Megabus

Saturday 4 May 2019 (1208) – A view from my seat on board Stagecoach East Midlands (Lincolnshire Road Car) 54077 (SF59 FYW), a Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B12BT new in November 2009 to Stagecoach Scotland (Western Buses), which had just departed from Paragon Interchange, Hull. Trains serving Hull Paragon railway station once used all five of the train shed arches which can be seen in the photograph but now only the three on the right cover the railway tracks. The arch second from the left covers a parking and vehicle delivery area for a small number of retail outlets. The arch on the far left now covers the passenger waiting area for the bus loading stands (visible beyond). The newer low profile glass extension in front of that houses the bus admin offices and additional bus loading stands that face four coach loading stands lettered A-D from where my coach had recently departed. The layover bays for out of service vehicles can also be seen. I was on board the 1205 MegabusPlus service MP3 for a journey to Doncaster. Normally this service runs from Hull to East Midlands Parkway Railway Station in Nottinghamshire from where passengers then board the train to continue to London (St. Pancras). However, today was different as a result of the railway line closure for maintenance work so the coach was running all the way to the capital.

Saturday 4 May 2019 (1212) – The Humber Bridge seen from my seat on board Stagecoach East Midlands (Lincolnshire Road Car) 54077 (SF59 FYW). We would shortly be making the crossing towards Scunthorpe and Doncaster. The coach is a Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B12BT new in November 2009 to Stagecoach Scotland (Western Buses). I was on board the 1205 MegabusPlus service MP3 from Hull. Normally this service runs from Hull to East Midlands Parkway Railway Station in Nottinghamshire from where passengers then board the train to continue to London (St. Pancras). However, today was different as a result of the railway line closure for maintenance work so the coach was running all the way to the capital.

Saturday 4 May 2019 (1328) – I had just travelled from Hull to Doncaster on board Stagecoach East Midlands (Lincolnshire Road Car) 54077 (SF59 FYW) but this was the best shot I got in the subterranean depths of Doncaster’s Frenchgate bus station before the coach continued on its way. The coach is a Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B12BT new in November 2009 to Stagecoach Scotland (Western Buses) which was operating the 1205 MegabusPlus service MP3 from Hull. Normally this service runs from Hull to East Midlands Parkway Railway Station in Nottinghamshire from where passengers then board the train to continue to London (St. Pancras). However, today was different as a result of the railway line closure for maintenance work so the coach was running all the way to the capital.

Saturday 7 May 2022 (1416) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 MEG seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1110 Megabus service M37 from Birmingham to Norwich. Running close to time and due to arrive in Norwich at 1510 it would then return from Norwich at 1615. An Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019 in a sort of ‘halfway house’ version of a Megabus livery. This is now the only Megabus working to serve Norwich following the withdrawal the Norwich-London (Stratford) service M16 after operation on the previous Sunday (1 May).

Saturday 7 May 2022 (1416) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 MEG seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1110 Megabus service M37 from Birmingham to Norwich. Running close to time and due to arrive in Norwich at 1510 it would then return from Norwich at 1615. An Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019 in a sort of ‘halfway house’ version of a Megabus livery. Note the ‘Operated by Prospect’ wording This is now the only Megabus working to serve Norwich following the withdrawal the Norwich-London (Stratford) service M16 after operation on the previous Sunday (1 May).

Saturday 7 May 2022 (1416) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 MEG seen as it accelerated away from Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1110 Megabus service M37 from Birmingham to Norwich. Running close to time and due to arrive in Norwich at 1510 it would then return from Norwich at 1615. An Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019 in a sort of ‘halfway house’ version of a Megabus livery. This is now the only Megabus working to serve Norwich following the withdrawal the Norwich-London (Stratford) service M16 after operation on the previous Sunday (1 May).

Saturday 7 May 2022 (1735) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 MEG seen on the A11 near Red Lodge when working the 1615 Megabus service M37 from Norwich to Birmingham. An Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019 in a sort of ‘halfway house’ version of a Megabus livery. This is now the only Megabus working to serve Norwich following the withdrawal the Norwich-London (Stratford) service M16 after operation on the previous Sunday (1 May).

Saturday 7 May 2022 (1735) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 MEG seen on the A11 near Red Lodge when working the 1615 Megabus service M37 from Norwich to Birmingham. An Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019 in a sort of ‘halfway house’ version of a Megabus livery. This is now the only Megabus working to serve Norwich following the withdrawal the Norwich-London (Stratford) service M16 after operation on the previous Sunday (1 May).

Saturday 7 May 2022 (1735) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 MEG seen on the A11 near Red Lodge when working the 1615 Megabus service M37 from Norwich to Birmingham. An Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019 in a sort of ‘halfway house’ version of a Megabus livery. This is now the only Megabus working to serve Norwich following the withdrawal the Norwich-London (Stratford) service M16 after operation on the previous Sunday (1 May).

Sunday 7 August 2022 (1356) - Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 MEG seen heading eastbound on the A11 near Kennett, Suffolk when working the 1110 Megabus service M37 from Birmingham to Norwich. Running very much on time it was due to arrive in Norwich at 1510 and would then return from Norwich to Birmingham at 1615. An Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019 in a sort of ‘halfway house’ version of a Megabus livery although the ‘Megabus’ fleetnames have been removed since I photographed the same coach in May 2022. These were positioned on the front dome and over the rear wheel area.

Sunday 7 April 2024 (1130) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 MEG seen on the A11 at Barton Mills when working the 0830 Megabus service M87 from Birmingham to Norwich. Running spot on time and due to arrive in Norwich at 1235. It would then return from Norwich as the 1405 service to Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. An Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. Now in an uninspiring all white scheme, when seen in the past this coach had a sort of ‘halfway house’ version of a Megabus livery with blue and yellow vinyls, one on the roof over the windscreen and a band along each side.

Sunday 7 April 2024 (1130) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 MEG seen on the A11 at Barton Mills when working the 0830 Megabus service M87 from Birmingham to Norwich. Running spot on time and due to arrive in Norwich at 1235. It would then return from Norwich as the 1405 service to Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. An Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. Now in an uninspiring all white scheme, when seen in the past this coach had a sort of ‘halfway house’ version of a Megabus livery with blue and yellow vinyls, one on the roof over the windscreen and a band along each side.

Sunday 7 April 2024 (1130) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 MEG seen on the A11 at Barton Mills when working the 0830 Megabus service M87 from Birmingham to Norwich. Running spot on time and due to arrive in Norwich at 1235. It would then return from Norwich as the 1405 service to Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. An Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. Now in an uninspiring all white scheme, when seen in the past this coach had a sort of ‘halfway house’ version of a Megabus livery with blue and yellow vinyls, one on the roof over the windscreen and a band along each side.

Saturday 26 November 2022 (1403) - Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge operates the Megabus service M37 between Birmingham and Norwich although the Megabus website does not show any services beyond 8 January 2023. So, its days may appear to be numbered. The service comprises one round trip running on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from Birmingham at 1110 (arriving Norwich 1510) returning from Norwich at 1615 (arriving Birmingham 2010). Prospect Coaches PR71 BEC, an Irizar i6 integral new in November 2021, is seen on the A11 at Red Lodge when heading to Norwich. It was spot on time having (presumably) departed Cambridge at 1330. The low winter sun in the afternoon on this section of route makes it a challenge to capture clear shots particularly with such a dark livery and highly reflective silver graphics.

Sunday 2 April 2023 (1405) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 BEC seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1300 Megabus service M37 from Norwich to Cardiff. It is an Irizar i6 new in November 2021. From Monday 27 March 2023 the Birmingham-Norwich/Norwich-Birmingham Megabus service M37 saw an increase in frequency running five days per week (Thursdays to Mondays). Latterly it had just been a single round trip working on four days per week (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from Birmingham at 1110 arriving Norwich at 1510 returning from Norwich at 1615 arriving Birmingham 2010). Westbound the new timetable features departures from Norwich at 1300 and UEA at 1315 (to Cambridge, Coventry, Birmingham, Bristol (UWE), Bristol city, Cardiff University and Cardiff city) and from Norwich at 1900 and UEA at 1915 (to Cambridge, Coventry and Birmingham). The Eastbound timetable features a departure from Bristol Airport at 1020 (via Bristol city, Bristol (UWE), Swindon and Oxford to Birmingham continuing at 1355 to Coventry, Cambridge, UEA and Norwich. There is also a departure at 0815 from Birmingham to Norwich via Coventry, Cambridge and UEA. The somewhat different routings and points served beyond Birmingham to/from Bristol etc is unusual.

Sunday 2 April 2023 (1405) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR71 BEC seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1300 Megabus service M37 from Norwich to Cardiff. It is an Irizar i6 new in November 2021. From Monday 27 March 2023 the Birmingham-Norwich/Norwich-Birmingham Megabus service M37 saw an increase in frequency running five days per week (Thursdays to Mondays). Latterly it had just been a single round trip working on four days per week (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from Birmingham at 1110 arriving Norwich at 1510 returning from Norwich at 1615 arriving Birmingham 2010). Westbound the new timetable features departures from Norwich at 1300 and UEA at 1315 (to Cambridge, Coventry, Birmingham, Bristol (UWE), Bristol city, Cardiff University and Cardiff city) and from Norwich at 1900 and UEA at 1915 (to Cambridge, Coventry and Birmingham). The Eastbound timetable features a departure from Bristol Airport at 1020 (via Bristol city, Bristol (UWE), Swindon and Oxford to Birmingham continuing at 1355 to Coventry, Cambridge, UEA and Norwich. There is also a departure at 0815 from Birmingham to Norwich via Coventry, Cambridge and UEA. The somewhat different routings and points served beyond Birmingham to/from Bristol etc is unusual.

Saturday 26 August 2023 (1057) – Bank Holiday weekend on the A11 approaching Fiveways, Barton Mills. Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge YT71 GHD, an Irizar i6 new in October 2021, was running about 20-25 minutes behind schedule when working the 0815 Megabus service M37 from Birmingham to Norwich. It was scheduled to call at Cambridge at 1000 with arrival times of 1130 at UEA (University of East Anglia) and 1145 at Norwich Bus Station. Normally it passes Fiveways around 1030-1040.

Saturday 26 August 2023 (1057) – Bank Holiday weekend on the A11 approaching Fiveways, Barton Mills. Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge YT71 GHD, an Irizar i6 new in October 2021, was running about 20-25 minutes behind schedule when working the 0815 Megabus service M37 from Birmingham to Norwich. It was scheduled to call at Cambridge at 1000 with arrival times of 1130 at UEA (University of East Anglia) and 1145 at Norwich Bus Station. Normally it passes Fiveways around 1030-1040.