ULTIMATE TEST! Who's best? Citylink, Flixbus, Megabus or National Express. 22 hours to find out.
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- Опубліковано 9 лип 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.
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*** 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
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
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
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
That was great . Thanks Scott for your useful videos , I always enjoy your work 👍
You’re some man, Scott! What a commitment to great content. Hope you had a good sleep when you got to London
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
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😂
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.
Hi Scott, really enjoy the channel and it was fun to see my home town on this episode. Must point out though it's Middlesbrough not Middlesborough. Bit of a sore point with us Teessiders. Keep up the good work though 👍
What a video. Was really well put together and relaxing in a way.
Class. Thanking you. 👍
Loved this video. Keep them coming. Stay safe and well
Good evening Scott, dedication personified sir, Thankyou for taking the time and effort to do this challenge 👍🇮🇲
What a fantastic and honest review!
Kudos to you for doing that journey! ☺️
Thanks for the information about the bus services this provided. We really enjoyed watching it.
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
Planning to take a bus soon on a DIY overseas trip to the UK, this is really helpful, thank you for the thorough review!
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,
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!
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.
Don't know how this came up in my suggestions, but I really enjoyed that video!
22 hours in 22 minutes! Amazing!
Great video as always Scott, really enjoyed this one. What a marathon!
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
fantastically entertaining Scott, love your videos. My favourite is the Megabus from Glasgow to Aberdeen and back. Used it for years.
There is a reason the tyne bridge reminds you of the Sydney Bridge, it was designed and built by the same people
Cleveland Bridge
Informative, objective and feast for the eyes. Thank you so much for your amazing videos 🚌
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
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)
Absolutely fantastic information Scott ..thankyou so much for all the info on this video ..have a well seserved sleep now 😴👏👏👏
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!
Great video... thoroughly enjoyed it...well done 👍
Brilliant really enjoyed the video😊
Another above and beyond the call of duty challenge, keep them coming!
I really enjoyed that exercise. Thanks for doing that. K
What an amazing video and the trouble that you put yourself through for us.
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. 👍
These are my favourite videos that you put out.
Bloody Hell, Scott: you deserve a medal for that Marathon..!
How many days did it take you to recover? 😵
Really enjoyable video Scott. Very unusual keep up the good work.
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 .
Hey Scott! Brilliant video and really fun meeting you in Glasgow, forgot to ask for a picture with you though!
Great vid scott keep up the good work
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.👍👍
Very thorough indeed! Liked!
Well done Scott that would of been tough going 👏🏻
Great video Scott
Nice one Scott Love your video 👍👍
Well done Scott!
Really useful!
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 👍
Well played Scott! Glad you did this so I don’t have to!!!
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!
Absolutely brilliant production
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’m a national express driver and the wifi is to do with ignition and there are usb on all coaches just some maybe in weird places also the seats in a mark 2 are less comfortable than the new mark 3s and I wouldn’t touch megabus with barge pole
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.
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?
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
Just discovered your channel, like the content :)
Brilliant video👍
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😊
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 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)
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
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
Great effort
Another great video
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
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!
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*
Nit picking here, at 08:27 incorrect spelling of Middlesbrough.
As normal fantastic video, thank you very much Scott. Like some others I thought that you were going to do 2 return journeys.
I agree with you I would prefer a Chinese meal to a golden arches one, but, next time you will know where to go.
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.
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
Any bus that has a working screen showing the road ahead is a winner for me
Can't see the point, it actually causes glare and is very distracting
@@markylon what else are you going to look at if you're in an aisle seat
@@Nanonic001 the road ahead or a book.
@@markylon can't see the road ahead if you're in an aisle seat that's why the screens are so useful
@@Nanonic001 for me it's too bright on a night trip, they're too glaring and often they flick between different views and sometimes just show fuzz. I think they're an unnecessary annoyance
Well done man
Favourite coach - Citylink.
Loved this video, thought it was great! My personal favourite coach companies are National Express and Flixbus, but I'm not a fan of Ouibus/BlaBlaCar. Deserved a thumbs up!
When I lived in the UK (until 1980), I used to travel regularly between London and Nottingham. The company was United Counties and the buses were invariably Bristol coaches: solid, but dull. Now I live in Hiroshima and have never travelled long distance by bus (though the network is very extensive and efficient and the services have names: the service between Hiroshima and Tokyo being New Breeze). The shinkansen (bullet train) takes around 4-5 hours and the bus scores only on cost. There is a sleeper train, offering views of Mt. Fuji in the morning. I sometimes used the restaurant car and could have breakfast while passing Mt. Fuji. The Japanese do transport very well.
My father used to work for Trent Motor Traction (now Trent-Barton, I believe) and so we are a 'bus' family. I have fond memories of the front-entrance Duple bodied double deckers with early Leyland Engines, going through the gears on the way up Broughton hill on Service 2 to Melton Mowbray. There were three bus stations: Huntingdon Street, Mount Street, and Broad Marsh.
Another good video
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 ?
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.
Amazing .. How do you do it ?! You must have been shattered after all that. Thank you for making these journeys so we don't have to ! You do an incredible job. Well done.
I have done London to Glasgow,it isn’t nice
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!
Brilliant video and love your scoring!
I use to always use Megabus and pretty much used them form when they 1st started ( only had double decker buses then not coaches!) because of how cheap they we’re. Some times I would get a ticket for £1.
These days I always use National express because of being in shelter at the Bristol coach station ( i frequently travel Bristol > London and back) megabus is always out side lol.
All in all, I think both company’s are good, but you sometimes get a non branded coach that are sometimes crap.
Sorry for the rant haha. Stay safe and happy travels.
Excellent video as ever Scott. Quick hack Scott for National express use the seat by the emergency exit so much leg room only downside opposite the toilet. Keep up the bonkers videos love it
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!
Nice my city on your video Sunderland thanks Scott w
Turn your phone on and off on each Coach It sometimes helps
great to see your in fountain garden in paisley