Megabus

Friday 10 April 2015 (0928) - Freestones Coaches, based at Beetley near Dereham, Norfolk, is a contracted operator to work two Megabus services out of Norwich. One is to London (M16) and one to Birmingham (M37). Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 YN08 JBX was seen at Parkside, Cambridge when working the 0750 service M37 from Norwich via Cambridge (0935) to Birmingham (1155). It was new to Buzzlines, Hythe in May 2008.

Friday 10 April 2015 (0926) - Freestones Coaches, based at Beetley near Dereham, Norfolk, is a contracted operator to work two Megabus services out of Norwich. One is to London (M16) and one to Birmingham (M37). Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 YN08 JBX was seen at Parkside, Cambridge when working the 0750 service M37 from Norwich via Cambridge (0935) to Birmingham (1155). It was new to Buzzlines, Hythe in May 2008.

Friday 10 April 2015 (0925) - Freestones Coaches, based at Beetley near Dereham, Norfolk, is a contracted operator to work two Megabus services out of Norwich. One is to London (M16) and one to Birmingham (M37). Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 YN08 JBX was seen at Parkside, Cambridge when working the 0750 service M37 from Norwich via Cambridge (0935) to Birmingham (1155). It was new to Buzzlines, Hythe in May 2008.

Friday 10 April 2015 (0924) - Freestones Coaches, based at Beetley near Dereham, Norfolk, is a contracted operator to work two Megabus services out of Norwich. One is to London (M16) and one to Birmingham (M37). Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 YN08 JBX was seen at Parkside, Cambridge when working the 0750 service M37 from Norwich via Cambridge (0935) to Birmingham (1155). It was new to Buzzlines, Hythe in May 2008. Standing in the background is Stagecoach East 54302 (YX64 WCE).

Friday 10 April 2015 (0924) - Freestones Coaches, based at Beetley near Dereham, Norfolk, is a contracted operator to work two Megabus services out of Norwich. One is to London (M16) and one to Birmingham (M37). Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 YN08 JBX was seen at Parkside, Cambridge when working the 0750 service M37 from Norwich via Cambridge (0935) to Birmingham (1155). It was new to Buzzlines, Hythe in May 2008.

Friday 10 April 2015 (0923) - Freestones Coaches, based at Beetley near Dereham, Norfolk, is a contracted operator to work two Megabus services out of Norwich. One is to London (M16) and one to Birmingham (M37). Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 YN08 JBX was seen at Parkside, Cambridge when working the 0750 service M37 from Norwich via Cambridge (0935) to Birmingham (1155). It was new to Buzzlines, Hythe in May 2008. Standing in the background is Stagecoach East 54302 (YX64 WCE).

Friday 10 April 2015 (0936) - Freestones Coaches, based at Beetley near Dereham, Norfolk, is a contracted operator to work two Megabus services out of Norwich. One is to London (M16) and one to Birmingham (M37). Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 YN08 JBX was as it was leaving Cambridge when working the 0750 service M37 from Norwich via Cambridge (0935) to Birmingham (1155). It was new to Buzzlines, Hythe in May 2008.

Friday 10 April 2015 (0936) - Freestones Coaches, based at Beetley near Dereham, Norfolk, is a contracted operator to work two Megabus services out of Norwich. One is to London (M16) and one to Birmingham (M37). Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 YN08 JBX was as it was leaving Cambridge when working the 0750 service M37 from Norwich via Cambridge (0935) to Birmingham (1155). It was new to Buzzlines, Hythe in May 2008.

Saturday 5 August 2017 (0957) – Freestones Coaches E11 SPG seen on the A11 near Red Lodge in Suffolk when working the 0855 Norwich to Birmingham Megabus service M37. It is an Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 that had been new to Buzzlines of Hythe in May 2008 registered YN08 JBX.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1639) - Freestones Coaches E11 SPG seen approaching Hill Street railway bridge in Birmingham arriving to load as the 1650 Megabus service M37 to Cambridge and Norwich. It is an Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 that had been new to Buzzlines of Hythe in May 2008 registered YN08 JBX. The highly reflective building on the left is the Grand Central Shopping Centre which sits above New Street mainline railway station. (To see the timings schedule for this trip please see 'Documents' section)

Friday 3 July 2020 (0912) – As a result of the Covid-19 Coronavirus outbreak Megabus ceased running their services in England after operation on Sunday 5 April 2020 and did not re-commence until Friday 3 July 2020. Leading up to the suspension date the Norwich to Stratford (East London) service M16 had comprised two round trip services running to the same schedule each day and when the services resumed the same format continued. Freestones Coaches YN14 FVR is seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0805 Norwich-Stratford service, the first southbound run on the day services restarted. It was scheduled to arrive Stratford at 1025 and return from there at 1220 arriving in Norwich at 1445. The second trip departs Norwich at 1345 returning from Stratford at 1810. Megabus is a Stagecoach brand and Freestone’s a contractor. This coach is an Irizar i6 bodied Scania K410 that was first registered by Scania UK in April 2014 (as a demonstrator?) and operated by Stagecoach Midland Red.

Friday 3 July 2020 (0911) – As a result of the Covid-19 Coronavirus outbreak Megabus ceased running their services in England after operation on Sunday 5 April 2020 and did not re-commence until Friday 3 July 2020. Leading up to the suspension date the Norwich to Stratford (East London) service M16 had comprised two round trip services running to the same schedule each day and when the services resumed the same format continued. Freestones Coaches YN14 FVR is seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0805 Norwich-Stratford service, the first southbound run on the day services restarted. It was scheduled to arrive Stratford at 1025 and return from there at 1220 arriving in Norwich at 1445. The second trip departs Norwich at 1345 returning from Stratford at 1810. Megabus is a Stagecoach brand and Freestone’s a contractor. This coach is an Irizar i6 bodied Scania K410 that was first registered by Scania UK in April 2014 (as a demonstrator?) and operated by Stagecoach Midland Red. The driver is rightly wearing his mask as the rules require.

Friday 3 July 2020 (0911) – As a result of the Covid-19 Coronavirus outbreak Megabus ceased running their services in England after operation on Sunday 5 April 2020 and did not re-commence until Friday 3 July 2020. Leading up to the suspension date the Norwich to Stratford (East London) service M16 had comprised two round trip services running to the same schedule each day and when the services resumed the same format continued. Freestones Coaches YN14 FVR is seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0805 Norwich-Stratford service, the first southbound run on the day services restarted. It was scheduled to arrive Stratford at 1025 and return from there at 1220 arriving in Norwich at 1445. The second trip departs Norwich at 1345 returning from Stratford at 1810. Megabus is a Stagecoach brand and Freestone’s a contractor. This coach is an Irizar i6 bodied Scania K410 that was first registered by Scania UK in April 2014 (as a demonstrator?) and operated by Stagecoach Midland Red. The driver is rightly wearing his mask as the rules require.

Monday 17 May 2021 (0901) – Today the Covid lockdown conditions were eased the coach services of National Express and Megabus were resumed on the routes from Norfolk to London. The first Megabus service M16 to Stratford (East London) was the 0745 departure from Norwich which was seen here at Fiveways, Barton Mills. Freestone’s Coaches continues as the contractor on the service and YN14 FVR is seen negotiating Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills. It is an Irizar i6 bodied Scania K410 that was first registered by Scania UK in April 2014 (as a demonstrator?) and operated by Stagecoach Midland Red.

Sunday 19 December 2021 (1058) – Freestone’s Coaches S28 FSC, an Irizar i6 bodied Scania K410, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0955 Megabus service M37 from Norwich to Birmingham. The coach now carries the newly revised Megabus livery style. (A clearer photograph than the previous Sunday despite the murky weather). This service was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and after the service resumed it was expanded to operate Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays not only with this morning service westbound returning from Birmingham in the late afternoon, it also featured a morning service from Birmingham to Norwich with an late afternoon service from Norwich to Birmingham. Courtesy of a contributor to the East Norfolk Bus Blog website I am told this coach was originally registered YN16 WUL and so was new to City Circle, Newbridge, Edinburgh in May 2016. It appears to have had the wheelchair lift/door and destination displays added later.

Sunday 2 January 2022 (1107) – This Irizar i6 bodied Scania K410 of Freestone’s Coaches, which is employed on the Norwich-London Megabus service contract, had recently been re-registered with the cherished number ME54 BUS (a play on Megabus). It was new in August 2014 as a Scania demonstrator originally registered YN14 FVR. Seating is for 61 passengers, possibly 15 metres long, note the word ‘Kingsize’ towards the rear. It was seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1000 Megabus service M16 from Norwich to Stratford (East London). The label on the entrance door actually shows M16X – the suffix may be to identify this coach as a duplicate or similar.

Sunday 2 January 2022 (1107) – This Irizar i6 bodied Scania K410 of Freestone’s Coaches, which is employed on the Norwich-London Megabus service contract, had recently been re-registered with the cherished number ME54 BUS (a play on Megabus). It was new in August 2014 as a Scania demonstrator originally registered YN14 FVR. Seating is for 61 passengers, possibly 15 metres long, note the word ‘Kingsize’ towards the rear. It was seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1000 Megabus service M16 from Norwich to Stratford (East London). The label on the entrance door actually shows M16X – the suffix may be to identify this coach as a duplicate or similar.

Sunday 2 January 2022 (1108) – This Irizar i6 bodied Scania K410 of Freestone’s Coaches, which is employed on the Norwich-London Megabus service contract, had recently been re-registered with the cherished number ME54 BUS (a play on Megabus). It was new in August 2014 as a Scania demonstrator originally registered YN14 FVR. Seating is for 61 passengers, possibly 15 metres long, note the word ‘Kingsize’ towards the rear. It was seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1000 Megabus service M16 from Norwich to Stratford (East London). The label on the entrance door actually shows M16X – the suffix may be to identify this coach as a duplicate or similar.