Night bus gets axed
Perth-London service
The overnight bus service from Perth to London will be axed next month.
Megabus’ gold sleepercoach, which has been operating between Scotland and the UK capital since 2013, will end its services next month after suffering heavy financial losses.
Megabus has been operating the overnight journey from the Fair City’s Broxden Park and Ride to London Victoria – which takes eight hours and 30 minutes – for the past four years.
The sleepercoach features leather seats that fold out into fully-flat beds, however, the company has been struggling to compete against cheap flights to the capital and the overnight Caledonian Sleeper train to London Euston.
A spokesperson for Megabus said: “The services - which launched in 2013 - represented an innovative and new travel product and have helped provide a value-for-money long-distance transport option over the past four years.
A Megabus coach
“While the services have proved popular with a loyal core base of customers, unfortunately the overall level of demand has been below the level required for us to be able to continue the routes.
“We know that this will disappoint people who have enjoyed the service, and this is not a decision we have taken lightly, but unfortunately we have been left with no other option but to discontinue these routes.”
Each sleeper coach cost Megabus around £500,000, and it is continually said to be struggling to make the ticket prices of £50 per journey break even.
The last overnight Megabus service to London Victoria will be on Sunday, May 21.
No other option but discontinue