New bus (coach?) service: London Luton Airport - Earl's Court

[Edvid]

More competition for First Capital Connect and East Midlands Trains - on 22 April, easyBus will launch their own 24/7 bus (coach?) service betwen London Luton Airport and Central London; running non-stop to/from Earl's Court in 1 hour, up to 3 times an hour.

Must be a very recent development because the press release has only come out today. I wonder whether the service will run via the A41 (like the 757) or the A40...

http://www.easybus.co.uk/london-luton
http://www.easybus.co.uk/london-luton/luton-bus-route
http://www.easybus.co.uk/latest-news/

 

[Deerfold]

More competition for First Capital Connect and East Midlands Trains - on 22 April, easyBus will launch their own 24/7 bus (coach?) service betwen London Luton Airport and Central London; running non-stop to/from Earl's Court in 1 hour, up to 3 times an hour.

Must be a very recent development because the press release has only come out today. I wonder whether the service will run via the A41 (like the 757) or the A40...

Wonder who that's aimed at?

Visiting antipodeans? Or do people fly in for some of the exhibitions?

I realise it may be useful for some locals but that's quite a level of service (cf NX London VCS-Gatwick, 1 bph)

 

[Schnellzug]

Will this be operated by Arriva again? Would they use proper coaches, or those Mercedes Sprinter things?

 

[dzug2]

(cf NX London VCS-Gatwick, 1 bph)

Actually that's changed too - now twice an hour most of the day

 

[WestCoast]

Will this be operated by Arriva again? Would they use proper coaches, or those Mercedes Sprinter things?

I remember the original easyBus operation with Ford Transits (or something similar)!

 

[radamfi]

(cf NX London VCS-Gatwick, 1 bph)

NX recently introduced the A3 service which combines with the 025 to make 2 services per hour between Gatwick and London.

easyBus have recently revised their timetable between Gatwick and West Brompton to be 3 times per hour most of the day.

 

[dzug2]

And when I last looked at the Easybus website a couple of days ago they appeared to have aspirations of extending the Luton - Watford Junction service to Heathrow - quite how isn't clear unless it's connecting with the 724

 

[Deerfold]

Actually that's changed too - now twice an hour most of the day

Oh, that's new!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Will this be operated by Arriva again? Would they use proper coaches, or those Mercedes Sprinter things?

It sounds from their website that there's now an Easybus depot at Park Royal.

 

[bluenoxid]

Good connections from Earls Court Tube.

 

[Deerfold]

And when I last looked at the Easybus website a couple of days ago they appeared to have aspirations of extending the Luton - Watford Junction service to Heathrow - quite how isn't clear unless it's connecting with the 724

Well, given the Luton-Watford service is just the Arriva 321 bus I'd be surprised as Ariva have handed the 724 to a subsidiary to run - sounds like a nightmare for a newbie customer - catch the easybus which is actually an Arriva service bus then connect to the one that's branded as TGM...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Good connections from Earls Court Tube.

Indeed - and it may be useful for a few going west. And cheaper than getting a premium-priced coach to Heathrow.

 

[radamfi]

The advantage of Sprinter minibuses is that they are allowed to go at 70 mph, and also the 2+1 seating.

 

[Clip]

Wonder who that's aimed at?

Visiting antipodeans? Or do people fly in for some of the exhibitions?

I realise it may be useful for some locals but that's quite a level of service (cf NX London VCS-Gatwick, 1 bph)

Isnt Earls court going to be converted into flats and offices after the Olympics?

 

[185]

Will this be operated by Arriva again? Would they use proper coaches, or those Mercedes Sprinter things?

Theyve got those Renault Minibuses, similar to Sprinters....

But then I noticed this beast....

 

[starrymarkb]

Theyve got those Renault Minibuses, similar to Sprinters....

But then I noticed this beast....

That's the Greenline 757 - the coaches are dual branded in Easybus or Greenline livery. Book in advance through EasyBus or Pay on the Day (or Senior Pass it) with Greenline

 

[Edvid]

Went for a ride last Saturday - £4.50 well spent. I was intrigued to find that the drivers had freedom over which routes to take, though unlike the 757 there are no intermediate stops to worry about.

Outbound (1h15m): A1081 - M1 - A406 (Why did we go through Hanger Lane and not the M25/M40?!) - A40 - A3220 - A315 - B317 - A4

Return (1h + 7 minutes for refueling): A4 - M4 - M25 - M1 - A1081

The 12-seat Renault Masters are basically taxis on steroids. The seats are decent, though I can't speak for the legroom as I sat at the front both ways. Both drivers were happy to accept me on different services to those I booked (official policy is an hour's grace on both sides at their discretion).

Their £1 sale on the new route ends at midnight on 1 May if anyone's interested.

 

[radamfi]

The advantage of Sprinter minibuses is that they are allowed to go at 70 mph, and also the 2+1 seating.

I used it last week on the Gatwick route and it was a brand new 12-registered minibus. It did have 2+1 seating which I like but I noticed it was tacho operated (tacho mounted to the ceiling) and thus now has a 100 km/h speed limit. I sat on the second seat from the front and had no leg room problems although I don't have the longest legs.

Someone got on the bus with a ticket for a bus 90 minutes later and was allowed on.