[GB] 5 Years On - Megabus UK

This August has seen Stagecoach's Megabus operations celebrating its 5th anniversary. Starting off as a low-cost intercity coach service, it became such a success that puts Stagecoach right into a market previously dominanted by National Express, and prompted the latter to respond by introducing better quality vehicles and services to aim at customers at the relative higher end. Stagecoach would, of course, launch the Megabus operation in the States as well 3 years later, but will see considerably less success.



So, just a reflection of its history, let's look back what has been happening over the last 5 years:

Here's the beginning of Megabus - first service started on 4th Aug 2003 between London Marylebone and Oxford.  Initially, Stagecoach has intended to use the Leyland Olympians acquired from, of course, Citybus HK. However, none were ready in time for the launch and as a result, 2 of the 3 original "Magadekka" Olympians of Stagecoach, no.14239 & 14240, were pulled south from Stagecoach West Scotland to operate the service:



The first batch of 5 ex-Citybus Olympians, 13601-5, (formerly 135-9) were finally ready the following month, allowing Stagecoach to launch 3 more services running between Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee in Scotland, and enhance the Oxford service as well. 13604, ex-Citybus 138, is one of the three allocated to Oxford:



Another increase of service, London to Leeds and Machester to Liverpool, were introduced in November the same year. The latter service was remarkable in that a number of ex-Kenya Dennis Dragon were used for the service. The service itself, though, wasn't a success and was withdrawn in mid-2004, with the Dragons finding themselves back into their old haunt - Manchester's Magic Bus services. 15180 is seen a year after the Liverpool service ceased operating, although still carrying the Megabus livery.



As more ex-Citybus Olympians come online, Stagecoach launched a massive service expansion running between London and most major cities the country in March and June 2004, and also moved the London operations to the Greenline coach station at Victoria.





At this time, the backbone of the operation is formed by a fleet nearly 50 ex-Citybus Olympians. However, Stagecoach also assigned a number of coaches to the services, made redundant after National Express withdrew Stagecoach's contract to operate its services:



A more special type to serve the operations during this time would be these articulated B10MA coaches:





In 2005, the Megabus operation is expanded to cover Stagecoach's service X5 between Cambridge and Oxford, as well as the Oxford Tube service. Neither of the services would be branded as Megabus though, and in fact the Oxford Tube has replaced the original London - Oxford Megabus operation:





Another service that was partially subsumed into the Megabus network is the Edinburgh - Glasgow service 900, following Stagecoach's acquisition of the Motorvator operations.



The same year also saw Stagecoach introducing brand new vehicles to the Megabus services, in the form of 25 13.7m Neoplan Skyliners. These coaches displaces the Olympians from the Megabus network to other duties, and many of them will initially find their way to Manchester to replace the ex-KMB sisters.



The Skyliners, B10Ms, and to a reduced degree, Olympians continue to be the mainstays of the operation, but in 2007, Stagecoach ordered a batch of 45 B12BT coaches with Plaxton bodywork. These 15m vehicles has finally replaced the ex-Citybus Olympians, and some Neoplan Skyliners as well, from the service.





Unsurprisingly, over the years there have been many odd working when vehicles become unservicable:

I am going to try their new  service from Toronto to New York on their brand new Van Hool TD925 double decker coach. I hope it will be a good trip..