inside of tour buses

Inside Celebrity Tour Buses: The Modifications Stars Make to their Mobile Homes

Who isn’t fascinated by celebrity homes? We love seeing the outrageous additions that adorn the mansions of the rich and famous. Couches worth tens of thousands of dollars, gourmet kitchens, and master bedrooms fit for royalty aren’t uncommon inside the homes of our favorite stars.

Not surprisingly, their mobile homes are no different.

For entertainers such as supermodels, singers, and even pro golfers, touring is what pulls in the most cash— a band can take home 35% of one night’s ticket sales plus up to 50% of the merchandise profits over one tour. Tirelessly entertaining dedicated fans from  New York to Chicago to Los Angeles  and every city in between, these celebrities may play up to 180 gigs in one year. When work requires such lengthy stretches of traveling on the road, comfortable mobile living space is a necessity.

While it seems a bit odd at first— why not just fly from one venue to another and save the time difference?— touring with a bus really is the most cost-effective and certainly the most convenient way to move a team around. These modified tour buses take away the stress of living out of a suitcase and provide celebrities with a “home base” where they can relax, unwind, and store all of their things in one consistent spot between appearances. It isn’t just a bus— it’s an office, a bedroom, a living room, a storage area, and a communal area to bond with your band and team, all in one big box on wheels.

Between living rooms, full bedrooms, and full bathrooms, celebrities work closely with companies that specialize in modifying tour buses to make them as homely and as comfortable as possible. These celebrities also tend to put a unique “touch” on their buses, some “touches” more outrageous than others. From leather couches to over-the-top back lounges, state-of-the-art kitchens, and even upstairs (yes, upstairs) lounges, celebrities certainly know how to get creative when it comes to building a unique “home away from home.”

All buses can be divided into four basic sections: a front lounge, which functions as a living room; a kitchen, or more typically, a “kitchenette;” a bunk area, where the band sleeps; and a back lounge, which is a bit of a “wild card” on these buses.

Keep reading to have a look inside the most extravagant celebrity tour buses we could find!

THE FRONT LOUNGE

A front lounge can usually seat about 10 people. They’re very “homey,” and great for socializing with band members and entourages or hosting friends and family. On either side of the lounge are usually couches, one of which is most likely placed on a “slide—” a mechanism that slides out when the bus is parked, adding up to 60 square feet of space and creating a proper living area.

While some celebrities prefer to keep their lounges simple and sweet— as Kenny Rogers says of his humble wheeled abode, “You buy what you need and you fix it up great!” — others like to beef theirs up a bit with luxury couches, oversized TVs, or high-tech controls.

Tommy Lee’s coach features a cozy front lounge with two leather-upholstered couches costing $25,000 each.

The front lounge may also include some sort of “master control” for the entire bus. John Legend has an iPad connected to his bus’s server for controlling light settings, changing the television and music, and adjusting the air temperature. Stored right in the same server are over 1,000 movies so there’s always something good to watch on the road.

TVs are also a must-have for all front lounges, and you’d better believe they come big— Heidi Klum’s front lounge features a 46-inch screen embedded into the wall. Mariah Carey’s mobile castle features THREE 60-inch TVs plus an extra screen hidden behind her makeup mirror!

Heidi Klum and Mariah Carey ended up having two of our favorite mobile homes— we’ll explain why later.

Also included in many front lounges is a killer sound system that would compete with any typical grounded studio. The Eli Young Band’s bus includes a 12-speaker system that’s used for blasting music through after parties and rocking the bus on the road with their favorite albums. “Loud” is the best way to listen to music, right?

THE KITCHEN

After the lounge area comes the kitchen. On a typical RV, kitchens are almost nonexistent— it is, after all, quite difficult not only to store all of the usual kitchen equipment but also to make room for appliances such as a stove, oven, and microwave, not to mention necessary counter space and cabinets. On top of all of that, who even has time to cook for themselves while they’re busy playing shows? Kitchens simply aren’t a priority on the road for most. The usual mobile kitchen features are a coffee maker, an electric tea kettle, and a mini-fridge.

John Legend’s bus, however, houses a full stove top, a toaster, a microwave that doubles as a convection oven, and extra cabinet space for preparing gourmet meals in between performances.

Despite limited space, though, alcohol is always a priority. For entertaining an entourage and unwinding after big shows, drinks on-demand are a must-have. Gwen Stefani’s coach includes a wine chiller, always stocked with a wide selection of her favorite blends.

Jake Owen’s kitchen even has a beer tap— every time his band stops in a new city, they will make an agreement to trade show tickets with a local brewery in exchange for a local beer on-tap on the bus.

Ron White’s kitchen features a hidden-away humidor with two sides— one for his cigar stash, and one for his scotch.

Brad Pitt’s mobile kitchen takes the cake. His features all of the amenities of any usual kitchen— the stove, the oven, the microwave, the counter, and the cabinet space— plus a built-in full refrigerator and dishwasher, totaling a cost of $60,000 just for the kitchen— more than double what the average person spends on a kitchen remodel in their house!

Past the usual mobile kitchen, you’ll find the bunks. Sleeping on a bus sounds painfully uncomfortable, right? The way most celebrities do it, it doesn’t have to be. Typically, each bunk features its own mini television, a curtain for privacy, individual controls for air conditioning and lighting, and sometimes memory foam mattresses! The average tour bus bunk is just about the size of a regular twin-size bed.

Lee Brice, however, took it up a notch on his bus with custom oversize bunks, which they call “condo bunks,” that feature all the regular amenities at a slightly larger size for extra comfort.

Many celebrities report that sleeping in mobile bunks isn’t so bad— the movement of the bus has a tendency to rock them to sleep, which is necessary considering the grueling daily schedules they may keep during a tour.

Most buses can accommodate 6-8 bunks, in which everyone can have their defined private space separate from everybody else. You’ll usually see pictures of family, charging outlets, and various other personal belongings inside each bunk.

THE BACK LOUNGE

Back lounges are where we find some of the most unique modifications.

For the most part, celebrities keep the back lounge as their private bed area— everyone needs their own quiet space, right? There’s usually a master bathroom included in the back, too, with a full shower, walk-in closet, and counter space. Tommy Lee’s master bathroom includes a full-size shower with a TV in the wall, and a closet with a fuzzy rail to keep hangers from sliding while the bus is moving.

John Legend’s master suite includes a plush queen-sized bed that slides out just like the couches in the front lounge. Also in his master suite is a 5.1 surround-sound system, with a subwoofer under the bed to make movie-watching in the back even more exciting.

Back lounges are more than just bedrooms, though. Travis Barker’s master bed folds up into the wall with the push of a button, creating the perfect private space for practicing his drums. He’s also made room for not just one, but two bathrooms on his coach, so there’s never any fighting over who’s getting the coveted bathroom space.

Laura Bell Bundy had a dance studio built in her back lounge, complete with a full-length mirror and a ballet bar, allowing her to practice routines between shows.

Ashley Monroe’s back room has been dubbed a “girls-only zone,” where she and her girlfriends can get ready for shows together and stay secluded from the rest of her band.

However, back lounges also have many more specific uses, such as that of Hunter Hayes— situated in the back of his bus is a full recording studio, in which he makes serious progress on all of his current songs. The studio features a mixing station, multiple monitors, and 5.1 surround sound. In it, he’s finished 20-30 demos while on the road.

Our favorite back room, though, belongs to Jeff Dunham— he has a full workshop in the back of his bus where he can not only construct but also repair his puppets while on the road, ensuring that they remain in pristine condition for shows.

Now, if all of this makes you roll your eyes and say, “of course they have all that, they’re celebrities!” Just wait— we aren’t quite finished yet.

Have a look inside these 3 over-the-top celebrity homes. These coaches are so spectacular that we couldn’t even single out our favorite features above!

Supermodel Heidi Klum is the proud owner of what is possibly the “greenest” mobile home on the planet. Her office on wheels is the world’s only 100% solar-powered RV, packed with countless other “green” modifications throughout the interior and exterior.

The designers of this eco-friendly coach took great care in conserving energy in every way possible when constructing Heidi’s mobile workspace. All throughout the RV are energy-efficient LED bulbs, which draw less power and don’t add heat to the coach; and high-grade eco-friendly fabric, covering the floor and upholstery. Located by the living space is a control panel, at which one staff member is tasked with ensuring that the RV runs exclusively off of solar power for as long as possible (in the event of an emergency, the coach can easily be switched to draw power from a generator).

With a floor plan that more closely resembles a luxury hotel room than a motor home, this coach includes a total of 320 square feet of living space, including a couch, a loveseat, and a 42-inch TV. Without a bunk area like most other buses, the main living space flows into a spacious kitchenette with a full-size refrigerator, a desk made completely out of recycled wood, and a small sink. The back room serves as a makeup area and dressing room, complete with an oversize mirror surrounded by eco-friendly lights, and a professional- grade hair-washing sink.

MARIAH CAREY

Just the front lounge and kitchen of Mariah Carey’s mobile mansion cover 600 square feet— bigger than most New York studio apartments! The lounge includes a 15-foot custom couch, a 25-foot slide on one side, and a 30-foot slide on the other. Facing the oversized couch is a 65-inch TV, connected to a 5.1 studio-grade surround-sound system. In the back is a full kitchen with a full stove top, refrigerator, convection oven, and a kangen water machine— a $4000 water ionizer designed to purify tap water by removing alkaline minerals.

Right by the kitchen is Mariah’s makeup station featuring a mirror surrounded by makeup lights, with a TV placed directly behind the surface of the mirror so that Mariah can watch her favorite shows while she’s getting her hair and makeup done.

Fantastic, right? We would expect nothing less from a star of Mariah’s status. But guess what? The top of this bus expands to an entire second story . That’s right— this bus is two stories tall when parked.

The second floor of this skyscraper on wheels is connected to the first by a marble staircase. Upstairs, you’ll find unique lighting with a color wheel, creating the perfect mobile dance club for Mariah and her entourage. Wrapping around the back of the dance floor is a 35-foot rounded couch that can seat up to 30 people, facing two more 60-inch TVs, one placed at either end of the bus.

All of the over-the-top amenities in this luxurious mobile tour home, which includes more than two tons of marble and stone, bring the cost to a staggering $1.8 million.

STEVE ELKINGTON

Pro golfer Steve Elkington takes the grand prize for the most insane mobile home modifications. His stunning mobile estate, which he’s nicknamed “The Big Show,” is an astounding 1,130 square feet, spread over two stories just like Mariah Carey’s moving castle. Standing in Steve’s over-the-top estate feels less like being in a bus and more like being in a cozy cottage— the coach is modeled after a golf clubhouse, meant to have that “19th-hole” vibe that all golfers love. Included in this wheeled mansion are a full washer and dryer, a full kitchen, a living room, a pro shop, a shoe rack, and a master suite, all on one massive mobile manor.

The kitchen features a full gas stove, an oven, and high-end appliances, with a restaurant-style booth for dining. The living room features a typical slide on the right side with the couch, adding even more square feet to the home. Just past the living room is Steve’s own putting green and a pro shop, where guests can come in and browse some of his golf gear. Next to the shop is his personal shoe rack and a station for cleaning and polishing his collection of shoes.

Right by the stairs are the full washer and dryer, tucked away in their own closet for when it’s time to take care of a few chores.

The roof lifts 35 feet to reveal a master suite, complete with a queen-size bed and a pop-up tv disguised as a cabinet at the foot of the bed. The TV screen can swivel to face the master bed or the two plush chairs that Steve and his wife often use to read or relax between games.

Finally, the home is completed with a luxurious master bathroom by the bed area.

From leather-upholstered living rooms to walk-in closets to upstairs dance clubs, we can’t say that we aren’t a little jealous of these luxurious buses . With living on these spectacular mobile mansions and simultaneously touring for months at a time year after year, it’s clear that these celebrities know how to work hard and play hard.

If you’re a musician looking to rent your own tour bus, check out “What is the Cost of a Tour Bus Rental?” on our blog and decide if you’re ready to “go pro” with your own bus!

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See inside the $1.5 million luxury tour buses celebrities like Drake and Doja Cat use

• Dreamliner Luxury Coaches builds plush homes on wheels for touring A-list musicians and their crew.
• The company says it rents its 190 luxury tour buses to musicians like Drake, Doja Cat, and Olivia Rodrigo.
• Rent for a full-service artist bus — a more than $1.5 million vehicle — starts at $50,000 a month.

Your favorite musicians probably all use a company you've probably never heard of: Dreamliner Luxury Coaches .

Going on tour involves more than just moving a musician from one city to the next. This is where Dreamliner comes in. The Nashville, Tennessee-based company is no typical bus operator like The Jet or Greyhound. Instead, its bread and butter is providing touring A-list musicians and their crew with luxury hotel rooms on wheels.

You'll definitely recognize some of Dreamliner's clients

The company's genesis can be traced back to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, founder Rich Thomson purchased 12 tour buses from an individual who needed to get out of a personal guarantee. Three years and the acquisition of two more coach operators later, the company now runs a fleet of 190 buses and flexes a Rolodex of celebrity clients like Drake, Olivia Rodrigo, and SZA.

Country musicians — think the likes of Kenny Chesney and Chris Stapleton — rent these coaches annually, Jeremy Maul, Dreamliner's CEO, told Insider. He says he's also helped with all of The Weeknd's tours. According to Maul, even Taylor Swift's team has sought support from Dreamliner, although the singer has been known to travel in her private jets instead.

"We're the bus company you call when you've made it," Maul said, adding that about 95% of its clients are musicians. "We work with the big runs like the Beyoncés and the Zach Bryans."

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Besides these celebrities, the company also has corporate clients that will rent for events like meetings and corporate trips. These luxury hotel rooms on wheels are so popular, Thomson says Dreamliner's fleet is on the road for about 300 days a year with the average tour running for approximately 60 days — or longer if it's a country artist.

What it takes to build a fleet of $1.5 million buses

Dreamliner's 190 buses include different layouts like crew, star, and executive. The latter is geared towards corporate clients while "stars" are designed for musicians. The typical "crew" bus — for travelers who support the main act — can accommodate up to 12 people.

For an average arena tour, an artists' team will rent between 10 to 15 buses. For stadium runs like Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, expect 15 to 20.

To build the mobile hotel rooms , Dreamliner typically acquires bus shells with only a dashboard, driver's seat, and steering wheel.

At the company's facilities in Nashville and Fontana, California, these bare-bone vehicles are then outfitted with plush amenities like mattresses with 900-thread-count sheets and bathrooms with showers.

Additions like Nespresso machines, smart TVs, and Le Labo candles create a true luxury feel. Some buses even come with a music studio for artists who want to record on the road.

Dreamliner's CEO says these post-conversion coaches are worth $1.5 million to $2 million each. Rent for one full-service "star" bus starts at $50,000 a month, which includes necessities like a driver, gas, cleaning services, and WiFi.

Following the recent acquisition of Hemphill Brothers, Maul says the company's only competitor is Senator Coaches, which predates Dreamliner. But he says there's a key differentiator between Senator and Dreamliner: The former is focused on massive rock bands like U2 while the latter targets younger artists like Drake and Justin Timberlake.

"We don't have a lot of small entry-level artists," Maul said. "Once you're a bigger band and you're on a larger or year-round tour, that's when you're going to want to work with us."

Watch: The true cost of turning America's school buses electric

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Peek Inside a Luxury Tour Bus That Carries Celebrities and Rock Stars

Kris Scott is the executive editor at Cheapism and has previously covered food, design, and lifestyle. Her work has previously appeared in Food & Nutrition, Modern in Denver, and Dallas-based Advocate Magazines. She lives in Colorado with her family and two heelers.

Courtesy of StormTrooper

Travel Like An A-Lister

If you've always dreamed of living like a rock star, it turns out you can — and not only in a pandemic but because  of the pandemic. Los Angeles-based StormTrooper Coaches ' clientele is usually musicians and other A-listers but, things changed last year. According to the company "With COVID and the concert scene coming to a standstill , StormTrooper, like so many other businesses , had to pivot." Keep reading to find out how you can travel in the same style as some of StormTrooper's famous clientele — including Post Malone, Lizzo, Beyoncé, and the Rolling Stones — as well as what it'll cost you. 

Related: Over-the-Top Celebrity RVs

Count 'Em — 12! — Bunk Beds

Grab 11 of your closest friends and family members, because the R19 sleeps 12 in four sets of triple bunks — six on each side of the coach. Each bed includes a light memory foam mattress and a privacy curtain.

Related: DIY RVs and Vans You Have to See to Believe

Space for Gaming

There's plenty of seating space in the R19. One end of the bus has an area that's perfect for gamers, with an Xbox One, DirecTV package, and high-end sound system. Each coach rental comes with unlimited Wi-Fi.

Related: Renting an RV? Here Are Some Features You'll Want — and Some You Won't

Luxury Bathing

The coach's bathroom might be on the small side, but a walk-in, rain-style shower isn't too shabby.

Related: The Most Outrageous Luxury RVs Money Can Buy

Cooking and Dining, Coach-Style

At the other end of the bus is a kitchen and another seating area with two TVs on opposite walls — no one aboard a StormTrooper R19 has to crank their neck to get a good view of the show while cooking or eating .

For more great RV articles and lifestyle stories, please sign up for Cheapism's free newsletters .

The Bus Will Travel

The StormTrooper Coaches experience will be available to private rentals year-round, and not just for clients based in Los Angeles. The company notes that the service will pick up clients "anywhere in the U.S."

Related: The Most Luxurious RV Resorts Across America

A Personal Driver

Though the company operates nearly 20 vehicles, the one shown here — the R19 — is a touring bus that comes with its own licensed driver and door-to-door service. All coaches are sanitized between clients , and your driver will be tested for COVID-19  between trips, too.

Related: 17 Tips for Riding out the Pandemic in an RV

The Cost ...

So, how much will this experience cost you? To begin with, there's what the company calls a "deadhead" charge of $1,200 per day. Those are the travel days it takes the driver to get from StormTrooper's L.A. home base to your doorstep, and then the same days back home.

… Nope, It's Not Cheap

Above and beyond the deadhead fees, travel in any of the company's coaches runs from $1,500 to $2,000 per day, plus $1.50 per mile. There is also a $500 cleaning fee, and clients pick up the cost of the driver's hotel room.

Interested?

The company works with two travel agencies who help clients put together an itinerary. To find out more, visit the StormTrooper Coaches website .

Looking for more options to hit the road in style? Be sure to check out our RV Rental Company Comparison .

the best celebrity tour buses of all time

take a look inside the mobile homes of the rich and famous.

Published Feb 9, 2016 5:00 AM

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Gwen Stefani’s extravagant tour bus is covered in white leather and stainless steel — exactly how we imagined it.

Actor Ashton Kutcher may just win most opulent celebrity mobile home with his 1,200 square foot, $2 million trailer. The large home is two stories with a rental bill of $8,750 a week  and all the luxury appliances you could want.

The lads in One Direction travel across the country in a stunning tour bus filled with black leather and  tons  of red accents. We are assuming the bright red kitchen is always fully stocked with….tea.

Dolly Parton is notorious for her eccentric taste in home decor and interior design. This can also be said for her humongous tour bus — which is now a part of a museum in Dollywood. In case you were wondering, there is a

President Barack Obama travels across America in a sleek black tour bus, complete with reclining chairs to relax after a long day of you know…running the country.

Will Smith’s $2.5 million mobile home is one for the books. According to Business Insider , the two-story trailer has 14 flat-screen TVs, $30,000 worth of leather, and an insane amount of technology.

The celebrity judge we all love to hate, Simon Cowell, has a beautiful $2 million tour bus with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and its own mobile medical unit. The behemoth costs Cowell $9,000 a week.

Lady Gaga’s Born This Way tour bus, aptly named the Born Brave Bus, is a work of art on the inside and the outside. The exterior is covered in beautiful graffiti, while the interior is covered in a stunning cherry wood with artwork created by Gaga fans hanging on the walls.

Country singer John Rich isn’t afraid to go all out when it comes to his tour bus. Decorated in red leather, black tile and mahogany wood, there is nothing in the tour bus left untouched by style.

This popular country band travels the nation in comfort — patent leather comfort that is. In addition to several brown leather cushions, the Zac Brown Band’s tour bus is filled with granite accents and a perfect amount of lighting.

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Get an inside look at your favorite stars’ crazy awesome tour buses.

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of one of your favorite artists would be like? We have a feeling it would be crazy busy, but probably all kinds of awesome — especially for stars who are on tour. Not only do they get to perform for screaming fans, but they get to spend their free time traveling in their tour buses (which, by the way, are pretty amazing!).

Just to get an idea of the glamorous life stars like Taylor Swift and One Direction are living, we found photos that showcase the inside of their tour buses. Click through, then let us know which bus you would want to travel on the most in the comments below.

Love J-14 ? Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for fun, exclusive videos with your favorite stars.

We never realized how spacious and extravagant a bus could truly be.

Talk about a sleek looking tour bus! We wonder if it ever feels crowded when all five guys are in the same room.

The "Firework" singer gave fans a sneak peek of her bus when she was eating cereal in bed. If it wasn't for the steel walls we would think she was in her actual bedroom!

It's crazy that the guy driving the bus is just around the corner from Taylor, who's sprawled out on a couch probably writing her next hit single.

Our jaws totally dropped when we saw this pic of Demi's tour bus. Talk about living the life!

With adorable accent pillows and blue lighting, it's easy to tell that a group of girls live on the bus. We want Little Mix to design our dream tour bus!

It's no wonder that Selena Gomez liked visiting the guys on their bus — it's totally spacious!

Cody's Harlem Shake video showed off his tour bus, which features a ton of plush seating and wifi!

While we're incredibly bummed that Drew Chadwick left the group, we bet the guys like having the extra space on their bus.

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Greyhound bus, recording studio, 894 inside tour bus stock photos & high-res pictures, browse 894  authentic inside tour bus  stock photos, high-res images, and pictures, or explore additional band tour bus  or  greyhound bus  stock images to find the right photo at the right size and resolution for your project..

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See inside Dolly Parton’s tour bus designed by the country star herself

After working "9 to 5," where does legendary singer Dolly Parton rest up? Her tour bus, of course.

Now, thanks to Dollywood, you can book that tour bus (which is called "Gyspy Wagon" by Parton) yourself!

Dollywood recently released photos of the "Gypsy Wagon" to promote a special accommodation the park is offering: up to two guests can stay at least two nights in "Dolly Suite 1986" (aka on the tour bus). The cost to do so begins at $10,000.

Aside from being a wildly successful country music icon, Parton also is a "free-spirited traveler," according to a Dollywood press release — so it's no wonder her tour bus is decorated akin to her personality.

According to that press release, Parton used this tour bus from 2008 to 2022, marking 13 years of traveling across the country. In that stretch of time, she did the most traveling on her 2016 "Pure & Simple" tour, where she visited more than 60 cities in North America.

While the outside of the bus may appear just as an average tour bus (you know, aside from the big, pink "Dolly" sticker), the interior proves to be a wonderfully-curated collection of items and furniture that are so Dolly Parton.

Upon entering, guests are greeted by a sitting area that exudes '70s vibes, complete with antique accessories like a vintage telephone. Don't worry though, there is a modern television!

According to Dollywood, Parton specifically requested the hand-painted murals that adorn the walls in this room.

"These unique paintings of wayfaring wanderers, wagons and crystal balls paint the interpretation of life on the road for the singer," the press release reads.

Then, enter the bedroom, which is by far the most quintessential "Dolly" room you'll probably ever see.

The bedroom boasts lots of jewel-toned accents, such as hot pink and blue wall designs — even the bedding, complete with fuzzy pink pillows, is a signature hot pink.

Her makeup vanity is also on display, complete with a makeup mirror, flowers in a vase and a perfectly-picked pink and purple vanity chair to match.

Open the closet door and guests can get a glimpse of some outfits and accessories the singer has worn.

And the standout detail of the bedroom: Parton's wig cabinet. Parton herself said that her wigs have sort of become her "trademark" over the years, so it's no wonder the singer wants some of them on display for her guests.

Parton's home away from home includes a plethora of design details that perfectly encapsulate who she is. Our only question now is: When do we get to stay?

Madeline Merinuk is a writer and newsletter editor at TODAY.com where she reports on pop culture, lifestyle and trending news. She's a graduate of Hofstra University with a B.A. in Journalism.

The Inside of A Charter Bus - Let's Take a Look

If you've never been on a charter bus, then you're in for a treat. Let's take a peek inside and see what this mode of transportation offers.

The inside of a charter bus

As soon as you step onto the bus, you'll be blown away by its sheer size. And we're not just talking about the outside - the inside is just as spacious. With plenty of leg room, you can sit back and relax on your journey. But that's not all - the seats are also extremely comfortable, with soft fabric and plenty of cushioning.

For the luxury-style charter buses, you can expect leather reclining seats and wood paneling throughout the bus. If you're looking to travel in style, then this is the way to do it.

Now that you've gotten a glimpse of the inside of a charter bus, we'll cover some of the amenities that are available on board.

Oversized Windows

Oversized windows are one of the best features of charter buses. Not only do they provide panoramic views of the scenery outside, but they also let in natural light, making the ride more enjoyable. Plus, if you're prone to motion sickness, the wide field of view can help alleviate any symptoms.

Overestimating how much time you have before your next stop is easy to do - but luckily, charter buses are equipped with restrooms. This way, you don't have to hold it in for the entire ride. There's usually a toilet and a small sink - so you can take care of business and freshen up before you reach your destination. Some charter buses also have showers, but that isn't the standard.

Wifi and outlets for charging devices

Over the years, wifi has become standard on charter buses. This is a lifesaver if you need to stay connected for work or want to stream your favorite movie during the ride. Remember that charter buses travel long distances through uninhabited areas, so the wifi can sometimes be spotty.

Having outlets is also very common on charter buses so you can keep your devices fully charged.

Most modern charter buses have TVs onboard, which is a great feature for those who want to stay entertained on long trips. You can either watch your favorite movie or show or even just relax and take in the scenery. It's your choice!

Note: You'll either find the tv screens on the back of the seats or hanging overhead and spread throughout the bus.  

Air Conditioning/Heating

Staying cool in the summer or warm in the winter while traveling the years, charter buses have been outfitted with better and more reliable air conditioning and heating systems. This ensures that passengers are comfortable no matter what the temperature is outside.

Overhead bin space

If you're traveling with a lot of luggage, then you'll be happy to know that charter buses have plenty of overhead bin space. This means that you can store your suitcases and other belongings without having to worry about them taking up too much space.

Oftentimes, the bins are spacious enough to fit a carry-on and a personal item. So, you can easily keep all of your essentials with you during the ride. Just be sure to pack lightly so that you can take advantage of this storage option.

Charter buses have come a long way - and they're only getting better. With so many amenities on board, it's no wonder that this form of transportation is becoming increasingly popular. The next time you're planning a long trip, consider renting a charter bus. You won't be disappointed.

Need group transportation? 

We have a fleet of over 70 buses to meet the travel needs of groups both small and large.

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16.04.2019 · Music

Red Bull Tourbus

Red Bull tour buses travel the world entertaining music fans from rooftop stages. With plushly kitted-out interiors, the buses provide an extraordinary venue for performers and audiences.

The first Tourbus is an old-school Mercedes tourist bus renovated in 2006

© Daniel Delang/Red Bull Content Pool

Until We Last at the Bacardi NH7 Weekender in Bangalore in 2013

© Neville Sukhia/Red Bull Content Pool

The Tourbus took Italian metal legends Lacuna Coil to their fans in 2014

© Olaf Pignataro/Red Bull Content Pool

The rolling all-in-one concert rocks Mumbai in 2017

© Bhuvnesh Mutha/Red Bull Content Pool

The Red Bull Tourbus sets up for another gig, this time in Budapest

© Mark Somay/Red Bull Content Pool

Romanian hip-hop band Subcarpati chill inside the Tourbus before a gig

© Attila Szabo / Red Bull Content Pool

Polish artist Dawid Podsiadlo entertained a big crowd on a Tourbus gig

© Michal Murawski / Red Bull Content Pool

Raftaar on the rooftop stage

© Ali Bharmal / Red Bull Content Pool

The interior of tour buses retain orginal features

© Gustavo Cherro/Red Bull Content Pool

Indian rock band Indian Ocean rocked the Tourbus in 2018

Aastha Gill and Badshah chill inside a Tourbus

Canadian indie band Young Galaxy put on a Tourbus show in Montreal

© Karel Chladek / Red Bull Content Pool

Finland's Olavi relaxes in a Tourbus's plush interior

© Victor Engström/Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull Tourbus: coming soon to a city near you

© Attila Szabo/Red Bull Content Pool

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Meet The Castellows: The Breakout Country Music Trio of Sisters to Watch

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Three sisters from Georgia are headed for massive success as a part of a neo-traditional country music trio, The Castellows. The group is made up of Ellie on lead guitar, Powell on the banjo, and Lily on lead vocals and bass.

Ellie and Powell (21) make up two-thirds of a set of triplets, while Lily, the baby of the group, is 18 months younger than her two older sisters. The close-knit siblings grew up on a farm in Georgetown, Georgia, where they were homeschooled, leaving plenty of time for spontaneous horseback rides , learning musical instruments, singing in their church choir, and plenty of sisterly bonding.

Pursuing a career in country music was never the plan for the sisters, who all started down different career paths at the University of Georgia, but as their following on social media took off, so did their music. In July 2023, The Castellows packed up and moved to Nashville, signing with Warner Music Nashville. In February, the trio released their first album, A Little Goes a Long Way , and the ultimate catalyst for their success today. This year, The Castellows will join country powerhouses Little Big Town and Sugarland on tour, performing original songs from their new chart-topping album.

Country Living sat down with The Castellows to get all the details on their journey thus far and find out what's next for these country rising stars including their new "Everything for the Ride Campaign" with Farnam.

CL: What was the moment for each of you when you were like, ok I want to pursue a career in music?

Ellie: "I think it maybe all happened at different times, but we kind of realized it all at the same time, in a way. It was really whenever we started writing songs, because we always played together and always had fun, but that gap doesn't close itself unless you're actually writing. So, I think whenever we played original music for the first time live, we were like 'oh', that's when we kind of looking at each other and being like, 'wait.'"

Powell: "That was when the switch flipped for me, when we started playing our own music live."

CL: As far as your songwriting process, is every song a collaborative effort between the three of your or do you have one person taking the lead on certain songs?

Ellie: "I think the cool thing about writing songs is obviously everyone has their own way of doing it, but I think that at least I have, and I think y'all would agree with me, is that there's no really wrong way to write a song. Every method of writing a song is valid, and great songs can come out of it. So, I think for us being really open-mined, just allowing the air to be collaborative with whoever you're with."

Lily: "And it's not like, oh I contributed the most lines, or Ellie contributed the most lines, or I didn't contribute any line to that song, what was I doing in that room? We have days where some of us are stronger writers than others."

Powell: "But it's also cool to see our different music tastes."

CL: I must know, as a girl with a sister myself, what has it been like working so closely as sisters? Have you always been close?

Lily: "We definitely have fights. But I think because we grew up homeschooled and we were so close in age, we've always been each other's best friends. And we might not have had hordes and hordes of friends growing up, but we always had each other. And so, I think that's translated into us working together so well, because we've kind of just been together our whole lives. I think if we weren't, if we didn't grow up that way and we weren't together all the time, working together would be a lot harder. And that's not to say that we don't have our arguments and our, you know, skirmishes."

Powell: "I think we respect each other a lot. We know we each have our own strengths and weaknesses and where I'm strong in something, Ellie's not really strong, you know, one of us is lacking. But I think we know we can't do it alone and we need each other."

CL: As a part of your "Everything for the Ride" campaign with Farnam, you wrote three original songs, highlighting your love for horses, on a farm outside of Nashville. Where did you draw inspiration for these new songs?

Ellie: "We love to write about how we grew up and where we come from, and that's super important to us. So, I feel like all these songs came super easy because we grew up riding [horses], we grew up on a farm, and really the things that inspire those songs were just part of our lives, like riding, being on the farm, riding together, having responsibilities of taking care of an animal, taking care of horses and cows, and that just came super naturally."

Lily: "We like to write about things we know. We also like making up stories and having fun with it, but I think where we really have fun is where we write about personal things."

CL: The "Everything for the Ride" campaign is tied to horses in a big way, and riding has always been a big part of your lives. Can you describe when your love for horses began and how the passion has evolved over the years?

Lily: "I remember being, like, 17 months old and looking at a picture of me sitting on the back of a horse. And then I think we were all crammed up together."

Powell: " Our grandmother had horses growing up. She loved to ride, still loves to ride. Our mom grew up with horses and she wanted to make sure that we all grew up with horses. And we grew up homeschooled. So we had a lot of time to be on the farm in Georgia, and I remember being, like, 12 and 13 and going on trail rides with just the three of us. And mom would be like, 'Okay, y'all have fun, be safe.' And we would, you know, run the entire day. And we broke some bones, which is, you know."

Ellie: "We broke a lot of bones."

Powell: "There's five of us in total. Mama was like, okay, little break. Y'all go ride y'all's horses and have fun. But it taught us a lot about independence and how to handle something that's bigger than you. Situations that are bigger than you. Those animals are huge. And we were, you know, 11, 12, and 13 going on our own and figuring it out and breaking bones and having fun. And, yeah, I remember from an early age, we've had horses all growing up."

The Castellows found the perfect partnership for their budding music career in Farnam, combining their love for horses to create the perfect soundtrack for horse lovers like themselves.

A Little Goes A Long Way

Exclusive: Peek Inside Carly Pearce's Tour Bus

Reba mcentire drops major career news, what is dolly parton's net worth, fans are praising carrie underwood for her latest career move, kelly clarkson brings jelly roll to tears with "save me" cover, miranda lambert is hitting the road again, lainey wilson had the best reaction to winning her first grammy.

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Review: The Big Bus Tour in New York City

I absolutely loved the Big Bus Tour in New York City. It’s the best way to go sightseeing in an open-top, hop-on hop-off, top-rated tour and explore the best New York attractions !

If this is your first-time visiting New York and you want to see all the top landmarks, this double-decker tour bus will take you there.

The Big Bus Tour in New York

You may be wondering if a hop-on hop-off bus is worth it. Absolutely, yes!

If you consider the time and money spent on transportation costs, waiting for buses, navigating the subway (which can be confusing for visitors), and getting from one point of interest to another, it is worth every dollar!

I had a great visit to New York City on Big Bus Tour. My goal was to show the city to some friends from Italy who were visiting the US for the first time.

Since we only had about two days to spend together, the hop-on hop-off was undoubtedly the best decision.

From our experience, we’ll answer commonly asked questions about the Hop-on Hop-off bus while visiting New York City.

Google Reviews

Why take the big bus tour in new york.

While seeing New York from the open-top deck of the double-decker bus, the city unfolded block by block with panoramic views from every angle.

As we traveled through the streets, the sights were unobstructed and new visual backdrops were revealed.

The towering skyscrapers and colorful billboards filled the air with excitement and as the cityscape continued to change, it gave a grand feeling to the experience.

I especially enjoyed being able to relax from the upper deck of the bus while taking in the energy of city scenes.

Because I also live in a large city, the rhythm felt familiar from the elevated vantage point .

Car horns were honking, crowds traversed through the streets and there was an endless hum of activity.

Best of all, the tour gave me the chance to interact with other travelers who were seeing New York while waiting for the tour to began.

We struck up conversations and exchanged stories, insights, and recommendations during our stay in New York.

How Much is the Big Bus Tour in New York

The regular price of an adult and child ticket is $60.00 and $50.00, respectively. However, you can use the link below for discounted fares.

Get discounts for the Big Bus Tour NYC  here .

How Long is the Big Bus Tour in New York

The round-trip New York City Big Bus Tour takes about two hours from start to finish.

The bus is the perfect solution for visitors worldwide because they offer pre-recorded audio narratives and translations in five languages — French, German, Spanish, Italian, and English.

Are There Toilets on the Big Bus

No. Unlike charter buses, you won’t travel long between stops. So the best thing to do is exit at a stop, find a public restroom, see an attraction, if desired, and then catch the next bus.

If you are not sure where to find one, ask a Big Bus guide on the street. The driver may also have some suggestions.

Charter buses come equipped with a bathroom because travel is expected to be for a much longer period.

How Does the Big Bus Tour Work in New York City

The tour offers three options for purchase — 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day.

When you decide the number of days of your tour and purchase your ticket, the clock starts when your ticket is scanned while boarding the bus for the first time.

The ticket is good for 24, 48, or 72 hours. So, if you have a 1-day ticket and board the bus at 11:00 AM on Monday, it can still be used until 11:00 AM on Tuesday.

We found a ton of touring options for sightseeing in New York.

Aside from the extended period, the 2 and 3-day tickets also offer discounted bike rentals.

The buses run every 20 minutes on average. However, the first stop at the M&M store can be a long wait during peak season.

You can exit or board at any of the designated stops as much as you want.

The only exclusion is the one-loop tour Night Tour which is a panoramic non-stop tour.

Where to Catch the Big Bus Tour in New York City

During the tour, the buses only stop at designated stops.

Your ticket is good for as long as the buses operate during the day and it may be used on both the red and blue routes.

When you board, make sure you get a hop-on hop-off New York bus route map!

Big Bus NYC Red Route

The red route sightseeing tour covers lower Manhattan and you’ll see many landmarks like St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Wall Street, the Chrysler Building, and General Grant’s Tomb.

You can catch a tour at any one of the following bus stops and you can get your tickets in advance of boarding.

1 – M&M’s World – 7th Ave & W 48th St (Outside M&M World & Majestic Deli)

2 – Times Square East – W 42nd St & Broadway (at Knickerbocker Hotel)

3 – Empire State Building / Korea Town – 5th Ave & W 32nd St (at CVS Pharmacy)

4 – Flatiron District – 5th Ave & W 23rd St (at Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop)

5 – SoHo – Broadway and Spring Street (at Nike Store)

6 – Chinatown / Little Italy – 100 Lafayette Street (near the corner at Walker St)

7 – Brooklyn Bridge – Park Row & Beekman St (across from 33 Park Row)

8 – Wall Street / Charging Bull – Broadway & Wall St (Southwest corner near Rector St)

9 – Statue of Liberty / Battery Park – State St and Bridge St (at Subway Entrance)

10 – Circle Line Sightseeing – 12th Ave & 40th St (opposite Pier 81)

11 – Times Square North – 7th Ave & W 50th St (at Majestic Deli)

Big Bus NYC Blue Route

The blue route covers upper Manhattan, and half of the ride is mostly views of Central Park. You can switch to the blue route at red stop #2.

We recommend changing routes at stop #11 (the Majestic Deli) where you can take a break and have a nice lunch.

12 – The Metropolitan Museum of Art – 5th Ave & E 83rd St (near 83rd St)

13 – Central Park Zoo – 5th Ave & E 66th St (opposite 845 5th Ave)

14 – Columbus Circle – Central Park & Columbus Circle (SW corner of Central Park)

Tips and Things to Know Before You Go

The bus has two levels, the upper level offers panoramic views of the city but be careful of overhanging traffic lights and trees. Don’t stand while the bus is in motion.

• After you find a seat, check the audio to confirm it is working.
• Snacks are allowed. Bring a frozen bottle of water and protein bites to keep you energized.
• When on the upper deck, cover up with sunscreen to protect your skin on hot sunny days.
• If you are a family of 3 or more, take seats across from one another so you’ll have views and photos from both sides of the bus.

Tourists were lined up at stop #1 at least an hour before departure and the line extended the entire block and rounded the corner.

We decided to see other points of interest and returned around 11:00 AM.

The wait to board the bus was about 20 minutes. It was a relaxing ride and there we saw so much!

By the time we reached stop #9, we were pumped and ready to exit the bus so that we could explore the city! And you probably will be too.

Here’s the secret sauce that really made the experience memorable. Exit at stop #9 and take a FREE ferry to Staten Island.

To see the Statue of Liberty, stand on the left side of the boat. When returning, stand on the right side.

Traveling on a budget? Read my review of the Westside YMCA Hotel !

Final Thoughts About the Big Bus Tour in New York City

Overall, the tour was a pleasant way to see New York city and when you are on the upper deck, you hardly notice the traffic.

Some other advantages of seeing the city by bus include:

• Avoiding parking hassles. I mean, who actually drives in New York?!
• Photo opportunities. With the open-top or large windows, you have excellent photo opportunities as you pass by iconic landmarks and cityscapes.
• Comprehensive sightseeing of major landmarks and attractions within two hours.
• You can get local recommendations from the guides who operate the bus.

I usually opt for a hop-on hop-off bus when I am short on time or to get my bearings in the city before deciding what to do.

Either way, when you take the tour bus, it doesn’t appear impossible to take a bite out of the Big Apple.

Happy Travels!

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Lions have sex on top of safari truck full of people, wild video, roaring sex lions get busy on top of safari truck ... tourists take it all in.

A couple of lions felt the love so much that they started banging on top of a tourist safari truck ... and the people inside certainly got an eyeful and then some.

A group of tourists partaking in a South African safari were recently left stunned as 2 randy big cats made themselves at home atop their vehicle.

The male lion is seen mounting a resting female lion ... confirming their boinking session with a couple of growls. The jeep noticeably shakes from side to side as they do it ... sparking laughter and gasps from the tourists seated below.

The lions' intimacy didn't last too long ... with the lioness lying tired to the side as the king of the jungle eventually disconnected.

While the encounter may have given some tourists the ick on the spot ... it's significantly less scary than the African elephant attack from earlier this month -- which ended in a death.

No one died here ... just a couple of kitties getting laid!

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Fleet Week kicks off in Miami; take a look inside the USS Bataan

Jenise Fernandez , Anchor/Reporter

Trent Kelly , Reporter

Christina Vazquez , Reporter

MIAMI – Fleet Week kicked off Sunday in Miami and we’re giving you a sneak peek of all of the exciting things you’ll be able to see this week.

Local 10′s Jenise Fernandez got a full tour of the USS Bataan as it headed into port.

In true military style, she arrived in an MH-60 Sierra helicopter as the USS Bataan was just off the coast of Miami.

The ship is massive, carrying about 2,600 men and women of the Navy and the Marines.

“What those sailors get to experience and delve right into the culture of Miami, meet the folks here, tell them what they do for a living. It’s so important,” Adm. Daryl Caudle, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces, said.

It’s ready for deployment at any moment. In fact, it just came back from an 8-month deployment in the Persian Gulf.

“The baton just came back from deployment, a 7+-month deployment on the ship, within an amphibious radius group and a marine expeditionary unit, who conducted operations in the Mediterranean, and in the Persian Gulf. So they were right in the thick of things,” Caudle said.

As part of Fleet Week, the crew onboard will spend the next seven days seeing the South Florida sights while also welcoming the public onboard to get a glimpse of life in the Navy.

“I love it, this is great,” said Jimmu Montana, who was aboard the ship on the first public tour offered on Monday. “And being in Miami, I have been her for 40 years, and having a show this size is awesome.”

The USS Bataan is a working ship, but it’s also where the sailors live, but now, they’re getting to stretch those sea legs.

“I am very anxious. I haven’t seen the family in over 10 months, so this will be the first time they’ve seen me in quite some time -- since last summer,” Chief Logistics Specialist Donald Eugene said.

Eugene is from North Miami. A graduate of Miami Dade College, he is looking forward to helping inspire the next generation.

“I don’t think there’s any job out there that’s gonna allow you to travel as much as we do on the government’s dime,” Eugene said.

And the same goes for Senior Chief Carlos Augusto Rivas, who has been with the Navy for 23 years. He was born in Nicaragua, but raised in Miami.

“I thought I wasn’t going to be able to do a lot, being an immigrant. The Navy opened doors that I never imagined I could open,” Rivas said.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Graziano enlisted in the Navy after graduating from Coral Gables Senior High School.

“Being able to come back now after a little bit over 16 years has been a great opportunity, to just be one of the first ones to bring the inaugural fleet week to Miami,” he said. “To be able to showcase, not just only our capabilities, but also just how much pride of defending the country there is on board the USS Bataan.”

The men said they are grateful for the opportunities and excited to enjoy home.

“Just the warm weather and a little bit of Miami love,” Rivas said.

As for Eugene, he said he’s of Haitian decent and is looking forward to having one of his home country’s traditional dishes.

For public tours/tickets, visit https://fleetweekmiami.org/ .

Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About the Authors

Jenise fernandez.

Jenise Fernandez joined the Local 10 News team in November 2014. She is thrilled to be back home reporting for the station she grew up watching. Jenise, who is from Miami and graduated from Florida International University, also interned at Local 10 while she was in college.

Trent Kelly

Trent Kelly is an award-winning multimedia journalist who joined the Local 10 News team in June 2018. Trent is no stranger to Florida. Born in Tampa, he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he graduated with honors from the UF College of Journalism and Communications.

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The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time. The life and music of Amy Winehouse, through the journey of adolescence to adulthood and the creation of one of the best-selling albums of our time.

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ACM Awards Announce Major Performers and Duets for 59th Annual Show

And they've been revealed to Country Living exclusively.

Country Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?

The countdown is on for the 59th Annual ACM Awards. And while the news of the host and nominees already has fans excited, the latest slate of performers and collaborations are taking this year's show over the top.

The ACM Awards also announced that 2022 New Male Artist of the Year winner Parker McCollum will be taking the stage. Nominee Kelsea Ballerini will be performing a duet with Noah Kahan ; Nate Smith , New Male Artist of the Year nominee, will be joined onstage with “Complicated” singer Avril Lavigne ; and husband-and-wife duo Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani will perform together.

This show stopping lineup joins the already announced performers, including Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll , Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert , Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson . Reba McEntire , who is hosting for the 17th time, will also debut new music during the broadcast.

With a lineup like this, the show is not to be missed! The 59th annual ACM Awards will air on May 16, exclusively on Prime Video .

Catch Up on Country Music News

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Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers gift guides, product reviews, crafts, and TV shows like Yellowstone. She’s currently stitching up a cross-stitch pattern for the magazine’s next issue 

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Inside Malaysia’s express buses: From Singapore to KL, with caution

Advertisement.

Between 2022 and this March, there were at least 32 reports of express bus accidents in Malaysia. The programme Talking Point digs into the safety issues and finds out what travellers should do if they meet with an accident.

Flames engulfing an express bus that was heading for Kuala Lumpur on Jan 13.

This audio is AI-generated.

Derrick A Paulo

SINGAPORE and KUALA LUMPUR: Singaporean Vincent Ong was asleep on a bus heading for Kuala Lumpur (KL) when he was awakened by a “loud bang” at about 3:50 a.m. on the North-South Expressway.

The bus had collided with a motorcycle, which went under the front of the bus and burst into flames. When Ong opened his eyes, he saw “sparks at the front of the windscreen”.

“A lot of the passengers were still fast asleep,” he recounted. “I shouted out … ‘Get out of the bus!’”

The driver had to kick open the front door “because it’d malfunctioned, because of the collision or the fire”. Then the passengers “started walking out”, continued Ong, who was seated “somewhere in the middle”.

“There was no instruction for us to use the emergency exit door at the back,” he said. “I would’ve gone that way instead of towards a fire.”

Seated next to the emergency exit was an Indian family, who were the last to exit and were “badly burnt”, he recalled. A 17-year-old girl died in the incident in January, and two of her family members were seriously injured.

The bus had a crew of three — a driver, a co-driver and a conductor — but Ong felt that they were “unclear (about) the safety procedure in emergencies such as this, where there’s a fire”.

“A 17-year-old girl could’ve been saved,” he said. “She would’ve easily exited from (the rear) and be alive today.”

Buses like the one he took, which offer long-haul services between Singapore and cities in Malaysia, are commonly known as express buses.

Between 2022 and this March, there were at least 32 reports of express bus accidents. Nine of these cases involved passengers from Singapore.

Related stories:

Teen killed after bus travelling from Singapore to KL crashes into motorcycle on highway

Two dead after tour bus from Singapore collides with car along Malaysia expressway

The programme Talking Point finds out just how safe these rides are, what more can be done and what travellers should do if they meet with an accident in Malaysia.

SAFETY LAPSES, BUT DRIVERS UNFAZED

For popular routes such as Singapore to KL, checks on ticketing platforms such as BusOnlineTicket, Easybook and redBus found that about 20 per cent of the buses depart between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

But about two-thirds of the accidents reported between 2022 and this year happened during these hours.

As part of her investigation into the issue, Talking Point host Diana Ser took an overnight bus to KL. And the first thing she had to do was change seats thrice to find a seat belt that worked.

Wearing seat belts on express buses is compulsory, so she “didn’t expect it to be so difficult to find functional ones”.

WATCH: Behind bus accidents in Malaysia — should you take an express bus? (23:12)

There was no co-driver on her bus either, even though it is legally required for distances exceeding 300 kilometres. (The distance from Singapore to KL is about 350 kilometres.)

Another safety lapse she spotted — using a speed tracker — was that the driver’s speed reached “as high as 125 kilometres per hour”, when the speed limit for buses on the highway is 90 km/h.

His speed hovered between 100 and 110 km/h “most of the time”, and Ser reached KL in “just under four and a half hours”.

There, she spoke to several express bus drivers on why the bulk of the reported accidents happened at night. “Krish”, who has been driving for more than two decades and who requested anonymity, cited speeding.

“We can’t speed (in the daytime),” he said. “(At) night, we speed. … Traffic is (light).”

The fastest he said he has gone is 120 km/h, driving from Johor Bahru to KL in a time of two hours and 45 minutes. But he himself has never caused an accident, he claimed, as he is “a professional”.

“When I’m driving, my eyes, my nose, … my body, everything’s working,” he said. “Even when I speed, … customers say, ‘You’re a good driver. … Some buses (take) five hours; you (take) three hours.’”

Keeping to the speed limit for the entire trip would make him feel “sleepy” and is “impossible” to do, he added.

Another driver, Burhan Abdharu, said the reason accidents happen in the early hours is the drivers are tired and “haven’t had enough sleep”.

The longest he has driven is from KL to Singapore and back and then to Singapore again. That is 15 to 17 hours of driving, not including break time, he reckoned.

He does this “only during certain times, such as festive periods”, although he will do so without a co-driver, despite the regulations.

The bus operator pays him about RM210 (S$60) for a two-way trip between KL and Singapore, he shared. “If you get a co-driver, … (the pay) will be halved,” he said. “If we must split the pay, then it won’t be enough.”

He is among a group of contract workers in the industry who are paid solely per trip. Other drivers said it was common practice to be paid a basic monthly salary, with additional pay offered per trip.

There were also drivers who were paid monthly at a flat rate. But this appears to be the practice only in some bigger companies.

For many workers, whether they are on a contract or earn a basic pay, the more they drive, the more they earn. So some drivers speed to chase more trips and may get tired from multiple long drives.

INSIDE A 24-HOUR GPS ROOM

Most of the bus operators are based in Malaysia. One of them, SuperNice Express, is headquartered in Penang, and Talking Point gained access to its global positioning system (GPS) room to find out what operators can do on their part.

SuperNice has more than 200 drivers and a fleet of about 100 buses, all tracked by its 24-hour operations team.

If a bus speeds at more than 100 km/h continuously for two minutes, an alarm will sound in the room, and the team will warn the driver to slow down, said Roy Chew, chairman of Unimax Group, which owns SuperNice.

Drivers are given a tolerance of 10 km/h for overtaking other vehicles, after which they must slow down to 90 km/h, he elaborated.

GPS trackers that record location and speed are mandatory on express buses in Malaysia, and SuperNice installed its system about 10 years ago, he said.

Last year, because the size of its fleet was increasing, he invested around RM200,000 in a “proper GPS room”. He said: “We’ve decreased (our accident rate by) about 10 per cent because our team is monitoring (drivers) day and night.”

But he doubts that all the bus companies monitor their entire fleet 24/7.

Besides that, SuperNice has introduced buses with added safety features, such as a warning system that is triggered when drivers do not wear their seat belt.

There are sensors that detect vehicles at close range and activate the brakes when necessary to avoid a collision. There is also a live camera to monitor drivers — and not the usual closed-circuit television camera.

“When the driver feels sleepy or rubs his eyes too frequently, (the camera) will (set off an) alarm,” said Chew. “Then our GPS team … will call the driver to (tell him to) take a break (for) 15 to 20 minutes.”

If the driver is ill-suited to continue at the wheel, “then we’ll change (to) the second driver”, Chew added.

The cameras — imported from Taiwan — were installed last year. Since 2022, SuperNice has spent about RM1 million on safety upgrades for its new buses, he disclosed.

Maybe (other operators can’t) afford to (make) this kind of investment … if their profits aren’t there.”

OPERATIONAL INEFFICIENCIES

Wan Md Hazlin Agyl Wan Hassan, who worked for Malaysia’s land public transport agency — which oversees the implementation of express bus policies — for close to seven years, does think operators are “struggling to make their business financially viable”.

“There are so many players in the industry,” he cited as one of the reasons.

Even as they vie to fulfil demand during popular time slots, “there’ll be buses running (with a load factor of) below 30 per cent; in fact, maybe lower than 20 per cent”.

With operators “running at cost” because of these inefficiencies, or perhaps making a loss, investment in safety takes a back seat.

The express bus industry is also facing a manpower shortage, said Agyl, who is now managing partner of advisory company Agyl and Partners. He believes some operators are “forced to just hire inexperienced drivers” or even “bad apples”.

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“If I’m driving for bus company A and then I (was) involved in an accident (and) got fired, for example, I (can) go to express company B,” he said. “Company B will … hire this driver because the shortage is real.”

As for new drivers, “most of the time (they) aren’t well trained” to deal with emergencies, he added.

To improve services, the government — which regulates fares on economy express buses — should “work with the terminal operators and bus operators to manage our supply and design proper services”, said Agyl.

“You need to make sure that the operators will be able to fill up their seats,” he said. “You need to diversify the services, allowing people to have more options, while … allowing the operators to make more money.”

There are executive-class buses. And some companies provide premium services that include on-board entertainment and meals. These can cost up to 60 per cent more, and Singaporeans tend to pay for them.

While he cannot guarantee that these buses are safer, Agyl said: “In the case of premium services, (operators can) definitely … make money, therefore there’s no reason for them to cut corners when (it comes) to safety compliance.”

A LAWYER’S ADVICE

There may be no way, however, to check the safety record of the bus companies. For all his industry knowledge, Agyl “couldn’t find it anywhere” — another change he would like to see.

So what can travellers do? When they buy their bus tickets on the booking platform, they could include insurance. Ser, for example, had the option of paying S$1.60 for up to S$25,000 worth of cover.

But some Singaporean passengers who had bought insurance have had trouble claiming compensation from bus operators after their buses were involved in accidents.

According to a report on an accident last June, a passenger who wanted to file a claim was told by the bus company to appoint a lawyer first.

In another case last year, passengers were told to make a claim on their personal travel insurance instead of the insurance bought with the bus ticket.

Liew Teck Huat, a lawyer in Niru and Co — a firm that has represented several Singaporeans involved in traffic accidents in Malaysia — said passengers typically approach the bus company to make a claim when they suffer a loss.

The “proper way” to do it is to approach the insurers, make the claim directly under the policy and “not waste time” going to the bus companies, he advised.

“They’re not the insurer, so they have no obligation to pay the claim or to even process the claim.”

In his view, a lawyer is required only when there is an accident “involving serious injuries to the passenger”, not to mention death. Ticket insurance or a personal accident policy will not cover the “extensive medical expenses” in these cases.

The bus company will be covered on third-party liability insurance for claims made by passengers, for example, against the company for negligence on the part of the driver. Even passengers without insurance can file a claim.

“The insurance company covering the bus company and the driver would have to respond to this claim,” he said.

Watch this episode of Talking Point here . The programme airs on Channel 5 every Thursday at 9:30 p.m.

Former Arbroath bus driver jumps back behind the wheel to take tour through gallery of rare pictures

Time warp photographs of much-loved buses in Arbroath will take readers on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

They show how buses and the main station have changed.

The images are supplied by retired journalist Gordon Cook.

Gordon worked in newspapers in a career of more than half-a-century and his love of buses gave him an amazing second job in the driver’s cab.

He said: “The bulk of these photographs were going to be dumped, with many others, until I received permission to acquire them.

“The bus pictures are particularly fun to see, as I remember, at the age of about five, being taken by my mother by bus from Banff to visit her old auntie in Fraserburgh.

“The bus was an elderly Alexander double-decker, but on our frequent journeys we were never let down.

“That started the bus mania.

“Many years – and dreams of buses – later, I was living in Friockheim.

“George and Nan Wishart were crofters at Carmyllie and had bought a minibus to do the school contract at Carmyllie Primary.

“The business expanded beyond their premises at Carmyllie and they brought their small fleet to what had previously been Wilkie’s lorry yard in Friockheim.

“The fleet increased further and, with some trepidation, I timidly asked if they needed another driver.

“They did and I passed the PSV test.

“At that time I was a freelance journalist and I had a profound conviction that every freelancer should have a PSV licence, just in case.”

Gordon was on Arbroath buses until 68

As the years passed George and Nan retired and National Express, through its Dundee subsidiary, acquired the yard.

“I got to drive bigger buses, including an Ailsa double-decker, which I loved dearly, even on the school run when a fight on the top deck tumbled down the stairs to the bottom deck,” said Gordon.

“Nobody was hurt.

“ National Express made a corporate decision to sell up and the company was bought by its current owner, Gavin Kinnear.

“I drove happily when required for many years, doing schools, service and private hire, until I decided that my 68th birthday was a good time to retire.

“But I didn’t lose my connection with the buses and became the weekend yard man, fuelling and cleaning and generally preparing the vehicles for working.

“This lasted until Covid when the decision was forced on me to retire completely.

“Many of the following pictures make my heart go ping when I see them. I hope readers will also be pinging like pinball machines.”

The bus graveyard

Gordon said: “There was a time when McLennan’s bus yard in Spittalfield was like a holiday camp for me, with a visit every time I was passing through the village.

“These look like four ex-Aberdeen Corporation buses – the two on the right certainly have Aberdeen registrations.”

Arbroath bus station

Gordon said: “A view from Arbroath Bus Station in September 1985, about the time that Strathtay Scottish was created, largely from the vehicles and routes of Walter Alexander & Co, whose colours are seen on the Leyland National.

“But what a Stagecoach decker was doing there is anybody’s guess.”

Arbroath railway station

Gordon said: “Rail replacement buses in Arbroath are not unknown, and it looks as if something similar was taking place in September 1985.

“The coach was a Leyland Tiger with a Duple body based on an American style.

“The story goes that three local drivers did rail replacement to Stirling so often that they were regarded as regulars in a chip shop near the station.”

Catherine Street

Gordon said: “The two Leyland Leopards with the Alexander Y bodies have no trouble negotiating the water, when cars might struggle, in 1985.

“They are likely both Strathtay buses.

“And it looks as if the one emerging from the bus station might have Montrose as its destination.”

Ladyloan Primary School

Gordon said: “A school bus queue at the corner of Hunter Road in April 1987.

“The bus is a Leyland Olympian with Eastern Coach Works 77-seat body, which was originally Northern Scottish NL026.

“After passing as Strathtay 908 for work in Angus, it went to the then-parent company, Yorkshire Traction.”

A view from the high mill

Gordon said: “The view from Francis Webster & Sons’ High Mill overlooking Arbroath Bus Station in January 1993.

“The site formerly housed the cattle mart, with the auctioneer’s building more or less where the bus station buildings were situated.”

A tight squeeze

Gordon said: “A new baby Fiat in June 1993 could squeeze into tiny parking spaces.

“This was demonstrated by the Arbroath Herald motoring correspondent in the Wishart bus yard in Friockheim, with a brace of much-loved Bedford buses.”

Parking the bus

Gordon said: “The building, with its white gable end to camera, was the Alma Bar, named after the Alma Works, which were themselves named after a battle in the Crimean War in 1854.

“At least two of the buses parked to the right are still running as preserved vehicles and were just a few years ago involved in a Dundee Museum of Transport event.”

Wishart coach trip

Gordon said: “In August 1995, members of Arbroath Arthritis Care set off for an evening trip to Damside Herb Gardens, Johnshaven.

“The G&N Wishart coach had a Duple 320 body, and if I know George Wishart, it would have been on a Bedford chassis.”

Charles Avenue

Gordon said: “In October 1995 there was a minor furore among some residents of Charles Avenue in Arbroath, when Strathtay Scottish buses started to use double deckers on that route for operational reasons.

“Some folk complained that this meant that top-floor passengers would be able to see into their houses.”

A bridge too far

Gordon said: “So many high vehicles were striking the rail bridge on the A92 at Inverkeilor, that in January 1999 sensors were installed so that a warning could be flashed on a screen in advance of the hazard.

“The Strathtay decker shown was okay – it was ordered with the bridge in mind.”

A proper mini bus

Gordon said: “(This is) Matt Kerr of Kerr’s Miniature Railway in April 2004, with his miniature bus, newly painted in the colours of its sponsor, Fishers Tours, Dundee.

“The railway drew thousands of visitors to Arbroath each summer.”

Going full circle

“Pictured in July 2006 at Victoria Park in the Sea Front Spectacular was a Leyland Tiger with a McLennan 39-seat coach body built in-house.

“I assumed for years that the bus had been scrapped

“The bus remains in preservation.”

Cleaning up

Gordon said: “This Optare Solo, new to Wishart, did the damage in the yard when a regular driver reversed it into the wall while parking it after a shift on service.

“Both the driver and the bus were undamaged, although the wall suffered quite a bit.

“However, it had been knocked down before!”

It is the final image in our gallery.

Did these images from Gordon bring back any memories for you?

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