Megabus M25 Cardiff-Gatwick service upgraded service

[cambsy]

On Sunday 16th June was doing a Cullompton-Bristol-Cardiff journey, on the Bristol-Cardiff leg, the 09.05 service, was a Vanhool double decker, with a different livery on the out side, saying your own airport lounge, then had nice surprise when boarded, it was ex Megabus Gold vehicle FM13, cant remember rest of the reg, it was showing its age a bit, but still pleasant inside, same layout and leather seats, later in the day I looked on the Megabus website and its an upgraded service, with free bottled water and refreshments available, subject to availability, seems like a good idea, and worth trying out properly.

It seems that the Megabus Gold vehicles have found a new home, so no longer doing Citylink Gold anymore, they are now operated by South Glocs Bus , from Bristol Depot.

 

[Bwsbro]

SGBC seems to take a lot of surplis Megabus vehilces. They operate the ex European Coaches on Some Route.

The bus in question is SF13FME. Otherwise known as Sid on the Beach, which has recieved a special Airport livery

 

[Mwanesh]

SGBC seems to take a lot of surplis Megabus vehilces. They operate the ex European Coaches on Some Route.

The bus in question is SF13FME. Otherwise known as Sid on the Beach, which has recieved a special Airport livery

They are still Stagecoach vehicles on hire to SGBC. They had to find a use for them.The left hand Van Hools and Scania Higers are parked up in Europe .

 

[RT4038]

The left hand Van Hools and Scania Higers are parked up in Europe .

Are you sure about that?

 

[RT4038]

On Sunday 16th June was doing a Cullompton-Bristol-Cardiff journey, on the Bristol-Cardiff leg, the 09.05 service, was a Vanhool double decker, with a different livery on the out side, saying your own airport lounge, then had nice surprise when boarded, it was ex Megabus Gold vehicle FM13, cant remember rest of the reg, it was showing its age a bit, but still pleasant inside, same layout and leather seats, later in the day I looked on the Megabus website and its an upgraded service, with free bottled water and refreshments available, subject to availability, seems like a good idea, and worth trying out properly.

It seems that the Megabus Gold vehicles have found a new home, so no longer doing Citylink Gold anymore, they are now operated by South Glocs Bus , from Bristol Depot.

I believe there are still examples of this type (Megabus Gold vehicles) operating on Citylink Gold services.

 

[Mwanesh]

Are you sure about that?

Yes i should have been specific the Van Hool Astromegas (double deckers) are still in storage in Belgium the Higers are in France .

 

[WelshBluebird]

Out of curiosity, how does this effect the capacity of the route? Obviously it isn't all of the time, but whenever I have used the Megabus between Cardiff and Bristol it has usually been pretty full - I assume these coaches will have a lower capacity than the previous ones?

Also for the Cardiff - Bristol leg, is there actually anyway on the Megabus website to see what the service will be when booking?

 

[Mwanesh]

Out of curiosity, how does this effect the capacity of the route? Obviously it isn't all of the time, but whenever I have used the Megabus between Cardiff and Bristol it has usually been pretty full - I assume these coaches will have a lower capacity than the previous ones?

Also for the Cardiff - Bristol leg, is there actually anyway on the Megabus website to see what the service will be when booking?

They have roughly same capacity .Levantes are 49 seaters these Van Hools are 53 seater.If you are going Cardiff-Bristol its the M25 Cardiff-Bristol-Heathrow-Gatwick.They may pop up as dupes on the M7 to London

 

[WelshBluebird]

They have roughly same capacity .Levantes are 49 seaters these Van Hools are 53 seater.If you are going Cardiff-Bristol its the M25 Cardiff-Bristol-Heathrow-Gatwick.They may pop up as dupes on the M7 to London

I thought other services also did Cardiff - Bristol too?
Just looking at my email history of bookings from the last year, I've been on an M35 Cardiff - Bristol and a M10 Cardiff - Bristol too.
Would be nice if MegaBus would just give an indication of which service it is when booking rather than after booking!

 

[carlberry]

I thought other services also did Cardiff - Bristol too?
Just looking at my email history of bookings from the last year, I've been on an M35 Cardiff - Bristol and a M10 Cardiff - Bristol too.
Would be nice if MegaBus would just give an indication of which service it is when booking rather than after booking!

Traveline do show the Megabus timetables separately.

 

[Mwanesh]

Megabus do show which service you are booking . M25 , M35, M36 and M10 all do Cardiff- Bristol when you are booking if you click show full route , it will show the full route .Those ex Megagold coaches will be on the M25 .

 

[RT4038]

Yes i should have been specific the Van Hool Astromegas (double deckers) are still in storage in Belgium the Higers are in France .

Along with the strategic Steam Locomotive reserve? I don't think they are - all sold long ago.

 

[RT4038]

Megabus do show which service you are booking . M25 , M35, M36 and M10 all do Cardiff- Bristol when you are booking if you click show full route , it will show the full route .Those ex Megagold coaches will be on the M25 .

When you are booking Cardiff-Bristol and click 'show full route' , it only shows the full route [i.e. any intermediate stopping places] between Cardiff and Bristol. An intending passenger cannot tell from this information which route no. (or indeed final destination) that the trip is. Not that most would want to know. Please check facts before posting.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I believe there are still examples of this type (Megabus Gold vehicles) operating on Citylink Gold services.

5 remain at Cumbernauld mainly for the G9, they should be getting replaced this year.

 

[overthewater]

I don't think there are unless its been changed? Or is 50406-50411 actually for Megabus gold?

0/14 Volvo B11Rle double deck coaches
50406-50411 Megabus/Cumbernauld [Stagecoach West Scotland]
50412-50419 CityLink/Cumbernauld [Stagecoach West Scotland] 900 mentioned for these?

 

[Jordan Adam]

I don't think there are unless its been changed? Or is 50406-50411 actually for Megabus gold?

0/14 Volvo B11Rle double deck coaches
50406-50411 Megabus/Cumbernauld [Stagecoach West Scotland]
50412-50419 CityLink/Cumbernauld [Stagecoach West Scotland] 900 mentioned for these?

From my understanding 50406 - 50411 will "displace" the Ex-Sleepers. I'm unsure if that means they'll be for the G9 or if they'll cascade stock for the G9 to in turn displace the TDX29s.

50412-50419 are for the 900.

 

[route101]

5 remain at Cumbernauld mainly for the G9, they should be getting replaced this year.

Loathed the seating on them , view at front blocked and if busy you face someone

 

[Mwanesh]

From my understanding 50406 - 50411 will "displace" the Ex-Sleepers. I'm unsure if that means they'll be for the G9 or if they'll cascade stock for the G9 to in turn displace the TDX29s.

50412-50419 are for the 900.

The Panoramas are to displace the 62 plate Van Hools they are not Euro 6 .They are taking a diversion in London to get to Victoria Coach Station .

 

[overthewater]

From my understanding 50406 - 50411 will "displace" the Ex-Sleepers. I'm unsure if that means they'll be for the G9 or if they'll cascade stock for the G9 to in turn displace the TDX29s.

50412-50419 are for the 900.

There is a piece in this month's buses, the coaches are for Megabus operations are going onto the M11.

50406-50411 - M11
50412-50419 - 900

Who runs the G9 is it parks? then maybe Parks are getting a load of them aswell?

 

[Jordan Adam]

There is a piece in this month's buses, the coaches are for Megabus operations are going onto the M11.

50406-50411 - M11
50412-50419 - 900

Who runs the G9 is it parks? then maybe Parks are getting a load of them aswell?

G9 is definitely Stagecoach West Scotland (Cumbernauld). Almost always the TDX29's.

 

[overthewater]

I take it G9 not getting new stock?

 

[RT4038]

G9 is definitely Stagecoach West Scotland (Cumbernauld). Almost always the TDX29's.

I do not think the ex-sleeper coaches on G9/10 are being replaced just yet. There are older, higher mileage, 62 plate 'standard' Van Hools to be replaced first, as mentioned in post #18

 

[overthewater]

Could G9 be contracted out to help speed this up? Just like the G92?

 

[RT4038]

Could G9 be contracted out to help speed this up? Just like the G92?

For what purpose?

 

[overthewater]

We have been talking about new stock. So West coast motors could bid to operate it with new stock,

 

[Mwanesh]

Those Van Hools are 64 plate getting to 5 years. Why would they change them . Contracting out is expensive when they can do it cheaper inhouse.

 

[overthewater]

So why is G92 and M92 contracted out?

 

[RT4038]

So why is G92 and M92 contracted out?

The circumstances of the time, I believe. You may recall that the Gold/Sleeper coaches were used on Sleeper services by night and Gold (G9/10) services by day. The current Stagecoach operated Gold services were the maximum that could be operated (half the PVR was at the other end of the country during the day). When the G92 was introduced there were no more Stagecoach Gold vehicles available, so the service was contracted out. As poster #26 points out, the Stagecoach Gold vehicles are probably not at the end of their useful life yet.

 

[route101]

The circumstances of the time, I believe. You may recall that the Gold/Sleeper coaches were used on Sleeper services by night and Gold (G9/10) services by day. The current Stagecoach operated Gold services were the maximum that could be operated (half the PVR was at the other end of the country during the day). When the G92 was introduced there were no more Stagecoach Gold vehicles available, so the service was contracted out. As poster #26 points out, the Stagecoach Gold vehicles are probably not at the end of their useful life yet.

Got one of the sleeper coaches from Cardiff to London back in 2014.

The orignal 2010 gold coaches , are they still on the road?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Those Van Hools are 64 plate getting to 5 years. Why would they change them . Contracting out is expensive when they can do it cheaper inhouse.

Given that it's meant to be a Gold service i'd expect these Astromega's to be moving this year, but evidently that's not going to be the case.

The orignal 2010 gold coaches , are they still on the road?

The original 2010 coaches are no longer on the network.