Inter-city coach operator megabus has added new routes and made network changes during a timetable shake-up which it says has been designed to better match services with customer demand. The shake-up coincides with the end of Stagecoach involvement as a contractor on the network in England and Wales, megabus having been founded by the company as a low-cost inter-city operation using initially mainly ex-Hong Kong Citybus Alexander RH-bodied Leyland Olympians. The operator says it has revamped its network with a focus on running services where and when there is highest demand, with a specific focus on weekend services when customer travel is at its peak.
According to megabus, highlights of the new timetable, which launched on 2 September, include a new daily service M84 from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Portsmouth and Southampton via Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester, new routes from Dumfries and Carlisle to London and Berwick to London, up to two direct trips per day from Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth to London, an additional journey serving Preston to and from London daily, improved timings between Norwich and Birmingham and Bristol, improved timings between Liverpool to London, and faster journey times on a standardised route from Manchester to London.
Managing Director of megabus Simone Walsh said: “These timetable changes are good news for the vast majority of our customers and mean we have more services to more locations at peak times. It’s vital that we keep up with customer demand and focus on delivering most of our services when and where demand is highest. We’re delighted to be adding new routes to the network and look forward to welcoming even more customers on to our great value services in the coming months.”
