Air con doesn't work on Megabus coaches

[Drsatan]

A friend has told me that the last few times he's traveled on a Megabus coach, the air conditioning hasn't worked, even on warm days. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

I'd also be interested to see whether it's an issue Megabus themselves should sort out if the coaches are theirs, or whether their coaches are owned by contractors.

 

[185]

A friend has told me that the last few times he's traveled on a Megabus coach, the air conditioning hasn't worked, even on warm days. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

I'd also be interested to see whether it's an issue Megabus themselves should sort out if the coaches are theirs, or whether their coaches are owned by contractors.

It works fine.

They've probably turned it off to save fuel :roll:

 

[anthony263]

The air con on the megabus services I have had has always worked could be the coach you had was one which was having problems with its air con.

 

[mbonwick]

Or was one of the older B10M/B12Ms which I don't think are fitted with A/C.

 

[WestCoast]

Megabus is rather more luxurious these days as it is, especially considering what you pay. I remember the days of the ex-Hong Kong Leyland Olympians well, they were only really (aged) high-spec buses! They only got toilets after a few years as well.

I also remember doing London - Manchester on a Stagecoach in Manchester substitute Volvo Olympian, forget air-con it had proper bus seating and of course no toilet!

 

[anthony263]

Dont worry I have seen an optare solo cover a megabus diagram (Yes shock & horror) although only between Bristol & Cardiff.

We have had a Alexander Ps-bodied Volvo B10m work a meagbnus service to London & back.

 

[dvboy]

Certainly worked on the last two Megabus trips I was on, though it wasn't on all of the time.

 

[Sprinter]

Megabus is a brand of Stagecoach- so all the buses run on Megabus routes are Stagecoach owned and operated. There may be occasions where Stagecoach may have to hire in someone else due to a failure, but only in exceptional circumstances as of course normal Stagecoach livery buses can fill in instead...

I don't use Megabus as much as I used to, but it was fun during the early years with the ex HK Leyland Olympians or if they didn't work... a bog standard Trident, a few were specially tachograph fitted for this purpose!

I remember bashing Tridents to Oxford, Birmingham and Brighton. Even had a Volvo Olly as a duplicate on the overnight run to Glasgow (though sadly it only made it to Keele services, but that was due to no fault of the bus itself).

I am have even bashed an Alexander PS on a Megabus working when the scheduled bus failed just south of Oxford, so Oxford depot sent the PS out to get us off the motorway to Lewknor in order to board the next Oxford Tube to complete the journey!

Fun times, sadly the single deck coach types now operated on the Megabus routes don't have the same appeal...

 

[route101]

Sure i seen the London to Norwich megabus service operate by a contractor.
Air Con can be nasty to your throat

 

[Rick1984]

The norwich to london used to be a london red double deck bus with no toilet. My wife had the joy of that "experience" Don't think it runs anymore?

 

[overthewater]

Megabus is a brand of Stagecoach- so all the buses run on Megabus routes are Stagecoach owned and operated. There may be occasions where Stagecoach may have to hire in someone else due to a failure, but only in exceptional circumstances as of course normal Stagecoach livery buses can fill in instead...

I don't use Megabus as much as I used to, but it was fun during the early years with the ex HK Leyland Olympians or if they didn't work... a bog standard Trident, a few were specially tachograph fitted for this purpose!

Actually Not, Service in Scotland have he contracted out to Edinburgh coach lines to operate a number of routes and journeys, but all painted in Megabus colours.

 

[brianthegiant]

Why do buses/coaches in Britain need Air Con...?

The term 'Air conditioning' is a total fallacy, all it actually gives you is recycled and refrigerated stale air. Give me fresh air any day.
We dont exactly have 50 degree middle eastern air temperatures to really need AC. Yet somehow 'air conditioning' has become a sort of status symbol / indication of luxury. I personally find sitting under a draught of freezing cold air anything but luxurious.

AFAIK, switching on the air con in a car increases fuel consumption by about 10%, presumably the same is true on buses.

Is this being incentivised because operators are still subsidised according to fuel consumption.:roll:

 

[Deerfold]

Is this being incentivised because operators are still subsidised according to fuel consumption.:roll:

I'm not sure what you mean by this.

Operators of local bus services receive a partial refund of the tax they've paid on their fuel.

Coach operators do not receive this apart from on a handful of sections of route that are registered as local services.

None of them have an incentive to use more fuel.

 

[jamesontheroad]

Why do buses/coaches in Britain need Air Con...?

Buses need it because they don't have opening windows. Trains shouldn't really depend on aircon when opening windows would suffice. The Scotrail 380 are perfect examples; the consultation mock up in Glasgow Central was a complete con because by the time I and others showed up to say we'd prefer trains with opening windows, they were already under construction in Germany.

The norwich to london used to be a london red double deck bus with no toilet. My wife had the joy of that "experience" Don't think it runs anymore?

Yep. Saw it just now about to leave Norwich, was a private operator coach (Sanders?) not in Megabus colours. The double decker was more likely ex Hong Kong where most early Megabus double dockers came from.

 

[BuhSnarf]

The term 'Air conditioning' is a total fallacy, all it actually gives you is recycled and refrigerated stale air. Give me fresh air any day.
We dont exactly have 50 degree middle eastern air temperatures to really need AC. Yet somehow 'air conditioning' has become a sort of status symbol / indication of luxury. I personally find sitting under a draught of freezing cold air anything but luxurious.

I personally provide air conditioning as I find open windows on a bus or coach to only let in warm air which never really cools down the vehicle. Whilst Britain doesn't have huge heat when you're inside a metal cage with windows and the sun is beating down a nice cool breeze is heaven.

Sent while mobile...

 

[34D]

Why do buses/coaches in Britain need Air Con...?

The term 'Air conditioning' is a total fallacy, all it actually gives you is recycled and refrigerated stale air. Give me fresh air any day.
We dont exactly have 50 degree middle eastern air temperatures to really need AC. Yet somehow 'air conditioning' has become a sort of status symbol / indication of luxury. I personally find sitting under a draught of freezing cold air anything but luxurious.

AFAIK, switching on the air con in a car increases fuel consumption by about 10%, presumably the same is true on buses.

Is this being incentivised because operators are still subsidised according to fuel consumption.:roll:

I've recently gone from a previous car without aircon to one with, and I really notice the difference on a hot day.

I don't believe the extra fuel consumption is anything like 10%