Megabus

Monday 24 June 2024 (2104) - Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR73 KRS seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills working the 2000 Megabus service M87 from Norwich to Birmingham via UEA (2010), Cambridge (2140) and Coventry (2315). The arrival time in Birmingham is midnight. It is a Higer bodied Scania Touring K410 which was new in December 2023 that wears full Megabus livery. Many of the coaches working for Megabus carry a name, sometimes humorous sometimes not, sometimes travel related sometimes not. This coach carries the name ‘Christopher ColumBus’.

Monday 24 June 2024 (2104) - Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge PR73 KRS seen at Fiveways, Barton Mills working the 2000 Megabus service M87 from Norwich to Birmingham via UEA (2010), Cambridge (2140) and Coventry (2315). The arrival time in Birmingham is midnight. It is a Higer bodied Scania Touring K410 which was new in December 2023 that wears full Megabus livery. Many of the coaches working for Megabus carry a name, sometimes humorous sometimes not, sometimes travel related sometimes not. This coach carries the name ‘Christopher ColumBus’.

Sunday 12 December 2021 (1409) – During the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown the Megabus service M37 between Norwich and Birmingham had been suspended and when the service resumed it was expanded to operate Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Not only was there the established morning service from Norwich returning from Birmingham in the late afternoon operated by Freestones Coaches, there was a new facility providing a morning service from Birmingham to Norwich with a late afternoon service from Norwich to Birmingham. The latter was operated by Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge. Prospect Coaches PR19 STU, an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, is seen on the A11 at Barton Mills in the bright low afternoon sun as it headed towards Norwich with the 1110 service from Birmingham. Running on time and due to arrive in Norwich at 1510 and would then return from Norwich at 1615.

Monday 13 December 2021 (1410) – During the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown the Megabus service M37 between Norwich and Birmingham had been suspended and when the service resumed it was expanded to operate Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Not only was there the established morning service from Norwich returning from Birmingham in the late afternoon operated by Freestones Coaches, there was a new facility providing a morning service from Birmingham to Norwich with a late afternoon service from Norwich to Birmingham. The latter was operated by Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge. Prospect Coaches PR19 STU, an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, is seen hurrying through Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1110 service from Birmingham to Norwich. Running on time and due to arrive in Norwich at 1510 it would then return from Norwich at 1615.

Monday 13 December 2021 (1410) – During the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown the Megabus service M37 between Norwich and Birmingham had been suspended and when the service resumed it was expanded to operate Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Not only was there the established morning service from Norwich returning from Birmingham in the late afternoon operated by Freestones Coaches, there was a new facility providing a morning service from Birmingham to Norwich with a late afternoon service from Norwich to Birmingham. The latter was operated by Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge. Prospect Coaches PR19 STU, an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, is seen hurrying through Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1110 service from Birmingham to Norwich. Running on time and due to arrive in Norwich at 1510 it would then return from Norwich at 1615.

Monday 13 December 2021 (1410) – During the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown the Megabus service M37 between Norwich and Birmingham had been suspended and when the service resumed it was expanded to operate Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Not only was there the established morning service from Norwich returning from Birmingham in the late afternoon operated by Freestones Coaches, there was a new facility providing a morning service from Birmingham to Norwich with a late afternoon service from Norwich to Birmingham. The latter was operated by Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge. Prospect Coaches PR19 STU, an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, is seen accelerating away from Fiveways, Barton Mills when working the 1110 service from Birmingham to Norwich. Running on time and due to arrive in Norwich at 1510 it would then return from Norwich at 1615.

A ‘ticket’ for travel by Megabus service M87 from Cambridge to Norwich. Booked online and printed at home. The way of the modern world that tickets aren't what they once were. An A4 piece of paper doesn't quite have the same charm and souvenir value as a colourful printed ticket of old. Some passengers don't even have a paper ticket on Megabus, they just show their reference number on their mobile phone screen to the driver and that's it. The Cambridge boarding point on the 'ticket' is shown as Victoria Avenue, Jesus College but this is incorrect. This is the boarding point for journeys from Norwich towards Birmingham. The correct boarding point for journeys from Birmingham towards Norwich is Maids Causeway, Fair Street. (I emailed Megabus about the error and received an immediate thank you by return. They said they look into the matter).

A ‘ticket’ for travel by Megabus service M87 from Norwich to Cambridge booked online and printed at home. The way of the modern world that tickets aren't what they once were. An A4 piece of paper doesn't quite have the same charm and souvenir value as a colourful printed ticket of old. Some passengers don't even have a paper ticket on Megabus, they just show their reference number on their mobile phone screen to the driver and that's it. The Cambridge arrival point on the 'ticket' is shown as Maids Causeway, Fair Street but this is incorrect. This is the arrival point for journeys from Birmingham heading towards Norwich. The correct arrival point for journeys from Norwich towards Birmingham is Victoria Avenue, Jesus College. (I emailed Megabus about the error and received an immediate thank you by return. They said they look into the matter).

Friday 9 February 2024 (1101) – My trip from Cambridge to Norwich and back on Megabus service M87 operated by Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU)), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. The coach arriving at Maids Causeway, Cambridge. Scheduled departure time from Birmingham was 0830 and due here at 1055.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1101) – My trip from Cambridge to Norwich and back on Megabus service M87 operated by Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. The coach at Maids Causeway, Cambridge. Scheduled departure time from Birmingham was 0830 and due here at 1055.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1102) – My trip from Cambridge to Norwich and back on Megabus service M87 operated by Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. The coach at Maids Causeway, Cambridge. Scheduled departure time from Birmingham was 0830 and due here at 1055.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1549) – My trip from Cambridge to Norwich and back was on Megabus service M87 operated by Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. Journeys end for me, the coach is seen in Victoria Avenue, Cambridge when working the 1405 Norwich-Cambridge-Birmingham-Manchester-Liverpool service. It arrived at 1545 spot on time. Earlier in the day it had worked the 0830 Birmingham-Cambridge-Norwich (due to arrive at 1235 and only one minute late!). Note the roundel above the light clusters which features a character and the vehicle fleet number.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1102) – My trip from Cambridge to Norwich and back on Megabus service M87 operated by Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. The coach at Maids Causeway, Cambridge. Scheduled departure time from Birmingham was 0830 and due here at 1055. The high door provides access to the wheelchair positioning area within the coach. The wheelchair left is stored in the locker area below that.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1135) – My trip from Cambridge to Norwich and back on Megabus service M87 operated by Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. A view of the Bull Inn, Barton Mills (beyond the trees and white garden furniture) as the coach sped by. The Bull Inn catered to travellers using horse drawn coaches in the past. The chimney stack on white house alongside (The Mill House) carries a date of 1668. One of the regular places I stand to take photos of passing coaches is just near the large direction sign on this approach to Fiveways. The chequered hardstand area between the coach and the bracken is where the police park their speed camera van!

Friday 9 February 2024 (1135) – My trip from Cambridge to Norwich and back on Megabus service M87 operated by Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. One of the places I stand to take photos of passing coaches on the approach to Fiveways, Barton Mills seen as the coach sped by, is near the parked cars. In fact, on wet days I can park my car there and keep dry! Left of the sign is the Bull Inn which catered to travellers using horse drawn coaches in the past. Right of the sign is The Mill House which has a chimney stack that carries a date of 1668.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1135) – My trip from Cambridge to Norwich and back on Megabus service M87 operated by Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. The coach was briefly held at the traffic lights at Fiveways, Barton Mills alongside a truck. One of the regular places I stand to take photos of passing coaches is just obscured by the farm tractor.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1135) – My trip from Cambridge to Norwich and back on Megabus service M87 operated by Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. The coach was travelling round Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills and was passing one of the regular places I stand to take photos of passing coaches. My spot is behind the low fence between the ‘hiring now’ and Shell signs.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1404) – My trip from Cambridge to Norwich and back was on Megabus service M87 operated by Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019. Seen in Norwich bus station it had worked the 0830 Birmingham-Cambridge-Norwich service (due to arrive at 1235 arriving only one minute late!) and was about to work the 1405 Norwich-Cambridge-Birmingham-Manchester-Liverpool service. Almost ready for boarding the coach is seen in Norwich bus station with the display ‘M87 Liverpool via Birmingham’.