Passengers will have access to free wi-fi, on-board refreshments and a complimentary overnight pack containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, a bottle of water, an eye mask and a luggage label. Each berth has a reading light and curtain for extra privacy, as well as a duvet, pillow and blanket. Fares will range from £1 to £40. The service will run seven nights a week, leaving Glasgow at 11.15pm and London at 11.59pm with a journey time of just over eight hours.
The modified coaches have been certified by VOSA and are fitted with CCTV. For additional safety and security, each berth is equipped with a button to alert the driver in the event of an emergency. The vehicles also meet Transport for London’s new LEZ requirements which come into force in January.
Stagecoach Group chief executive Brian Souter says: “Travelling overnight is a great way to save time, and we’ve already seen growing demand for our night-time megabus.com journeys. The new sleeper services will offer extra comfort and facilities, but still at excellent value for money prices.
“We’ve always been at the forefront of innovative ways to make public transport more attractive and convenient for people. We believe the best way to find out if it’s a service our customers want is by offering them the chance to try it out for real. Travelling direct from city centre to city centre beats the hassle of a red-eye flight from an airport and is a greener, smarter way to travel.”
www.megabus.com
www.stagecoachgroup.com/scg/media/press/pr2011/2011-08-02/
From Tony Wilson and Colin Sellars
