Megabus

Saturday 11 August 2018 (1007) – Freestones Coaches of Beetley near East Dereham YN14 FVR, an Irizar bodied Scania new in August 2014, seen heading westbound on the A11 near Kennett, Suffolk. It was 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.

Saturday 4 April 2020 (1101 BST) – Freestone’s Coaches YN14 FVR, an Irizar bodied Scania new in April 2014 to Stagecoach Midland Red, seen on the A11 just after passing Fiveways Roundabout, Barton Mills when working the 1000 service M16 from Norwich to Stratford, East London. The road was lightly trafficked indeed for this time of day on a Saturday as a result the Covid-19 Coronavirus restrictions which were in place. Over the past days the schedule for the M16 service had been the same each day with three trips in each direction at the same times each day. However, in line with Government advice and like National Express, Megabus ceased their coach operations after Sunday 5 April 2020 for the foreseeable future.

Saturday 4 April 2020 (1101 BST) – Freestone’s Coaches YN14 FVR, an Irizar bodied Scania new in April 2014 to Stagecoach Midland Red, seen on the A11 as it pulled away from Fiveways Roundabout, Barton Mills when working the 1000 service M16 from Norwich to Stratford, East London. The road was lightly trafficked indeed for this time of day on a Saturday as a result the Covid-19 Coronavirus restrictions which were in place. Over the past days the schedule for the M16 service had been the same each day with three trips in each direction at the same times each day. However, in line with Government advice and like National Express, Megabus ceased their coach operations after Sunday 5 April 2020 for the foreseeable future.

Saturday 7 November 2020 (1106) – This was the third day of the month long (hopefully) Coronavirus lockdown during which Megabus will reduce the runs on the Norwich to Stratford (East London) service M16 to two trips each way on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. (Since about September it had been operating on Thursdays (1 trip), Fridays (2 trips), Saturdays (3 trips), Sundays (3 trips) and Mondays (2 trips)) Freestones Coaches of Beetley near East Dereham YN14 FVR, an Irizar bodied Scania new in August 2014, was making light work of building up speed as it headed away from Fiveways, Barton Mills as it worked the 1000 service from Norwich to Stratford. This is one of the trips that will be withdrawn after 8 November.

Saturday 17 September 2016 (1509) – Freestone’s Coaches YN14 FVR seen negotiating Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills in Suffolk when working the 1300 Megabus service M16 from London to Norwich. Megabus is a Stagecoach brand and Freestone’s a contractor. 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.

Freestones Coaches Irizar coach seen heading westbound on the A11 near Kennett east of Newmarket when working the 0800 Great Yarmouth to Stratford (East London) Megabus service M16. An Irizar bodied Scania quite likely YN14 FVR. (Day one of my new camera training. This still was taken from a series of burst/video shots - not my intended task).

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.

Saturday 11 March 2017 (0927) – Victoria Coach Station, London. Freestones Coaches YT62 HZX, an Irizar bodied Scania K360 new in November 2012, loading on bay 17 as the 0930 Megabus service M16 to Norwich UEA (1215) and Norwich (1230). (This service would pass near my home around 1115). On the right is Stagecoach 50292 (YJ66 FFT), a Van Hool TDX27 Astromega new in September 2016, working the 0930 Megabus service M11 to Aberdeen (2220) via Manchester (1405), Preston (1515), Glasgow (1840), Perth (Broxden) (2020) and Dundee (2055).

Saturday 27 August 2016 (Bank Holiday Weekend) (1120) – Freestone’s Coaches YT62 HZX, an Irizar bodied Scania new in November 2012, seen negotiating Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills in Suffolk when working the 0930 Megabus service from London to Norwich. Megabus is a Stagecoach brand and Freestone’s a contractor.

Sunday 4 June 2017 (1135) – Freestones Coaches YT62 HZX, an Irizar bodied Scania K360 new in November 2012, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when operating the 0930 Megabus service M16 from London (Victoria) to Norwich UEA (1215) and Norwich (1230).

Friday 25 November 2016 (1135) - Freestone’s Coaches YT62 HZX, an Irizar bodied Scania new in November 2012, seen negotiating Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills in Suffolk when working the 0930 Megabus service from London to Norwich. Megabus is a Stagecoach brand and Freestone’s a contractor.

Saturday 5 August 2017 (1133) – Freestones Coaches YT62 HZX, an Irizar bodied Scania K360 new in November 2012, seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when operating the 0930 Megabus service M16 from London (Victoria) to Norwich UEA (1215) and Norwich (1230). For over a year at least the upper part of the ‘From £1’ vinyl fixed to the windows has been missing.

Saturday 5 August 2017 (1133) – Freestones Coaches YT62 HZX, an Irizar bodied Scania K360 new in November 2012, on the racetrack otherwise known as Fiveways at Barton Mills when operating the 0930 Megabus service M16 from London (Victoria) to Norwich UEA (1215) and Norwich (1230). Unlike many Megabus vehicles this coach doesn’t carry the ‘Megabus man’ vinyl coverings on the rear or offside. It does however carry one on the nearside even though a small piece of it has been missing for over a year.

Saturday 11 March 2017 (0919) – Victoria Coach Station, London. This view was taken from the adjacent multi-storey car park. On the left is Stagecoach 54203 (SF62 CMZ), a Plaxton Elite bodied Volvo B11RT new in December 2012, working the 0930 Megabus service M20 to Glasgow (2000) via Sheffield (Meadowhall) (1300), Leeds (1345), Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1555) and Edinburgh (1850). The other Megabus liveried coach is Freestones Coaches YT62 HZX, an Irizar bodied Scania K360 new in November 2012, loading on bay 17 as the 0930 service M16 to Norwich UEA (1215) and Norwich (1230). (This service would pass near my home around 1115). The National Express liveried coach in bay 19 was operated by Mike deCourcey Travel and would work the 1000 service 420 to Coventry (1235) and Birmingham (1315).

Sunday 13 May 2018 (1127) – Freestones Coaches M16 UEA seen on the A11 at Barton Mills when working the 1020 Megabus service M16 from Stratford (East London) to Norwich (University of East Anglia (UEA) and Bus Station). Within the previous week or so the format of this service changed with coaches no longer running to/from Victoria Coach Station. The coach is an Irizar PB bodied Scania K440 that was new to Olympus of Harlow in October 2010 registered YR10 BBK. It now carries a most appropriate registration number considering it is on service M16 to UEA!

Sunday 13 May 2018 (1127) – Freestones Coaches M16 UEA seen on the A11 at Barton Mills when working the 1020 Megabus service M16 from Stratford (East London) to Norwich (University of East Anglia (UEA) and Bus Station). Within the previous week or so the format of this service changed with coaches no longer running to/from Victoria Coach Station. The coach is an Irizar PB bodied Scania K440 that was new to Olympus of Harlow in October 2010 registered YR10 BBK. It now carries a most appropriate registration number considering it is on service M16 to UEA!

Sunday 4 November 2018 (1437) – Freestones Coaches M16 UEA seen on the A11 at Barton Mills when working the 1330 Megabus service M16 from Norwich to Stratford (East London). It is an Irizar PB bodied Scania K440 that was new to Olympus of Harlow in October 2010 registered YR10 BBK. It now carries a most appropriate registration number considering it is on service M16 that serves the University of East Anglia!

Sunday 4 November 2018 (1437) – Freestones Coaches M16 UEA seen on the A11 at Barton Mills when working the 1330 Megabus service M16 from Norwich to Stratford (East London). It is an Irizar PB bodied Scania K440 that was new to Olympus of Harlow in October 2010 registered YR10 BBK. It now carries a most appropriate registration number considering it is on service M16 that serves the University of East Anglia!