Intercape Mainliner Bookings & Prices
There isn’t actually that big a difference between Intercape Mainliner and Sleepliner coaches other than the fact that Sleepliner is slightly more upmarket. Mainliners are Marcopolo Paradiso G7 1800 DD models, with chassis from Scania K-420, MAN 8X2, or Volvo B430R. Importantly, for those travelling with children, Mainliner coaches have a toilet on board (a significant drawback of the Budgetliner coach is that there are no toilets). Many passengers find the reclining seats comfortable (but not as comfortable as the Sleepliner 150-degree reclining seats ).
Use the booking engine above to check prices and make a reservation on an Intercape Mainliner bus. You can telect to book a mainliner coach in the next step of the booking process after you've clicked the "Search Route" button above. The image below shows you where you can see that the option is a Mainliner Coach, a Sleepliner coach or a Budgetliner coach.
Other features of the Mainliner are an air-conditioned environment, USB charging points, less legroom than the sleepliner but more than the Budgetliner.
And here's what she looks like - a mainliner coach parked at Cape Town Station with the Absa building visible in the background. These workhorses typically weigh 15 to 20 tons unladen.
Intercape Mainliner coaches were introduced in the late 1980s when the company began intercity services. By the 2000s, the Mainliner coaches formed the backbone of Intercape's fleet; they operate over a wider range of routes than the premium Sleepliner.
A picture tells a 1000 words - check out this video review of an East London to Cape Town trip on the Mainliner:
Here's a video review of an Intercape Mainliner trip from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg:
Intercape Mainliner coaches are primarily manufactured by MarcoPolo. Marcopolo is the largest bus manufacturer in Latin America and the third worldwide, with production plants in Brazil, Argentina, China, Mexico, Colombia, Australia, and South Africa. This South African presence suggests that Intercape’s coaches are likely assembled or sourced locally, aligning with Marcopolo’s global operations. Marcopolo Paradiso G7 1800 DD models, made by Marcopolo S.A., with chassis from Scania K-420, MAN 8X2, or Volvo B430R (with engines producing up to 490 hp, depending on the chassis). Intercape maintains a relatively young fleet by regularly replacing coaches. he company invests heavily in fleet renewal. The fleet age is around 4 to 7 years, due to a replacement program every four years, then refurbishing for two to three more. This approach contrasts with older fleets in the industry, highlighting Intercape’s commitment to passenger comfort and operational efficiency.
Other coaches
The Mainliner is amongst several coach services offered by Intercape, including Interconnect, Sleepliner, Budgetliner and Big Sky Intercity.