A new era in coach travel has begun with megabus launching its M3 service from Dorset to London, via Heathrow Airport.

The intercity coach operator has partnered with Yellow Buses to run five daily journeys in each direction from Poole and Bournemouth, Thursday to Monday.

Ticket prices start from as little as £9.

The first coach service set off from Poole at 3am on May 21 bound for London Victoria coach station.

In addition to the Poole/Bournemouth service, there is one journey a day between Weymouth, Dorchester and London.

The arrival of megabus means that travellers now have a choice of coach operators to both Heathrow Airport and the capital.

And Mark Venables, megabus MD, pictured, said that if the service performs well then it will move to seven days at the earliest opportunity.

Addressing a launch event at Bournemouth’s Marsham Court Hotel, he said forward bookings were healthier than expected.

However, they were heavily influenced by government announcements on the pandemic.

“When Boris speaks you see a change in bookings,” he said.

Speaking to Dorset Biz News, the megabus MD said planning for the new Dorset service had begun before the pandemic.

It’s the only new one being launched by the company which currently serves 65 destinations across the UK, from Inverness in Scotland to – now – Bournemouth in the south.

Mark said: “It’s long overdue and, now confidence is returning, it’s the right time to put our plans into action.”

As first reported on Dorset Biz News, the new timetable has been created by megabus and Yellow Buses to cater for day trippers from Poole and Bournemouth to London and vice versa.

There is also a 23:30 departure from London to provide a late night return for theatre goers and football supporters.

As with other megabus services, reserved seating is offered as well as additional leg room seats, complimentary wi-fi and an onboard toilet.

Mark said the company – owned by Stagecoach Group – had come a long way from its roots in 2003 when it operated double-deckers with £1 fares, targeted specifically at the student market.

It now offered high-quality travel in some of the country’s most modern coaches with (pre-Covid) more than 4m passengers annually.

Students account for between 15 and 20 per cent of ticket sales with megabus catering for all ages and lifestyles.

Commenting on the partnership with Yellow Buses, Mark said: “They’re a very well-known and well-respected company.

“A reliable quality operator.”

David Squire, Managing Director, Yellow Buses, pictured right, said: “As the local operator of bus services in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole conurbation and south Dorset area, it is great to be able to work with megabus to provide the services.

“The drivers are all local to Bournemouth and the surrounding area, so always have some help and advice to anyone visiting the area for the first time.

“With connecting tickets to be made available for the local service from Bournemouth to Christchurch and Wimborne, this will mean customers can purchase one simple ticket for their journey.

“We will also be selling megabus tickets at our travel shop in Bournemouth.”

Tickets are available to purchase from megabus.com

• All pictures courtesy of Paul Collins/pcvisuals.com