If you’re a Megabus megafan, you may soon have to start looking for alternatives for certain UK routes. The bus service has been offering us dirt-cheap travel for more than 20 years and at one point linked over 100 locations across the UK. But after struggling to recover post-pandemic, it’s having to make some cuts.
Megabus will significantly reduce its coach services from December 4 due to ‘low passenger demand’. Besides a service between Bristol and Plymouth, the company is axing routes that only operate within England or Wales.
However, all Scottish routes and cross-border services between England, Scotland and Wales will remain the same. That means that you can still get links between major cities like Cardiff, Bristol, Newcastle, Leeds and London on buses that start or end in Scotland.
Simone Walsh, Megabus managing director, said: ‘It is not sustainable for us to continue operating our current network as the customer demand is simply too low.’ It’s hoped that the changes will help Megabus run a ‘more efficient network going forward’.
Britain by bus
The Megabus news doesn’t mean the end of budget coach travel altogether. In fact, fellow coach provider Flixbus recently launched its first ever affordable coach routes between the UK and Ireland.
Elsewhere in the bus world, we got a first look at Liverpool’s new ‘glider’ buses and Manchester is trialling more 24-hour bus services. If you’re after spectacular views along your bus journey, these are the UK’s most scenic bus routes.
ICYMI: This surprising UK city is the most dangerous for cyclists (and it’s not London)
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