Megabus

Friday 9 February 2024 (1352) – Express service coaches waiting in Norwich Bus Station. Ambassador Travel 215 (BV19 XPU), a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360 new in June 2019, was about to work the 1355 National Express service 728 to Heathrow Airport. This service had started from UEA (University of East Anglia) at 1330. Its route would be via Thetford (1440), Mildenhall (1500), Newmarket (1520), Cambridge (Parkside) (1550-1600), Trumpington Park & Ride (1625), Stansted Airport (1705-1715), Heathrow Airport (Central 1845-1855 and Terminal 5 (1905)). Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, was about to work the 1405 Megabus service M87 to Liverpool. The route was via UEA (1415), Cambridge (1545), Coventry (1720), Birmingham (1805-1810), Manchester Airport (2000). Manchester (2040) and Liverpool (2150). My outing today from Cambridge to Norwich and back was on the Megabus service. Whichever of these coaches a passenger chose to travel to Cambridge they would have arrived there on time.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1400) – 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. The coach is seen during its time between trips in Norwich bus station. It had initially worked the 0830 Birmingham-Cambridge-Norwich (due to arrive at 1235 and only one minute late!). It would then work the 1405 Norwich-Cambridge-Birmingham-Manchester-Liverpool service. Due to roadworks in Queens Road (at the top of the bus station) buses and coaches could not enter the bus station from Queens Road. They could however still leave by this road. The coach, having arrived via St. Stephen’s roundabout, travelled along Queens Road as usual but was then required to detour via All Saints Green and Surrey Street to enter the bus station from the bottom end (beyond the Sanders single decker).

Friday 9 February 2024 (1401) – 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. The coach is seen during its time between trips in Norwich bus station. It had initially worked the 0830 Birmingham-Cambridge-Norwich (due to arrive at 1235 and only one minute late!). It would then work the 1405 Norwich-Cambridge-Birmingham-Manchester-Liverpool service. Not quite ready for boarding the destination display reads ‘Driver on break’.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1403) – 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. Almost ready for boarding, the coach is seen in Norwich bus station with the display ‘M87 Liverpool’. It had initially worked the 0830 Birmingham-Cambridge-Norwich (due to arrive at 1235 and only one minute late!) and was about to work the 1405 Norwich-Cambridge-Birmingham-Manchester-Liverpool service.

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. The queuing passengers are waiting to board the coach.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1515) – 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. On board the coach as it headed downhill from the Elveden War Memorial towards Barton Mills. A low level toilet compartment is located mid-way along the offside (right) and is accessed by the same steps for the offside emergency door. I had occupied the window seat three seats forward of my current one during my outward journey. Two seats further forward than that is an open area by the side door for wheelchair access and placement. The wheelchair lift is stored beneath the floor.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1517) – 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. One of the places I stand to take photos of passing coaches at Fiveways, Barton Mills is near the Greggs building at the corner of the A1101. The tall sign behind the lamp post and silver van is often featured in the photos! Note the busy eastbound traffic queuing towards the roundabout (right). It is Friday and it is Fiveways!!

Friday 9 February 2024 (1517) – 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. One of the places I stand to take photos of passing coaches at Fiveways, Barton Mills is near the Greggs building at the corner of the A1101. The tall sign which carries the name ‘barton mills’ in words displayed vertically is often featured in the photos!

Friday 9 February 2024 (1518) – 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. Building up speed as the coach heads away from Fiveways, Barton Mills. The white building is the former ‘Dog and Partridge’ pub which closed many years ago that is now a private house. The flint faced building left of that has been under renovation for about as long. In front of it is a new Barton Mills village sign erected in 2023. ,

Friday 9 February 2024 (1547) – 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. The open area by the side door for wheelchair access and placement. The wheelchair lift is stored beneath the floor.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1548) – 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!). The destination display shows ‘M87 Liverpool’ beneath which is ‘Via Manchester’. The latter changes to show ‘Via Cambridge’, ‘Via Birmingham’ etc in turn.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1548) – 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 featuring a character and the vehicle fleet number.

Friday 9 February 2024 (1548) – 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 featuring a character and the vehicle fleet number.

The timings taking when on a Megabus trip from Cambridge to Norwich and back on Friday 9 February 2024. The service (M87) was operated by Prospect Coaches 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019.

Friday 26 July 2024 (1356) –Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge operates the Megabus Liverpool-Manchester-Birmingham-Coventry-Cambridge-Norwich Megabus service M87. 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, was seen in Norwich bus station having worked the 0830 Birmingham-Norwich service (due to arrive at 1235) and would then work the 1405 Norwich-Liverpool service. I rode on this coach from Cambridge to Norwich and back on 9 February 2024. I took the photo from my seat on board Ambassador Travel 219 (BV19 XOY), a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360EB4 new in March 2019 to National Express owned West Midlands Travel, which was working National Express service 728 to Heathrow Airport. My trip though was the 65 minute run to Mildenhall. Both coaches run down the A11 to Cambridge before heading in different directions. The National Express service starts from UEA (University of East Anglia) at 1330 and then departs Norwich (Bus Station) at 1355 calling at Thetford (1440), Mildenhall (1500) and Newmarket (1520) arriving in Cambridge (Parkside) at 1550. The Megabus service departs Norwich (Bus Station) at 1405 travelling via UEA (1415) then running non-stop to arrive Cambridge (Victoria Avenue) at 1545. In the background is National Express 343 (BV72 XGA) which had been on hire to Ambassador Travel for some months. It is a Caetano Levante III bodied Scania K410 which was working the 1000 London (Victoria Coach Station) to Great Yarmouth National Express service 491. According to the tracker on the Bus Times website it was shown as having departed on time and only a few minutes late at Stratford (the only other pick-up point on this trip due there at 1055 actual time 1101). It reached the A406 at Redbridge at 1114 but did not pass Fiveways, Barton Mills until 1254. With a clear run it would normally pass about 1225 and then a further 45 minutes later arrive in Norwich at 1310. It arrived approx. 1350. The tracker stopped recording just outside Norwich so didn’t show the arrival time at Great Yarmouth which was supposed to be 1350 but still at least 35 minutes away traffic permitting.

Friday 26 July 2024 (1316) – Prospect Coaches of Lye near Stourbridge operates the Megabus Liverpool-Manchester-Birmingham-Coventry-Cambridge-Norwich Megabus service M87. 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, was seen in Norwich bus station having worked the 0830 Birmingham-Norwich service (due to arrive at 1235) and would then work the 1405 Norwich-Liverpool service. On 9 February 2024 I rode on this coach from Cambridge to Norwich and back.

Friday 26 July 2024 (1348) – Norwich Bus Station. The final vehicle I rode as part of my bus ride trip today was Ambassador Travel 219 (BV19 XOY) working National Express service 728. Ithad started from UEA (University of East Anglia) at 1330 and was bound for Heathrow Airport (due 1905) although my trip was the 65 minute run to Mildenhall. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360EB4 new in March 2019 to National Express owned West Midlands Travel. In front of that is Prospect Coaches of Lye 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, working the 1405 Megabus service M87 to Liverpool. On 9 February 2024 I rode on this coach from Cambridge to Norwich and back. Both coaches run down the A11 to Cambridge before heading in different directions. The National Express service starts from UEA (University of East Anglia) at 1330 and then departs Norwich (Bus Station) at 1355 calling at Thetford (1440), Mildenhall (1500) and Newmarket (1520) arriving in Cambridge (Parkside) at 1550. On the right is Sanders 318 (YN06 NXR), a Wright bodied Scania L94UB new in May 2006 to Reading Buses (1023), which would work the 1400 service 43 to Reepham.

Friday 26 July 2024 (1348) – Norwich Bus Station. The final vehicle I rode as part of my bus ride trip today was Ambassador Travel 219 (BV19 XOY) working National Express service 728. Ithad started from UEA (University of East Anglia) at 1330 and was bound for Heathrow Airport (due 1905) although my trip was the 65 minute run to Mildenhall. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Scania K360EB4 new in March 2019 to National Express owned West Midlands Travel. In front of that is Prospect Coaches of Lye 151 (PR19 STU), an Irizar i6 integral new in June 2019, working the 1405 Megabus service M87 to Liverpool. On 9 February 2024 I rode on this coach from Cambridge to Norwich and back. On the left is Sanders Coaches of Holt 128 (PC23 SAN), an MCV eVoSeti bodied Volvo B8L new in June 2023, which would be working the 1350 service X41 to Cromer and Sheringham. I rode on this bus earlier in the day from the bus station to Aylsham Road (Boundary). On the right is Sanders 318 (YN06 NXR), a Wright Solar bodied Scania L94UB new in May 2006 to Reading Buses (1023), which would work the 1400 service 43 to Reepham. Three double deckers of Go-Ahead owned Konectbus complete the scene.