Megabus Gold

[extendedpaul]

On Friday evening unexpectedly I had to arrange a day trip from London to Cardiff for yesterday.

I was surprised to see £5 single fares on the Megabus Gold service compared with £14 on their standard service. Having booked and made the trip I would recommend it to anyone especially while the promotional fare remains available.

The double deck coaches are 2013 new and used primarily on the overnight service to and from Scotland.The large leather seats are all set round tables and as good as first class on any rail service. They convert to about 40 beds and "hammocks" when required.

My daughter and I were served free ice cold drinks, sandwiches (including egg & onion, a new one for me!) and biscuits and you can help yourself to tea and coffee. The coach was really quiet and smooth and arrived half an hour early both ways. The Scottish crew were friendly and chatty. Fewer than 20 people on each journey as they have only been added to the booking system this month.

I had two journeys already booked for September on the standard Megabus service and have just booked the Gold service for the same days, it was that good !

 

[Old Shire]

Thanks for the information.l have booked from Bristol to London and return using Megabus gold. the total cost being £20.50 for two of us. This is a bargain and am looking forward to the trip

 

[radamfi]

They seem to have cut the Megabus Gold fares on all the daytime services to similar levels (or even lower) than the normal Megabus services. They were previously priced at around £12 so were running around empty.

 

[extendedpaul]

It was and may still be possible to travel from London or Cardiff to Rosslare(Ireland) on the standard Megabus for £2.50 return, though only as a lone traveller.

The last time they added fares, the £1 single was available on that route but it jumped to £25 for a second ticket on the same journey.

At present there are no bookings available on Megabus beyond 6 October. They tend to add months worth of journeys at a time, sometimes beginning only a few weeks ahead

 

[Class 33]

In daytime mode, these vehicles look seriously inferior to the Plaxton Elites currently operating Citylink Gold. Gone are the reclining seats to be replaced with what looks like really uncomfortable seats that wouldn't look out of place in a welfare minibus. The 2+1 layout is an improvement but the bay table arrangement for every seat will put people off on journeys the length of those operated by Citylink Gold. Most coach passengers travel solo or in pairs and facing strangers for 3 hours or more in a booth with no view but that from the window will be unappealing to most. The metal bars required for the bed frames at night that double up as daytime arm rests also look dreadful on a premium coach service.

That's what puts me off a little getting a Megabus Gold coach in the daytime. Can be a bit awkward if you're facing strangers for 3 hours(or however long) in the 4 booth table layout on these coaches. Especially if you're eating.

Also I note there's a normal Megabus leaving Bristol at 7:30am daily arriving London 10:20am. And there's also a Megabus Gold leaving at exactly the same time, but is scheduled to take 10 minutes longer than the normal Megabus. Why is this?

 

[radamfi]

That's what puts me off a little getting a Megabus Gold coach in the daytime. Can be a bit awkward if you're facing strangers for 3 hours(or however long) in the 4 booth table layout on these coaches. Especially if you're eating.

That's not really any different to the train, especially in First Class.

Also I note there's a normal Megabus leaving Bristol at 7:30am daily arriving London 10:20am. And there's also a Megabus Gold leaving at exactly the same time, but is scheduled to take 10 minutes longer than the normal Megabus. Why is this?

The normal Megabus stops at UWE as well so it is that one that should take longer! You normally arrive early on Megabus anyway unless there is traffic so I wouldn't pay too much attention to the arrival times.

 

[anthony263]

I have been on the 04:00 megabus from Cardiff which is normally timed to arrive into Victoria at 07:30-07:45 however in March 2010 we arrived into London at 07:10 thats including a stop in Bristol & Newport.