Train or Coach

I recently had to head down to Dundee for a conference. The train fares were high (peak summer time) so I decided to look at coach tickets instead. So the final journey ended up being Megabus from Inverness to Perth, Citylink Coach from Perth to Dundee and back and then train from Perth to Inverness (National Express East Coast). Arriving at Inverness Bus Station I was looking forward to the journey as Megabus from Inverness uses new coaches that look pretty nice. My departure time was booked at 13.12 and since the coach is coming right from the bus depot, rather than other journey, you can be sure it will be on time...I thought. The tickets ask you to be there 30 minutes early for boarding. So at 13.00 there was no sign of the coach. At 13.10 it arrived. Ah well two minutes for us all to get on then. Only there was a problem. It sat there with the door closed. It seems we had the wrong driver. So when the right one arrived he got on and started checking tickets while the other driver helped us all load our luggage. So at 13.37 we left, very late. Before everyone thinks this is me being critical of Megabus let me explain. I understand Megabus to be a very reliable company, but in Inverness it is operated by Stagecoach Inverness a company that can't even get the first bus of the day out on time (0810 service to Dingwall - on time less than 50% of the times I've rode). On board my nice new coach was pretty good except the individual air vents were switched off. On a summers day with fellow passengers who perhaps are in need of a shower this was an issue. The journey was a long two hours.
Citylink was much better, for one thing the coach wasn't packed. So even if some of my fellow travellers had skipped the shower that morning I didn't notice. Plus the air was on, thank you Citylink. A pleasent journey to and from Dundee - and on time both ways.
Having enjoyed the conference it was time to head home and this was my train portion of the trip. Perth to Inverness first class on National Express. Well, you have to treat yourself after saving on every other bit of the trip! I was sitting at Perth thinking of dinner looking out over the Highland mountains. The Highland Chieftain is one of the few UK trains that still has an on board restaurant and the food is something else. The train was late, so I had lots of time to think of my dinner and to be honest I thought of very little else. Even after 30 years in service the HST still looks like a new train and I doubt there is anything more comfortable on the rails. I jamp on when it arrived and took a seat. Oh, it was a little hot. This reminded me of Megabus. The air conditioning was not working right. That is very unusual on the HST, its pretty reliable. Never mind dinner was about to be served. They always have the last serving just north of Perth from Monday to Friday. It was Saturday. Yes I had forgot that in my planning. Thoughts of a bowl of porridge and some toast were on my mind for the journey north.
Conclusions: avoid services run by Stagecoach Inverness. Citylink is pretty good if you are on a budget. Ask your Megabus driver (the one in the seat not the jolly yellow one painted on the side of the bus, to turn on the air), and check the day of the week before spending all conference thinking of your on board dinner.