Megabus

Saturday 1 September 2018 (1009) – Freestone’s Coaches YN14 FVR, an Irizar bodied Scania new in April 2014 to Stagecoach Midland Red, seen on the A11 at Red Lodge when working the 0900 Megabus service M16 from Norwich to Stratford, East London. In early May 2018 the format of this service changed with coaches no longer running through to/from Victoria Coach Station but terminating at Stratford.

Easter Monday 22 April 2019 (1119) – Freestones Coaches ME54 BUS seen approaching Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 0955 Megabus service M16 from Stratford (East London) to UEA (1200), Norwich (1215). A special holiday schedule was offered today with an increased number of departures which left Stratford at 0955, 1050, 1215, 1510, 1635, 1910, 1945 and 2250. (The 1050 and 1945 services operated through to Great Yarmouth). Towards the capital the timings from Norwich were 0620, 0700, 0845, 1000, 1230, 1515 (from Great Yarmouth at 1425), 1555 and 1915. ME54 BUS is an Irizar i6 bodied Scania K400 that had been new to J&L Coaches, St. Leonards in January 2013 registered YT62 JBX. I saw that it worked the 0620 from Norwich arriving Stratford 0840; 0955 from Stratford arriving Norwich 1215; 1230 from Norwich arriving Stratford 1450; 1635 from Stratford arriving Norwich 1855 (I wondered if it also did the 1915 down and 2250 return but don’t know that).

Wednesday 25 March 2020 (1622) – Freestone’s Coaches YN14 FVR, an Irizar bodied Scania new in April 2014 to Stagecoach Midland Red, seen on the A11 between Red Lodge and Barton Mills when working the 1510 Megabus service M16 from Stratford, East London to Norwich. In early May 2018 the format of this service changed with coaches no longer running through to/from Victoria Coach Station but terminating at Stratford. The road was lightly trafficked indeed for this time of day on a normal mid-week afternoon as a result the Covid-19 Coronavirus outbreak.

Wednesday 25 March 2020 (1618) – Freestones Coaches YT68 GXM seen on a very lightly trafficked A11 between Barton Mills and Red Lodge, very lightly trafficked indeed for this time of day on a normal mid-week afternoon as a result the Covid-19 Coronavirus outbreak. It is a Scania K410 with Higer bodywork new in October 2018 which was working the 1515 Megabus service M16 from Norwich to Stratford (East London).

Friday 3 July 2020 (1448) – 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 still operated by Freestones Coaches. The departures from Norwich were at 0805 arriving Stratford at 1025 the coach returning from Stratford at 1220 arriving Norwich at 1445. The second trip departed Norwich at 1345 arriving Stratford at 1605 the coach returning from Stratford at 1810 arriving Norwich at 2030. The first trip of the day was worked by Irizar i6 bodied Scania K410 YN14 FVR. The second trip was worked by Higer bodied Scania K410 YT68 GXM which was just about seen here at Fiveways, Barton Mills. Having a favourable green traffic signal as it approached the roundabout and, being in the right of the two lanes alongside a tanker which eclipsed it, the coach shot through almost unseen. This was the only shot I managed to get to record the moment.

Where it was once the case that a passenger had to visit a booking office or agent to buy and pay for a coach ticket, the introduction of on-line Internet booking methods removed what today would be considered a great inconvenience. The way of the world I suppose that tickets aren't what they once were or maybe don’t even exist. Most passengers don't even know what a paper ticket would look like, they just show their reference number on their mobile phone screen to the driver and that's it. Not being into mobile phone apps myself I chose to print my ticket at home for a journey between Cambridge and Birmingham and present this to the driver but to me an A4 piece of paper doesn't quite have the same charm and souvenir value as a colourful printed ticket of old.

Where it was once the case that a passenger had to visit a booking office or agent to buy and pay for a coach ticket, the introduction of on-line Internet booking methods removed what today would be considered a great inconvenience. The way of the world I suppose that tickets aren't what they once were or maybe don’t even exist. Most passengers don't even know what a paper ticket would look like, they just show their reference number on their mobile phone screen to the driver and that's it. Not being into mobile phone apps myself I chose to print my ticket at home for a journey between Cambridge and Birmingham and present this to the driver but to me an A4 piece of paper doesn't quite have the same charm and souvenir value as a colourful printed ticket of old.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1025) - Freestones Coaches E11 SPG seen on Victoria Avenue, Cambridge 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. (To see the timings schedule for this trip please see 'Documents' section)

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1108) – On board Freestones Coaches E11 SPG seen on the A14 near Molesworth, Cambridgeshire as it worked 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. (To see the timings schedule for this trip please see 'Documents' section)

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1249) - Freestones Coaches E11 SPG seen on Hill Street railway bridge in Birmingham having arrived on the 0855 Megabus service M37 from Norwich. It is an Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 that had been new to Buzzlines of Hythe in May 2008 registered YN08 JBX. (To see the timings schedule for this trip please see 'Documents' section)

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1249) - Freestones Coaches E11 SPG seen on Hill Street railway bridge in Birmingham having arrived on the 0855 Megabus service M37 from Norwich. It is an Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 that had been new to Buzzlines of Hythe in May 2008 registered YN08 JBX. (To see the timings schedule for this trip please see 'Documents' section)

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1249) - Freestones Coaches E11 SPG seen on Hill Street railway bridge in Birmingham having arrived on the 0855 Megabus service M37 from Norwich. It is an Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 that had been new to Buzzlines of Hythe in May 2008 registered YN08 JBX. (To see the timings schedule for this trip please see 'Documents' section)

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1905) - Freestones Coaches E11 SPG on Maids Causeway in Cambridge when working the 1650 Megabus service M37 from Birmingham to Norwich. It is an Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 that had been new to Buzzlines of Hythe in May 2008 registered YN08 JBX. (To see the timings schedule for this trip please see 'Documents' section)

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1906) - Freestones Coaches E11 SPG on Maids Causeway in Cambridge when working the 1650 Megabus service M37 from Birmingham to Norwich. It is an Irizar PB bodied Scania K380 that had been new to Buzzlines of Hythe in May 2008 registered YN08 JBX. (To see the timings schedule for this trip please see 'Documents' section)

Saturday 2 Sep 2017 (1001) – Freestones Coaches E11 SPG seen on the A11 near Kennett 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 2 Sep 2017 (1001) – Looking west on the on the A11 near Kennett. Freestones Coaches E11 SPG was 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 11 March 2017 (1118) – Freestones Coaches based in Beetley near East Dereham, Norfolk is a contracted operator to Megabus for service M16 between Norwich and London. YN14 FVR is an Irizar bodied Scania that was new in August 2014. I have read that it was initially loaned to Stagecoach Midland Red on a 12 month demonstration contract and was used on their Megabus services. It was seen during layover in Buckingham Palace Road near Victoria Coach Station after working the 0700 service from Norwich (due VCS at 1020). It would return as the 1300 service. I regularly see this coach as it travels along the A11 close near my home.

Saturday 11 March 2017 (1119) – Freestones Coaches based in Beetley near East Dereham, Norfolk is a contracted operator to Megabus for service M16 between Norwich and London. YN14 FVR is an Irizar bodied Scania that was new in August 2014. I have read that it was initially loaned to Stagecoach Midland Red on a 12 month demonstration contract and was used on their Megabus services. It was seen during layover in Buckingham Palace Road near Victoria Coach Station after working the 0700 service from Norwich (due VCS at 1020). It would return as the 1300 service. I regularly see this coach as it travels along the A11 close near my home. In the background is Stagecoach Wales 50241 (CN61 FBC), a Van Hool TD927 Astromega new in February 2012.