ULTIMATE TEST! Who's best? Citylink, Flixbus, Megabus or National Express. 22 hours to find out.
Vložit
- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
- This video features a journey of 22 hours, using Citylink, Flixbus, Megabus and National Express to find out who's best. Glasgow to London via Newcastle and Manchester?? I must be crazy.
Filmed February 2023 | Glasgow, UK.
*** MY BOOK:
End-To-End, the world's longest train journey from Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal, to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
www.amazon.co.uk/End-End-Worl...
*** FOLLOW ME AT:
Web: www.planestrainseverything.com
Twitter: / planestrainsev1
Facebook: / planestrainseverything
Instagram: / planestrainseverything
*** DAILY DROP:
Be the first to learn about new and revised points/miles hacking news. I'm continually using Avios/Nectar points and other deals that come my way. This keeps me up to speed with what's out there. newsletter.dailydrop.com/subs...
*** MUSIC:
Music courtesy of epidemicsound.com
*** TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:07 Depart Glasgow on Citylink
00:03:57 Depart Edinburgh on Flixbus
00:06:23 Depart Newcastle on Megabus
00:12:17 Depart Manchester on National Express
00:14:58 Arrive London Victoria
00:16:04 And the winner is...
It was a pleasure having you on my 900 from Glasgow to Edinburgh the reason that coach is used at that time is that it goes onto a service where a single decker needs used. It’s normally the double decker at other times.
The charging ports are activated from the drivers dashboard where it also activates the Wi-Fi on the double deckers. The tables all have wireless charging to if you wish to charge your phone. Thanks for the friendly compliment
I’ll best in mind the comment reference the blue strobes early in the morning.
@@k9psychology87 were you the driver of the bus or have I missed understood something
It sounds like he was the driver.
@@ChetNotJet I was the driver mate, I do it part time.
That bus that was on the 900 usually does the 902 I think. I usually get the 902 to go to Glasgow.
Hi Scott, I'm a coach driver in Ireland we actually have no way of turning on or off the WiFi, it just comes on when the bus is started. The WiFi is so unpredictable that our ticket machines that need Internet access for online tickets actually have a sim card inserted into them. Great videos by the way and happy travels 👍
Thank you Wayne happy safe driving your points helped
Why doesn't the driver just have unlimited data and provide a WiFi hot spot? Customers could sort themselves out better than the coach companies. It's 2023 and you can't sort wifi? Don't advertise it if you can't provide it! It's not even that hard to do
@@anotherone-ds1wn idk if this is just a limit of the iPhone, but last time I tried to use a personal hotspot on an iPhone, it limited me to 3 devices that could be connected to the hotspot at once. Maybe it’s different with other devices though, idk.
Security risk as scammers can fake the legit website. I've unlimited data just it drains the battery.
@@marcypan8219 I think they meant and actual dedicated hotspot device like a nighthawk 5g hotspot that’s the route I would take unless I could maybe get starlink or viasat service cheaper or at least have a restart button for the wifi without the engine being involved
Scott you've really outdone yourself here, absolutely fantastic! (although you are bonkers) Ahhh the best perk of working in the travel industry, free branded rulers. Although I wouldn't trade my British Midland one for your American Airlines. Megabus legroom - wow, that's impressive! Never used them before, I think from memory because they didn't offer the 'buy the seat next to you' option. That's another important one for me, especially on a long journey. Anyway, thanks man, this was awesome.
I agree with you 100% - yes I am bonkers.
When are we going to see an Edinburgh vs Glasgow challenge? Something like Taggart and Rebus would be good. 😂
I'm in the U.S.. Try Salt Lake City, Utah to Chicago, Illinois, via Memphis, Tennessee, on Greyhound, then straight back on Amtrak in coach. 4 days, brutal.
SteveMarsh should do a challenge with Scott at planes trains and everything.
You can now reserve your seat on megabus
Should have checked the toilets are open, as one company regularly has them locked plus check for air-con most have it but some surprisingly do not.
every single time ive used an x bus from stagecoach no matter how long the journey is the toilets are always out of order
The drivers dont like emptying them, the management is to blame.@@BuckfastTonic
Just a minor point, is it not worse saying you have WiFi but it doesn't actually work rather than just not having WiFi at all?
Malta bus driver here. The wifi on our buses is hardwired, as such, we have no control over the use of the wifi, not even the inspectors or supervisers, any problems with the wifi is refered to Telematics where I work. The companies I worked for in the UK had not yet fitted wifi, so I am not sure how it works in the UK.
There is a reason for the strange USB placement on the coach you were on. Those seats on the port side would have been moveable/removeable to allow wheelchair placement. This means that they can't be wired in to the power circuit. To get around this the USB ports are put on the hat racks above the seats where the reading lights are. Not a perfect solution, but pretty much the only place they can go.
I used to drive for megabus a few years ago, the Wi-Fi was usually an issue. The Wi-Fi/router/modem is in an exterior compartment near the rear of the coach. I think the companies only pay for so much data and when it's used, its gone till next month. Of the vehicles you travelled on I have driven versions of 3 of them (the flixbus being the exception). I prefer the megabus one out of those but my personal favourite is the Van Hool Astromega's that megabus used to run. It was an interesting take on the different companies and what each provide. Great video
thanks for putting yourself through that for your subscribers well done. would love to know how you got home!
I think the general attitude also matters. A few bad experiences with Megabus have put me off for life, yet I always find National Express to be decent. Never used Flixbus in the UK but have in Europe. I believe Flixbus just provide the booking service and the services are franchised rather like National Express but the coaches probably have to conform to a common design.
Also big thing for me is the facilities, one reason I like National Express is you often have proper coach stations with toilets etc, where as Flixbus and Megabus often picks you up from the street, if it is late there is no staff around to tell you what is going on. At least Megabus in some of the bigger do use proper stations.
Scott, I'm smiling, and you've not even started your journey. Your a hard man with your points and deductions. lol. Seriously, another good video. Keep up the good work.
National Express coaches have both standard UK sockets and USB sockets. The USB sockets are located in between the seats at the front and has a white surround on them
Hmm. Personally I am biased and just love National Express. When I was living in Manchester, younger and care-free I would do that journey from Manchester to Birmingham or London and go sightseeing. I am a bus and coach enthusiast and National Express had coaches with really nice sounding engines. Used to love booming through Manchester late at night with the sound of a big Scania or Volvo engine. Always found the seats to be comfortable myself as well. I guess the other operators are as good or better but it was a special experience for me at the time. You did well! That Manchester to Birmingham is a very long trip. To do that after a previous day of coach travel deserves more than a thumbs up! 👍 😂 The Little Yang Sing is a very good Chinese in Manchester next time you visit my wonderful City.
You're obviously not 6'5 then
yea indeed megabus was really good when they started out, even bus prices to London from Bournemouth, it would cost more doe to get a bus to coach pick up. my first megabus was with a group of punk rockers up to camden town it was hysterical, this poor old fella got on at Ringwood and shortly after went into the buses loo compartment, honest to god he stank out the whole double decker, and when we stopped at Southampton he got off, and the whole bus bundled off behind him moaning both the floors, and we was all sat still in place crying like juveniles even the poor driver got out the cab and bailed out, the journey was so funny, they all got back on after the driver had grabbed some air freshener out of a small storage cupboard and went round. we carried on to London under the spell of glade, minus the old fella thankfully. would give them top marks on entertainment value alone for just that trip.
great to see your in fountain garden in paisley
I once did Portsmouth to Glasgow via National express and when we crossed into Scotland the driver ( who was Scottish ) played VERY LOUD bagpipe music and woke us all up . ######d . Comfortable trip though .
Top rate effort of the various bus companies.
Certainly a very fair comparison, and Megabus looked the best. You deserve an award for enthusiasm and commitment. Scott, when do you ever sleep? :)
You looked just as good at the end of the video as at the beginning.
Don't know how this came up in my suggestions, but I really enjoyed that video!
I took a city link bus from Inverness to Glasgow last month. The bus had wireless phone charging on the seat in front. Thought this was a nice touch.
22 hours in 22 minutes! Amazing!
Great video... thoroughly enjoyed it...well done 👍
Loved this video. Keep them coming. Stay safe and well
Brilliant really enjoyed the video😊
Your work of 23 hours impressed me! Good work! Anyway, it is really great that British people can enjoy the competition between 4 companies, unlike the Flixbus monopoly in Germany.
That was great . Thanks Scott for your useful videos , I always enjoy your work 👍
My favourite coach by far was the original Trathens Neoplan Skyliners when the Rapide branding was introduced in the early 1980s. National Express gained access to Trathens luxury continental coaches, when such things were a novelty on public transport, and Trathens accesses National Express booking systems. Loads of legroom, comfy reclining seats, food and video on board, 3 hours 10 minutes Gloucester Road to Exeter, £7 return fare. If only this was still around. Later Neoplans were much more cramped.
Excellent video, Scott ! 🎉🎉 I enjoyed it. Thank you for taking us along. I am a subscriber.
I like the coaches on megabus and national Express but national Express win for me but we only have 1 megabus route from where I live
Remember a lot of these are franchises, NX for example does this. I believe most others do too. Also a lot of coaches will have been built without USB or wifi, and have been retrofitted for that. So your mileage will always vary depending on the route and company actually providing the coach,
What an amazing video and the trouble that you put yourself through for us.
What a fantastic and honest review!
Kudos to you for doing that journey! ☺️
What a video. Was really well put together and relaxing in a way.
Class. Thanking you. 👍
Thanks for the information about the bus services this provided. We really enjoyed watching it.
I used to love the short lived Megabus sleeper service between Glasgow and London. I used it quite a few times and always got a (relatively) good sleep on the bottom bunk.
Was always great value, certainly compared to the sleeper train.
I used the Megabus sleeper from Dundee to London and return. The bottom bunks were cramped and uncomfortable will little headroom, when turning over my shoulder would scrape the bottom of an occupied top bunk.
Really enjoyable video Scott. Very unusual keep up the good work.
Hi Scott Would it be possible to do a review of coach companies focusing on disabled travellers facilities? I have limited mobility and use a scooter so using public transport can be difficult. It would be great to see how these companies accommodate passengers in the same situation as myself. Fantastic videos by the way
Very thorough indeed! Liked!
Great video Scott
This is the first video of yours I’ve watched- it definitely won’t be the last! Innovative video idea- not a stupid repetition like other channels! Hope your channel continues to grow!
Informative, objective and feast for the eyes. Thank you so much for your amazing videos 🚌
Great video as always Scott, really enjoyed this one. What a marathon!
fantastically entertaining Scott, love your videos. My favourite is the Megabus from Glasgow to Aberdeen and back. Used it for years.
In my opinion its scottish citylink but thats only because they have saved my bacon a few times by running buses between inverness-Glasgow and other routes during some of the storms we had last year that shut most of the railways down in scotland!
Really useful!
I really enjoyed that exercise. Thanks for doing that. K
Hi Scott, I’ve not long got back from travelling on a Megabus and the reason you had such a huge amount of legroom is because you were sat in a seat with extra legroom. It was £2 book it, an additional £1 above the normal booking fee for a seat. Certain other seats were £3 to book. But I think that explains as to why you had all that room! :)
Perhaps "just 6 centimetres" was rather reminiscent of something else there😂
Nice one Scott Love your video 👍👍
There is a reason the tyne bridge reminds you of the Sydney Bridge, it was designed and built by the same people
Good evening Scott, dedication personified sir, Thankyou for taking the time and effort to do this challenge 👍🇮🇲
One bus co you don't want to use is GO Transit in Ontario! No wifi, no reading light knees touching the seat in front and 2 and a half hours to travel from Aurora ( a bit north of Toronto) to Barrie (a bit further north of Toronto). I can drive it in 30 minutes!
Absolutely fantastic information Scott ..thankyou so much for all the info on this video ..have a well seserved sleep now 😴👏👏👏
Great vid scott keep up the good work
Favourite coach - Citylink.
Just discovered your channel, like the content :)
You’re some man, Scott! What a commitment to great content. Hope you had a good sleep when you got to London
Brilliant video👍
I had a bit of a laugh after min. 5.53 as you living Flixbus, there's an ambulance waiting, I though (???) was it that bad?🤣🤣
Solid video Scott! I have found with NX coaches that older coaches tend to not have means of charging, but newer ones tend to have a USB. I need to try Flixbus and CityLink coaches. Only done NX and Megabus (with contractor buses)
Well done Scott!
Hey Scott! Brilliant video and really fun meeting you in Glasgow, forgot to ask for a picture with you though!
22 hours, I appreciate your hard work for this video! I made some of this weird trips of myself 🤦. Thank you, and stay always safe. Marco Germany
Great effort
Not that I'm currently employed in the industry, but I do have my PCV licence, and previously worked for many years on Nat Ex contracts, the WiFi can be turned on, or indeed off on the dash, but, and I do point out BUT it is notoriously iffy on coaches, and it may well have been switched ON but simply so erratic, that it was just not working, it is very very temperamental.
As for my favourite to travel on, I've not travelled on Flixbus but I have travelled overnight from London to Glasgow and Inverness (before they pulled the service) and I would personally say Nat Ex are my preference, but that's largely down to a very bad first experience I had with Megabus the first time I used them.
Loving the channel Scott. Great one this one particularly
I prefer National Express too.
I did an overnight megabus bus from Aberdeen to London it was alright there was no stops after Glasgow apart from driver change somewhere in England
However I did an all day megabus back 2 days later and that stopped everywhere took 13 hours
Hi Scott from France... just to let you know I start with my flixbus training next week...and have started this week with what they call "flixuni".. great videos keep clocking up them Kms! Subbed😊
These are my favourite videos that you put out.
Well played Scott! Glad you did this so I don’t have to!!!
Absolutely brilliant production
It's a Parks of Hamilton coach that was used on the Glasgow to Edinburgh route albeit in CityLink colours. The blue interior lighting is absolute overkill.
To be fair, it isn't to their usual spec. This was built for an Irish company who went bust during the pandemic and before the coach was registered. Parks snapped it up (along with a few others) so it isn't to the usual spec.
Incidentally, Stagecoach Perth depot have also acquired 6 Coaches from the same order. Hadn't noticed the footrest on those but I've only had a shot of one once!
Another good video
Another above and beyond the call of duty challenge, keep them coming!
I know that drivers for National Express have no control over the WiFi as I used to drive for them. I was surprised to see how good your experience with Megabus was because a few years ago I had a dreadful experience with them and vowed never to use them again. Never had an issue with Nat Ex and never used the other two so can't comment. Thanks for going through this ordeal, was a great video 👍
Another great video
Well done Scott that would of been tough going 👏🏻
Hi Scott My favourite coach bus is all of them.
Epic trip .
I followed your tip for the seat when doing the Glasgow-London overnight bus. Was a decent night bus (especially as I had travelled three hours already from Aberdeen)
Some job there amigo, stalwart!! Thank you for having the willpower to make that journey and film edit and share it. Would love to see a similar one in Ireland, maybe including Irish Citylink?
Well done man
Great vid as usual. I used to hate long journeys as a kid. Now I could sit on a train or bus all day as long as I had Internet! Good stuff chap. 👍
Nice my city on your video Sunderland thanks Scott w
Scott, as bonkers as you are for doing this video, I would have liked to see a comparison on seat width! I'll tell you why... I did the whole Victoria to Glasgow slog on National Express and back again last November as I came up to Scotland for a wee break and a concert at the Armadillo. I had the seat for people with mobility issues, so legroom was not necessarily a problem, although that seat didn't have a reclining lever at all on either bus! However, the main problem I had with my own physical condition was the width of the seat. My thighs were basically on the edges the entire time with the seat belt buckle digging right in, plus my head was whacking about in the wings trying to get some sleep. On the ride home, I got a bit desperate and bought a £15 neck cushion from the service station. I returned back to London in so much pain and ready to write National Express a strongly worded complaint. How did the comfort of the seats in FlixBus compare to those of Megabus for you? Which do you feel were the widest? Cheers! *gives a thumbs up*
You should have included toilet provision also in the scoring?
Thanks for this. I am 5ft 15ins so a legroom test is really useful.
I'm 6'5 so I can only sit in one seat on NatEx.
Great music! Manchester to London lots of stops
Excellent comparison video. My Wife and I nearly always travel around the Country by Car but we did a trip with National Express to Folkestone, from our Social Club in the North East of England. I was apprehensive but it was really comfortable with breaks every two hours. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it made a change from Driving. After watching your vid, I intend to try some of the other Companies you travelled with. Thank you Scott, it's videos like your that makes you- tube so interesting.👍👍
Hey Scott. That was really interesting. Just wanted to let you know that on your advice a while ago, I booked National Express overnight from Glasgow to London. Booked seat 2a for extra legroom but when I boarded the coach I was told there were no reservations on that service! I showed the driver my booking and he said he couldn't do anything about it. Fortunately I was 2nd on and got the seat anyway but he told me to take it up with the office. Would have been really annoyed if I hadn't got the seat as I would not have been able to ask the person to move. I was lucky in the end and it was the most comfortable journey I had had on the coach (I do thus once a year). Even managed to get 6 hours sleep! Anyway thought you would like to know. Thanks for all your insights, they are really helpful
Favourite Bus trips...any trip before they brought in a smoking ban. Used to get the red-eye between Belfast and Birmingham and smokes, dink and packet of cards turned the back of the coach into a party
Well done, my fav coach was / is the neoplan skyliner. I traveled to Spain a few times with siesta. Their new coaches look amazing.
So did i in the 80s. No Le shuttle then either. I'm sure it cost about £89 per person for 2 weeks as well.
I have previously used National Express, being a student at the blind College in Hereford i used to go home some at Stroud, then return to hereford Sunday night. Over the 4 year period i did this, i had a regular coach driver, who on several occasions because he knew I would be returning to Hereford. If I was running late, he would actually wait for me to arrive then catch up the time along the route! Would Love to do some coach travel now as this was a good 15-20 years ago!
Say Great Video Thanks
What happens to the knee to back of the seat in front measurement when the seat in front reclines? No from painful experience that it can impede on your comfort.
i must note that national express does have USB ports underneath the armrest below the seat. There you should find two USB ports but sometimes they aren't operational
That's dedication Scott...at 6ft 8ins tall I have a simple solution to which coach company to use.....none of them! Get the train every time and take advantageof advance ticket prices. You can get up and stretch your legs when needed, food and drink is available if you want it as are multiple toilets on long distance journeys. Keep up the good work!
The directional air vent is called a punkah louvre, we had them in the bunk space on board ships and submarines.Chris.
I very much enjoyed the video. My question to you, which coach company did you use to return to Glasgow - or did you use thebtrain ?
Wait… Megabus was the best?? I wouldn’t have ever guessed that! I used them once on a Glasgow to London trip years ago and the legroom and not being able to get off and stretch the legs is what sent me to NX, that and the fewer stops!
Always wanted to try the Megabus Gold sleeper service when it was in action and hope it comes back!
Going by this video I’m definitely going to be giving MB another shot! Thanks for a great video, Scott!
Yeay..we are no 1....The driver switches the wi- fi on...via a switch on the dash but it's normally left on..very unusual for the wi-fi not to be working on our megabus coaches...Blue night lights are becming standard on coaches and have to be left on at night due to health and safety...Huge Volvo / plaxton fan all we use on megabus
I agree, my local bus company has WiFi but doesn't work. As for my favourite national coach, I haven't travelled that way for many years but didn't mind the National Express in the day.
Have you tried Ember buses? I’ve had really good experience with them between Dundee and Glasgow!