ROY WHYTE looks into the development of the National Express ‘mega-routes’ between Scotland, London and the south and southwest coast, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The definition of a ‘mega-route’ relates to the mileage undertaken on a continuous coach journey from end to end without using a connecting service. It has been interesting to watch how mega-routes developed from the 1980s and how, up to the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 these routes continued to be maintained and strengthened under National Express.
The Scotland to London services clock up the most mileages and in comparison to other express routes could be described as mega-routes. Glasgow to London is 404 miles, Edinburgh to London is 403 miles and Aberdeen to London is 538 miles. Some cross-country routes clocked up even higher mileages and could be truly called mega-routes.
Prior to the 1980 Transport Act
The situation was thus: all the Scotland to London coach services were operated by the Scottish Bus Group (SBG) under licence; Glasgow to London being operated by Western SMT; Edinburgh to London operated by Eastern Scottish; St. Andrews to London operated by Fife and Aberdeen to London operated by Northern. All o…
