, Stagecoach wont be setting up shop.
If stagecoach wanted to set up shop in Birmingham dont you think they would of done it by now????
The way things are set up in the West Midlands is too National Express biased, travelcards tickets ticket outlets etc etc etc, it would be a costly move for them to do this.
However if they could buy NXWM that would be a different case.
As for megabus the Rugby depot has a good coverage area over the west midlands and Longbridge is hardly central to the motorway network.
Megabus dont do Airports, megabus is a low cost travelling method and Airports are risky business if there're delays.
National Express already have a dominant force and share of all the major Airports so once again a waste of money methinks.
Quote from: dayvid on September 03, 2013, 11:30:08 AM
Longbridge and Hill Top are just bogus, Stagecoach wont be setting up shop.
If stagecoach wanted to set up shop in Birmingham dont you think they would of done it by now????
The way things are set up in the West Midlands is too National Express biased, travelcards tickets ticket outlets etc etc etc, it would be a costly move for them to do this.
However if they could buy NXWM that would be a different case.
As for megabus the Rugby depot has a good coverage area over the west midlands and Longbridge is hardly central to the motorway network.
Megabus dont do Airports, megabus is a low cost travelling method and Airports are risky business if there're delays.
National Express already have a dominant force and share of all the major Airports so once again a waste of money methinks.
Agreed Dayvid, the only way will see Stagecoach in Birmingham is if they were ever to manage to get there hands on NX group or NXWM. Other than that I agree anything else is unlikely as they have had numerous opportunities in the past.
Quote from: dayvid on September 03, 2013, 11:30:08 AMMegabus dont do Airports
They do Birmingham Airport!
But yeah, don't worry, I know what you mean.
There was an incident earlier on Buckingham Palace Road involving a Plaxton interdeck
I too think it is highly unlikely we will see stagecoach buses invading the west midlands, but I disagree with the thoughts that they couldn't beat NX. On the contrary I believe if anyone has the chance of beating NXWM it's stagecoach. The resources they can call upon would just simply overwhelm NX who would have no way of defending themselves. NXWM does use their travelcards & larger network than current rivals to remain dominant but if stagecoach (or anyone else for that matter) came in mob handed & covered at least 75% of the network almost instantly with a low on bus day or weekly ticket then the Travelcard would start to lose its attraction. Without this "protection" NXWM would very soon be in trouble.
Just remember the 80s/90s when the Travelcard was not as strong as it is now, tame valley, your bus & bcc gave them a serious run for their money, so much so that they compelled to buy out the first two.
Quote from: Steveminor on September 18, 2013, 02:45:27 PM
I too think it is highly unlikely we will see stagecoach buses invading the west midlands, but I disagree with the thoughts that they couldn't beat NX. On the contrary I believe if anyone has the chance of beating NXWM it's stagecoach. The resources they can call upon would just simply overwhelm NX who would have no way of defending themselves. NXWM does use their travelcards & larger network than current rivals to remain dominant but if stagecoach (or anyone else for that matter) came in mob handed & covered at least 75% of the network almost instantly with a low on bus day or weekly ticket then the Travelcard would start to lose its attraction. Without this "protection" NXWM would very soon be in trouble.
Just remember the 80s/90s when the Travelcard was not as strong as it is now, tame valley, your bus & bcc gave them a serious run for their money, so much so that they compelled to buy out the first two.
So where would Stagecoach get the 1200 buses and 3000 drivers to cover 75% of the West Midlands network from then
I have visited Stagecoach premises at both Rugby and Northampton. Yes, they are a class act in their own right. I was also driving for Tame Valley when they were shut down. That was another time and place in history. I agree with Tony, and don't believe that other companies have the heart, or the muscle to take on NXB. A formidable organisation in the Midlands!
There was a Tri-Axle Megabus Coach parked in the Bus Stop opposite the Bill & Bull Pub just past Yardley Swan with its hazard lights flashing not sure if it brokedown or was waiting there I don't think there was any passengers on it couldn't get fleet number or reg as I was passing on 4895 on the 900E at the time
Quote from: Tony on September 18, 2013, 03:04:11 PM
Quote from: Steveminor on September 18, 2013, 02:45:27 PM
I too think it is highly unlikely we will see stagecoach buses invading the west midlands, but I disagree with the thoughts that they couldn't beat NX. On the contrary I believe if anyone has the chance of beating NXWM it's stagecoach. The resources they can call upon would just simply overwhelm NX who would have no way of defending themselves. NXWM does use their travelcards & larger network than current rivals to remain dominant but if stagecoach (or anyone else for that matter) came in mob handed & covered at least 75% of the network almost instantly with a low on bus day or weekly ticket then the Travelcard would start to lose its attraction. Without this "protection" NXWM would very soon be in trouble.
Just remember the 80s/90s when the Travelcard was not as strong as it is now, tame valley, your bus & bcc gave them a serious run for their money, so much so that they compelled to buy out the first two.
So where would Stagecoach get the 1200 buses and 3000 drivers to cover 75% of the West Midlands network from then
Moreover, even if Stagecoach set up a huge pop-up operation, it would still need to build up a reputation against a well-organised NXWM which knows what it is doing.
It's not Stagecoach's style anyway - they haven't taken on First in Manchester, for example. Stagecoach are very good at seizing opportunities that present themselves, but I don't see any such opportunities in the West Midlands.
Quote from: Justin Tyme on September 18, 2013, 08:19:56 PM
Quote from: Tony on September 18, 2013, 03:04:11 PM
Quote from: Steveminor on September 18, 2013, 02:45:27 PM
I too think it is highly unlikely we will see stagecoach buses invading the west midlands, but I disagree with the thoughts that they couldn't beat NX. On the contrary I believe if anyone has the chance of beating NXWM it's stagecoach. The resources they can call upon would just simply overwhelm NX who would have no way of defending themselves. NXWM does use their travelcards & larger network than current rivals to remain dominant but if stagecoach (or anyone else for that matter) came in mob handed & covered at least 75% of the network almost instantly with a low on bus day or weekly ticket then the Travelcard would start to lose its attraction. Without this "protection" NXWM would very soon be in trouble.
Just remember the 80s/90s when the Travelcard was not as strong as it is now, tame valley, your bus & bcc gave them a serious run for their money, so much so that they compelled to buy out the first two.
So where would Stagecoach get the 1200 buses and 3000 drivers to cover 75% of the West Midlands network from then
Moreover, even if Stagecoach set up a huge pop-up operation, it would still need to build up a reputation against a well-organised NXWM which knows what it is doing.
It's not Stagecoach's style anyway - they haven't taken on First in Manchester, for example. Stagecoach are very good at seizing opportunities that present themselves, but I don't see any such opportunities in the West Midlands.
Well theyve bought one of firsts main competitors in the shape of Bluebird and they have taken on first big style in south yorkshire so yes it is their style and fair play to them for improving services where first have miserably failed
Quote from: DiamondDart on September 18, 2013, 08:46:30 PM
Well theyve bought one of firsts main competitors in the shape of Bluebird and they have taken on first big style in south yorkshire so yes it is their style and fair play to them for improving services where first have miserably failed
Well yes, Stagecoach did buy Bluebird - an opportunity - but I don't think they've used it to up the ante with First in Manchester (unless you know differently). Stagecoach got into South Yorkshire when they purchased the Yorkshire Traction Group, so they have massively (and very successfully) built up an existing operation, rather than started from scratch.
That said, I admire Stagecoach and I agree that it's fair play to them for improving services where First have failed - in many different parts of the UK. The latest example is Northampton, where over time First have given them their territory on a plate. Stagecoach seem to have played that one perfectly - no purchase, no aggressive tactics, just step in and pick up the pieces.
Quote from: Justin Tyme on September 18, 2013, 09:49:34 PM
Quote from: DiamondDart on September 18, 2013, 08:46:30 PM
Well theyve bought one of firsts main competitors in the shape of Bluebird and they have taken on first big style in south yorkshire so yes it is their style and fair play to them for improving services where first have miserably failed
Well yes, Stagecoach did buy Bluebird - an opportunity - but I don't think they've used it to up the ante with First in Manchester (unless you know differently). Stagecoach got into South Yorkshire when they purchased the Yorkshire Traction Group, so they have massively (and very successfully) built up an existing operation, rather than started from scratch.
That said, I admire Stagecoach and I agree that it's fair play to them for improving services where First have failed - in many different parts of the UK. The latest example is Northampton, where over time First have given them their territory on a plate. Stagecoach seem to have played that one perfectly - no purchase, no aggressive tactics, just step in and pick up the pieces.
In fairness, stagecoach havent owned bluebird for that long and that is true about s yorkshire-an operation has been built up, same in liverpool. I admire them as well and they seem miles ahead of first-maybe first will catch up?-but its a nice quiet, cheap tactic to just wait for first to mess up an operation and then just step in!!
Quote from: Rob4367 on September 18, 2013, 03:50:13 PM
There was a Tri-Axle Megabus Coach parked in the Bus Stop opposite the Bill & Bull Pub just past Yardley Swan with its hazard lights flashing not sure if it brokedown or was waiting there I don't think there was any passengers on it couldn't get fleet number or reg as I was passing on 4895 on the 900E at the time
Possibly dropping off a driver as one of them lives by the park by the bill & bull
Quote from: 89smithmarcus on October 28, 2013, 09:29:01 AM
ere we will keep you informed about changes to megabus routes. ... Brought to you by. stagecoach group coach usa coach canada.
stagecoach group coach usa coach canada. About megabus ... 2012 Stagecoach Group PLC. Powered By ... Stagecoach Group in North Americ
2013 MERCEDES BENZ SL-CLASS (HTTP://www.ezdia.com/EPAD/2013-MERCEDES-BENZ-SL-CLASS-PRICE-REVIEWS/7980/)
Huh?
Link doesn't work by the way.
Quote from: Matt on January 15, 2015, 11:46:17 PM
Did I read somewhere on here that Megabus are adding some Levantes to their fleet?
It does seem to me that Megabus' fleet has been insufficient over recent years. I quite often see other operators' vehicles on hire to Megabus (not easy to identify them as there is just the "On hire to Megabus" card in the windscreen to look out for).
There have also been a few "interesting" choices of vehicles used on cross country services over recent years, including Enviro400s, Tridents and Darts!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/14218609@N02/4073347016
@Matt, Tony mentioned it here
http://wmbusphotos.com/forum/index.php?topic=3172.msg126177#msg126177
Quote from: Matt on January 15, 2015, 11:46:17 PM
Did I read somewhere on here that Megabus are adding some Levantes to their fleet?
It does seem to me that Megabus' fleet has been insufficient over recent years. I quite often see other operators' vehicles on hire to Megabus (not easy to identify them as there is just the "On hire to Megabus" card in the windscreen to look out for).
There have also been a few "interesting" choices of vehicles used on cross country services over recent years, including Enviro400s, Tridents and Darts!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/14218609@N02/4073347016
Not quite sure why the Megabus fleet has been 'insufficient'. Megabus works the same as National Express, some routes are operated in-house, some are contracted out, although fewer Megabus ones are contracts than NX. If Megabus need a duplicate or to cover a breakdown then they hire in a non-liveried vehicle either from their own group, which is when you see E400s etc, or non-Megabus liveried vehicles from other operators, the ones you see with the on-hire notices. Nothing to do with having an insufficent fleet
Quote from: Matt on January 16, 2015, 08:57:40 AM
Quote from: Tony on January 16, 2015, 08:30:10 AM
Quote from: Matt on January 15, 2015, 11:46:17 PM
Did I read somewhere on here that Megabus are adding some Levantes to their fleet?
It does seem to me that Megabus' fleet has been insufficient over recent years. I quite often see other operators' vehicles on hire to Megabus (not easy to identify them as there is just the "On hire to Megabus" card in the windscreen to look out for).
There have also been a few "interesting" choices of vehicles used on cross country services over recent years, including Enviro400s, Tridents and Darts!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/14218609@N02/4073347016
Not quite sure why the Megabus fleet has been 'insufficient'. Megabus works the same as National Express, some routes are operated in-house, some are contracted out, although fewer Megabus ones are contracts than NX. If Megabus need a duplicate or to cover a breakdown then they hire in a non-liveried vehicle either from their own group, which is when you see E400s etc, or non-Megabus liveried vehicles from other operators, the ones you see with the on-hire notices. Nothing to do with having an insufficent fleet
Can't see your logic there. Using local buses on cross country services is laughable - then again, you get what you pay for! If I were the owner of Megabus, I would want 100% of vehicles used on my services to be in corporate colours and never need to use another company's vehicle which may not offer power points, wifi, toilet etc.
In all honesty I can't see how Stagecoach make any money with Megabus as it is, charging rock bottom fares, paying their drivers well and hiring other companies' vehicles on a regular basis.
Which bit of logic can't you see? You run a service using a 48 seat coach, 90 people want to travel, you hire a duplicate in from another operator, not in livery to carry the other 42.
Similarly Coach on the way from Glasgow to Birmingham breaks down in Manchester, do you
a) get an E400 from Manchester garage to pick them up an hour after the breakdown or
b) wait for a coach from the nearest depot (Rugby) to take three hours to pick them up.
As for how do they make money, well you haven't looked at the pricing model have you? yes a small number of people get a ticket for £1 +50p booking fee, but many others on the coach will actually pay more than they would if they booked on National Express!
It is very clever marketing similar to that used by a lot of airlines. People see the £1 fare advertised and it gets them on their website, they then find the cheapest fare for their journey is say £12 so they book that, without looking at other places that could be offering the same journey for £10 (NX or even the train are sometimes cheaper than megabus) As long as regular customers get the very low fare occasionally so they know it is not a con they will keep going back and sometimes paying more than other companies for the same journey
I know for the M37 services Freestones run them and the M6 is Hamilton Grey (using ex Oxford Bus Company coaches)
The trick to getting the £1 fare is to look towards the end of the booking windows and do it at 0001hrs because that's when new fares are added (Oxford tube, megabusplus and megatrain have shorter booking windows on Megabus.com)
I don't think I've paid more than the £3 tier on Megabus whenever I have booked (and remember using Tesco vouchers can significantly help!)
Quote from: Matt on January 16, 2015, 12:22:36 PM
Quote from: the trainbasher on January 16, 2015, 10:59:19 AM
I know for the M37 services Freestones run them and the M6 is Hamilton Grey (using ex Oxford Bus Company coaches)
The trick to getting the £1 fare is to look towards the end of the booking windows and do it at 0001hrs because that's when new fares are added (Oxford tube, megabusplus and megatrain have shorter booking windows on Megabus.com)
I don't think I've paid more than the £3 tier on Megabus whenever I have booked (and remember using Tesco vouchers can significantly help!)
Yes, it is very easy to get cheap fares. As you say, the first seat on each journey is £1, then it increases gradually as more seats sell, depending on the route. Take Birmingham to Leeds for example, even the remainder of today's journeys are £8 or £10. At the time of posting, most journeys on Monday are £6 or below, and on Tuesday they are all £3 or £4.
With National Express, the remainder of today's journeys between Birmingham and Leeds range between £12.50 and £20.45. Even looking months in advance, the standard price for journeys between Birmingham and Leeds seems to be £13.80. So even if you book last minute with Megabus and get the highest fare, you will likely still be paying more than if you had booked in advance with National Express. I haven't got time to go through other comparable routes but I bet the results would be the same.
Now try Cardiff - London at 16:00 today
Megabus £16.00 (no coach cards available)
Nat Exp £12.99 (with a coach card £8.50)
we can all show figures one way or another, that was the first one I tried, so my point stands
Quote from: Matt on January 15, 2015, 11:46:17 PM
There have also been a few "interesting" choices of vehicles used on cross country services over recent years, including Enviro400s, Tridents and Darts!
Buses could appear alot on Megabus in the early years, but I haven't seen any for about 3 years or so.
Has anyone else seen a standard Stagecoach bus on Megabus in the past year?
Quote from: Justin Tyme on January 16, 2015, 05:59:57 PM
Quote from: Matt on January 15, 2015, 11:46:17 PM
There have also been a few "interesting" choices of vehicles used on cross country services over recent years, including Enviro400s, Tridents and Darts!
Buses could appear alot on Megabus in the early years, but I haven't seen any for about 3 years or so.
Has anyone else seen a standard Stagecoach bus on Megabus in the past year?
Not on Megabus, but Oxford 15965 was on the Oxford Tube last Saturday
Not sure if this would count... https://www.flickr.com/photos/kiewii/14640750433
Quote from: Kiewii on January 16, 2015, 06:42:40 PM
Not sure if this would count... https://www.flickr.com/photos/kiewii/14640750433
Sometimes you get Citylink coaches on Megabus, X25 coaches on Citylink and Megabus coaches on Citylink
There used often to be DD working on the Megabus Plus to East Midlands Parkway, but I think they had to cease using them when they started to use different connecting trains and they could no longer swop them to get back home.
Quote from: Tony on January 16, 2015, 06:11:19 PM
Quote from: Justin Tyme on January 16, 2015, 05:59:57 PM
Quote from: Matt on January 15, 2015, 11:46:17 PM
There have also been a few "interesting" choices of vehicles used on cross country services over recent years, including Enviro400s, Tridents and Darts!
Buses could appear alot on Megabus in the early years, but I haven't seen any for about 3 years or so.
Has anyone else seen a standard Stagecoach bus on Megabus in the past year?
Not on Megabus, but Oxford 15965 was on the Oxford Tube last Saturday
Stagecoach Oxford run a service from Carterton and Witney on a Saturday to London which seems to use Gold deckers, I wonder if this was on the SW1 service rather than the Tube?
Quote from: Cheese on January 16, 2015, 08:56:48 PM
Quote from: Tony on January 16, 2015, 06:11:19 PM
Quote from: Justin Tyme on January 16, 2015, 05:59:57 PM
Quote from: Matt on January 15, 2015, 11:46:17 PM
There have also been a few "interesting" choices of vehicles used on cross country services over recent years, including Enviro400s, Tridents and Darts!
Buses could appear alot on Megabus in the early years, but I haven't seen any for about 3 years or so.
Has anyone else seen a standard Stagecoach bus on Megabus in the past year?
Not on Megabus, but Oxford 15965 was on the Oxford Tube last Saturday
Stagecoach Oxford run a service from Carterton and Witney on a Saturday to London which seems to use Gold deckers, I wonder if this was on the SW1 service rather than the Tube?
Could have been, was just after 11am at Hyde Park Corner when I photographed it
Quote from: the trainbasher on January 16, 2015, 07:13:12 PM
Quote from: Kiewii on January 16, 2015, 06:42:40 PM
Not sure if this would count... https://www.flickr.com/photos/kiewii/14640750433
Sometimes you get Citylink coaches on Megabus, X25 coaches on Citylink and Megabus coaches on Citylink
The Citylink coaches on Megabus services are scheduled
Quote from: Justin Tyme on January 16, 2015, 05:59:57 PM
Quote from: Matt on January 15, 2015, 11:46:17 PM
There have also been a few "interesting" choices of vehicles used on cross country services over recent years, including Enviro400s, Tridents and Darts!
Buses could appear alot on Megabus in the early years, but I haven't seen any for about 3 years or so.
Has anyone else seen a standard Stagecoach bus on Megabus in the past year?
I remember when they first started, and sometimes would see a Routemaster parked up at Snow Hill Queensway
Perhaps bringing a driver from Rugby?
;
Just wondering if anyone knows how good Megabus are for arriving on time? Looking at a trip back to Brum from Cambridge the website reckons 2h20mins, arriving 2hrs before I have to be in uni for a lecture (an important one), plenty of time to walk over to Millennium Point if it arrives on time. I'm assuming this would be doable?
@N94 They do have delays Occasionally
The 1940 off Manchester which I am booked on today now won't be leaving til 2030 due to driver running out of hours
The 1005 off Birmingham to Manchester was late due to traffic. Departed Birmingham 1115.
The M37 Cambridge do start from Birmingham though so you may have a excellent chance of it leaving to time...
@Matt I think the most riskiest trip on megabus I've got is Southampton in a couple of weeks...
1.5 hours in Southampton. Not much scope for thinking about delays!
Well that was fun.
Some idiot decided to shut the M6 at Junction 10 so we had to do 75% of the Walsall ring road, head down the A34 to Junction 7 then come off for Birmingham at the Distressway.
Oh and we arrived in city 75 minutes down!
55011-55016 seen today at rugby garage have Belgium regs!
Booked a trip with Megabus next month to Leeds, is it a good service and how flexible are the tickets
52619 on hire to Megabus
at Birmingham Airport 0935
Former Megabus 50223 looks very nice in corporate livery
http://wmbusphotos.com/Stagecoach/50223.html
Megabus have
5 Scania K340 Caetano Levante's 59301-59305 (Rugby Based)
Due to Start Service 01/06/15
I be heading to Rugby Depot Tomorrow (31/05/15)
To Get Photos
Quote from: nxwmbusfan1999 on May 30, 2015, 05:46:38 PM
Megabus have
5 Scania K340 Caetano Levante's 59301-59305 (Rugby Based)
Due to Start Service 01/06/15
I be heading to Rugby Depot Tomorrow (31/05/15)
To Get Photos
I liked them in Stagecoach livery
http://wmbusphotos.com/Stagecoach/59303.html
59301 FJ08KNY at Rugby Depot Today
https://www.flickr.com/photos/115199517@N06/18111475180/in/dateposted/
29 June 2016
Stagecoach Group plc ("Stagecoach") is pleased to announce that yesterday it agreed the sale of the retail operations of its megabus Europe business to FlixMobility GmbH ("FlixBus"). Only those megabus.com retailing operations involving mainland Europe are part of the agreed sale.
The megabus Europe business comprises both retailing activities and coach operating activities. The retailing activities involve the design of inter-city coach services, including their timetabling, co-ordination and marketing, as well as the pricing and sale of journeys on those services. The coach operating activities encompass the day-to-day operation and staffing of the coach services. We have agreed the sale to FlixBus of the retailing part of that business. We will continue to operate a number of European inter-city coach services as a contractor to FlixBus and we look forward to building on our relationship with it.
The sale of the megabus Europe retail operations will complete on or around 1 July 2016. In addition, Stagecoach has agreed that it will dispose of a number of vehicles to FlixBus or its nominee at a future date.
The agreed amount of the consideration for the sale of the retail operations will be satisfied by the issue of a loan note from FlixBus to Stagecoach at completion. Stagecoach expects the loan note to be fully settled by the end of 2017. Payment of the loan note is not subject to any conditions or performance criteria which need to be fulfilled.
Stagecoach expects to report a gain on disposal in respect of the sale in its consolidated financial statements for the year ending 30 April 2017.
Existing customer bookings for megabus.com Europe journeys remain valid and these services are continuing to operate as normal. FlixBus is a leading retailer of inter-city coach travel in Europe - more information on it can be found, and travel can be booked, at www.flixbus.com.
Did anyone see the two Megabus coaches parked up all day in Victoria Square on a sales pitch?
YY65 VXN (54271)
YJ16 EJO (fleet no not found)
Megabus 54281 was in Saltley at 18:00 going to London. Came down the Washwood Heath Road from Ward End, The Fox and Goose and then through Saltley Gate and Nechells to the City Centre. Rare to see a megabus round there.
54203 has gained excellent effective branding for Silverstone grand prix.
Mega man sitting in Racing car holding flag on nearside
Holding crash helmet on rear
Holding crash helmet with large wheel on offside.
Re previous post
https://www.flickr.com/gp/92409298@N06/a570zW
https://www.flickr.com/gp/92409298@N06/24064G
Quote from: JoNi on July 09, 2017, 12:24:47 PM
54203 has gained excellent effective branding for Silverstone grand prix.
Mega man sitting in Racing car holding flag on nearside
Holding crash helmet on rear
Holding crash helmet with large wheel on offside.
Sorry to disappoint, but it has had that branding since new in 2012
Quote from: Kiewii on July 10, 2017, 03:00:47 PM
Sorry to disappoint, but it has had that branding since new in 2012
Thanks, never seen it before and just happened to see week before Grand Prix!
Quote from: Kiewii on July 10, 2017, 03:00:47 PM
Sorry to disappoint, but it has had that branding since new in 2012
Just to say, anyone who wants a lot of Stagecoaches and Megabuses from all over the UK should flock to Northampton this weekend. It's the Silverstone races and there should be loads of other buses from all over the UK there.
Quote from: YN64AOG on July 11, 2017, 11:49:06 AM
Just to say, anyone who wants a lot of Stagecoaches and Megabuses from all over the UK should flock to Northampton this weekend. It's the Silverstone races and there should be loads of other buses from all over the UK there.
No, they should go to Silverstone where all the buses and coaches park. Megabus won't touch Northampton...
Quote from: bensweeney14 on July 11, 2017, 11:34:54 PM
No, they should go to Silverstone where all the buses and coaches park. Megabus won't touch Northampton...
It costs a lot of money to go to Silverstone.
Quote from: YN64AOG on July 12, 2017, 02:38:34 PM
It costs a lot of money to go to Silverstone.
Well of cause it does, it costs lost of money to go to Wembley I was looking at over £100 when Albion went there in 2005/06 I think
Anyway he didn't mention Silverstone he said Coach Park in Northampton
Back on Topic I think the Gold brand will be there, Don't Megabus operate from London if so they could run services to the British GP
Quote from: BusFan94 on July 12, 2017, 05:55:27 PM
Well of cause it does, it costs lost of money to go to Wembley I was looking at over £100 when Albion went there in 2005/06 I think
Anyway he didn't mention Silverstone he said Coach Park in Northampton
Back on Topic I think the Gold brand will be there, Don't Megabus operate from London if so they could run services to the British GP
Where's the coach park?
I'm planning to go into Northampton on Saturday to get the park and ride buses.
Today there are 4 Routemasters, at least 20 London buses and 3 Leamington MMCs at Northampton depot.
I have no idea where the Coach Park is edit I thought Ben Sweeney said Coach Park he didn't sorry in that case I still have no clue or if it exists
Quote from: YN64AOG on July 13, 2017, 12:58:27 PM
Where's the coach park?
I'm planning to go into Northampton on Saturday to get the park and ride buses.
Today there are 4 Routemasters, at least 20 London buses and 3 Leamington MMCs at Northampton depot.
According to the Silverstone timetable there are buses from Northampton bus station until 1130 on Sat morning, with the main Park and Ride at Sixfields. An E400 City demo has also turned up at Northampton, no idea if this is going to be used or not.
Quote from: BusFan94 on July 13, 2017, 01:49:08 PM
I have no idea where the Coach Park is edit I thought Ben Sweeney said Coach Park he didn't sorry in that case I still have no clue or if it exists
I expect he means the Victoria Promenade coach station.
National Express services in Northampton use Victoria Street, off Lady's Lane. Victoria Promenade is the opposite side of the town centre and does not have a coach station. I think the only regular service along Vic Prom is the hourly 41 to Bedford.
Quote from: DeanM66A on July 15, 2017, 12:37:18 PM
National Express services in Northampton use Victoria Street, off Lady's Lane. Victoria Promenade is the opposite side of the town centre and does not have a coach station. I think the only regular service along Vic Prom is the hourly 41 to Bedford.
That's what I meant. 43 to Bozeat and Wollaston also goes along VP.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/travel/2018/03/megabus-ads-promising-fares-from-1-are-banned/amp
Brand new Plaxton Elite Interdeck's 54604, 54605, 54606 and 54607 were delivered to Rugby last night for use on Megabus operations. 54606 is already out in use this morning. I'm currently sat on it on the M34 to Leeds (07:00 departure from Birmingham).
A Stotts,Huddersfield liveried coach was outside East Midlands Parkway presumably on Megabus plus work last time I passed and October PSVC refers to some Stagecoach vehicles on loan to them.
I had assumed with the ending of HST working megabusplus would have finished, but traveline Midlands has timetables for M38 Falmouth-Bradford and M39 Nottingham-Hull, both via East Midlands Parkway with times on some journeys at St.Pancras, but I don't seem to be able to get St Pancras International on the Megabus website at all?
Quote from: mikestone on July 04, 2021, 02:15:48 PM
I had assumed with the ending of HST working megabusplus would have finished, but traveline Midlands has timetables for M38 Falmouth-Bradford and M39 Nottingham-Hull, both via East Midlands Parkway with times on some journeys at St.Pancras, but I don't seem to be able to get St Pancras International on the Megabus website at all?
Megabusplus stopped when Stagecoach lost the East Midlands franchise on 17/08/2019. The following day Abellio took over the East Midlands franchise as East Midlands Railway so the arrangement could not continue.
On the Megabus website East Midlands Parkway is a stop but you cannot book a journey to London from there
I have certainly seen Megabus coaches outside Parkway since the change of franchise.
As of today, the retail, marketing and customer service side of Megabus is under Scottish CityLink Coaches Ltd/Comfort DelGro, after the previously announced sale. The drivers, vehicles etc are still under Stagecoach however, and there's no real changes as far as the general public are concerned.
There's further timetable changes coming soon, including the return of overnight services between Birmingham and Glasgow, with the introduction of new Glasgow to Cardiff and Glasgow to Southampton services.
One service leaves Glasgow at 23:00, arriving into Birmingham for 05:35, before continuing to Southampton. The return northbound trip bypasses Birmingham.
Another service leaves Glasgow at 10:00, bypassing Birmingham, arriving into Cardiff at 19:10. It then returns north, departing Cardiff at 20:45, Birmingham at 23:50, and then arriving into Glasgow at 06:50.
I'd imagine they'll come in pretty handy for folks wanting to visit Scotland, if you can manage to sleep on overnight coaches then a (very long) day out to Glasgow is now doable!
(Also, if there's any forum staff available, could this thread be moved to the Other Operators section please?)
Very interesting developments,given I live near Cardiff and could well end up using these services,
It looks like Parks are operating the M17 Glasgow - Southampton, I believe one of their new Volvo 9700s is operating it today, although the return trip bypasses Birmingham.
The first of Stagecoach's new Volvo 9700 DD's has entered service tonight, with 50502 operating an overnight M11 from Glasgow to London. It'll be the 10:20 departure from Birmingham tomorrow morning back up to Glasgow, if anyone's interested.