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If you were setting up a new coach operation what would be your first route?

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pemma

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As the title says really.

In theory London operations would be most lucrative but that is a saturated market with NX, Megabus and Greyhound among the operators there.

I'm thinking maybe Airport services to untapped markets with flexible tickets so if your return flight is delayed you can just hop on the next service.
 
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Ivo

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This would probably flop, and therefore kill the business, but it would have to be Southend to London (and Heathrow) - again.

Starting at Southend Airport, it would serve the town centre and then major points along the A13 London Road up to the A130, then divert into Pitsea and Basildon, and then run fast along the A13 to Lakeside Shopping Centre before crossing the M25. From there it would run fast to Victoria, calling only at Lodge Avenue for Barking, Canning Town for the Docklands, Aldgate, Embankment, Victoria, Earl's Court, Hammersmith and Heathrow Central. I might even throw in a non-stop extension to Reading, partly to compete with the RailAir but also to restore a link that existed ~30 years ago.

The Southend to London coach route traditionally fared quite well, until c2c suddenly became very reliable; now, after a period of uncertainty, the 090 NX route - a fairly new addition to the NX operation- is the only one. What this operation does that others have not done quite so well, if at all, is provide South Essex with links to Southend Airport, and also provide faster journeys between locations within the M25 and Southend.

Another one I've thought about would be a link between Southampton and Bristol Airports, via the A36. It would intermediately serve Totton, Salisbury, Warminster, Beckington (for Frome and Trowbridge, with through fares available onto First's 234 and 267 bus routes), Bath City Centre and Brislington P&R (again with through fares, this time to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre); at the Southampton end it would terminate at the City Centre before/after the Airport.
 

pemma

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Heathrow and Gatwick do strike me as needing some better long distance services but I'm not sure if the volume of traffic may hinder giving good timings.

Liverpool to North Wales via Liverpool Airport might be a good one but again the volume of traffic between Runcorn and Liverpool Airport might affect timings too much. Maybe a calling pattern could be Liverpool Coach Station, Liverpool Airport, Widnes, Runcorn, Chester, Rhyl and Llandudno.

An alternative serving Liverpool Airport could be Liverpool-Shrewsbury. Calling pattern of Liverpool, Liverpool Airport, Warrington, Knutsford, Nantwich and Shrewsbury. And no Knutsford and Nantwich are there because I've picked random towns or points that would benefit myself. Nantwich because it has a poor rail service and Knutsford because it has poor transport links in general.
 

anthony263

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Lets see:

01.) Cardiff Airport - Cardiff - Newport - Bristol - Bristol Airport.
02.) Reading - London ( a bit like the oxford tube) could be onto something especially if there are major overcrowding issues causing by IEP.

03.)Llandudno -Newtown - Llandrindo - Brecon - Merthyr - Cardiff ( bascially what Trawscymru service T4 should be)

04.) Aberystwyth - Carmarthen - Cardiff - Bristol - Bristol Airport ( Good idea since students going to/from Aberystwyth University could get the coach to/from Bristol Airport)

05.) Swansea - Cardiff - Birmingham International airport. With National express cutting a lot of the Heathrow - south wales airport coach service to Cardiff it might be a good money spinner if it offeres cheap advance fares (something National express dont offer on their service)

06.) Swansea - Plymouth
 

MK Tom

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I'd create a coach route serving Aylesbury. It is to my knowledge the largest town in the UK without a coach service. I'm thinking Heathrow-High Wycombe-Aylesbury-MK-Northampton-Corby-Peterborough. Nick some long-distance passengers off the X4!
 

anthony263

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I'd create a coach route serving Aylesbury. It is to my knowledge the largest town in the UK without a coach service. I'm thinking Heathrow-High Wycombe-Aylesbury-MK-Northampton-Corby-Peterborough. Nick some long-distance passengers off the X4!

Doesnt actually sound like a bad idea. Might I suggest you send that idea to Go ahead to perhaps have a look at
 

MCW

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direct Leicester to Peterborough non stop service. since we don't really have a striaght through link without having to make changes.

I think I would also consider rugby - Leicester - Nottingham or Derby as an option.
 

telstarbox

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I'd ideally build a new coach station with all mod cons around Brent Cross (the end of the M1 m'way) next to one of the tube stations, and have all the M1 / M6 coach routes terminate there instead of ploughing down to Victoria. It would take almost an hour off the journey time at busy periods and make the coach more competitive with the train. Although it's handy that all coaches go to Victoria, most coach journeys are point-to-point rather than eg Manchester - London - Southampton and it would be simple enough to use the tube/buses for onward journeys from the new coach station.

This already happens in a way as some NX coaches serve Golders Green, but turning coaches at Brent Cross would allow more intensive vehicle use unless the same coaches work northern and southern routes (as I understand it, both NX and Megabus mostly use local operators anyway eg Stagecoach Yorkshire).

No doubt there are good reasons why this hasn't been done already...
 

Nym

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I'd ideally build a new coach station with all mod cons around Brent Cross (the end of the M1 m'way) next to one of the tube stations, and have all the M1 / M6 coach routes terminate there instead of ploughing down to Victoria. It would take almost an hour off the journey time at busy periods and make the coach more competitive with the train. Although it's handy that all coaches go to Victoria, most coach journeys are point-to-point rather than eg Manchester - London - Southampton and it would be simple enough to use the tube/buses for onward journeys from the new coach station.

This already happens in a way as some NX coaches serve Golders Green, but turning coaches at Brent Cross would allow more intensive vehicle use unless the same coaches work northern and southern routes (as I understand it, both NX and Megabus mostly use local operators anyway eg Stagecoach Yorkshire).

No doubt there are good reasons why this hasn't been done already...

If you were thinking Golders Green you might be better off at Watford Junction, there's plenty of space on the far side of the station and I'm sure a deal could be struck with LM and NR to get an additional entrance on the Concrete side, or simply buy a stand or two on the bus station. It's only about 3mins off the M1 in good traffic, 10mins in bad traffic.
 

telstarbox

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That's a great shout as there are then connections to Clapham Junction (for Southern and SWT services) and East Croydon which is itself a major interchange for trains south of London.
 

tbtc

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I'd ideally build a new coach station with all mod cons around Brent Cross (the end of the M1 m'way) next to one of the tube stations, and have all the M1 / M6 coach routes terminate there instead of ploughing down to Victoria. It would take almost an hour off the journey time at busy periods and make the coach more competitive with the train. Although it's handy that all coaches go to Victoria, most coach journeys are point-to-point rather than eg Manchester - London - Southampton and it would be simple enough to use the tube/buses for onward journeys from the new coach station.

This already happens in a way as some NX coaches serve Golders Green, but turning coaches at Brent Cross would allow more intensive vehicle use unless the same coaches work northern and southern routes (as I understand it, both NX and Megabus mostly use local operators anyway eg Stagecoach Yorkshire).

No doubt there are good reasons why this hasn't been done already...

There are moves in this direction, e.g. National Express run a coach from Stansted to Stratford in east London (encouraging people to get the Underground/ DLR a couple of stops).

Similarly Megabus have stopped serving Sheffield City Centre and drop you at Meadowhall (where you can get the tram or train).
 

tbtc

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Although for Megabus, the Sheffield routes continue further north anyway.

Not to mention the company that operates the Supertram and a large number of bus routes in Sheffield also operate Megabus...

True - am just giving an example of where a coach stops away from the city centre - the time penalty for going into Sheffield is obviously too much to justify delaying longer distance passengers.

Maybe a route down the M1 stopping at places like Meadowhall, East Midlands Designer Outlet, East Midlands Airport, Fosse Park, Milton Keynes Coachway, Luton Airport etc would work - avoiding the need to go into the centre of towns/ cities (and so avoid predictable traffic congestion)?

There was a plan a few years ago for an Arriva service in Yorkshire that linked "out of town" places like the designer outlets at Glasshoughton and York (which is a P&R for the city anyway), but it never came to anything.
 

Aictos

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How about Bradford/Leeds to Preston via Skipton and Colne, would be faster then using the slow roundabout route that you have to take travelling via rail as despite I fully back the SelRap scheme it won't be happening anytime soon :(

Or how about Peterborough to Bedford as it takes the same time to travel via London as it does by Leicester by train, a coach link would be faster :)
 

Eagle

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Birmingham–Birmingham Airport–University of Warwick–Leamington–fast to Heathrow–London(–possibly Gatwick) and v.v.

This, if run a few times a day, would generate a decent amount of traffic. Not that I'm biased or anything :P
 

Ivo

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Birmingham–Birmingham Airport–University of Warwick–Leamington–fast to Heathrow–London(–possibly Gatwick) and v.v.

This, if run a few times a day, would generate a decent amount of traffic. Not that I'm biased or anything :P

Conveniently timed to serve flights from LHR to Edinburgh I take it? :p
 

Eagle

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Conveniently timed to serve flights from LHR to Edinburgh I take it? :p

Nah, that'd never be faster than the train. I can get from my house in Kenilworth to central Edinburgh in five hours given a good run. Now if it connected with flights from BHX... :lol:
 

Nym

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Birmingham–Birmingham Airport–University of Warwick–Leamington–fast to Heathrow–London(–possibly Gatwick) and v.v.

This, if run a few times a day, would generate a decent amount of traffic. Not that I'm biased or anything :P

Oh if we're doing that...

I'd have...

East Hull - My part of Bolton - UMIST - Manchester Airport - 55 Holborn...

Operated by a Rolls Royce Phantom.
 

Eagle

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My idea was based around the number of students (both international and domestic) who want to go home at the weekend, and the fact that there's no rail station within 25 minutes' bus of campus—apart from Canley, which is hardly useful.

NX extend some of their Coventry services to Stratford via the University and Leamington; they are very well-patronized.
 

Ivo

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I shall join in then! :p

Starting at Bath Spa University, it shall call in the city centre and then run non-stop to Loddon Bridge (close to Winnersh Triangle), and then continue down to the M3 and then A316 and stop close to the junction with the A312, and then finally on to Hammersmith - for an easy connection on to my Southend to Reading route.

And if my father is serious about quitting his job, as he told me yesterday (he says it at least three times a year but never does), I'll employ him as driver.

My idea was based around the number of students (both international and domestic) who want to go home at the weekend, and the fact that there's no rail station within 25 minutes' bus of campus—apart from Canley, which is hardly useful.

NX extend some of their Coventry services to Stratford via the University and Leamington; they are very well-patronized.

On a more serious note, this is actually a half-decent proposal. Whereas the top part of this post is a one-way ticket to bankruptcy.
 

Blindtraveler

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Nowhere near enough to a Pacer :(
if I had money I would seriusly start the following:
Jordyline - Volvo Plaxton Panthers would be the vehicle of choice and the route would be:
Glasgow Bucannon Bus Station, Livingston Bus Station (the centre)
Edinburgh (Ingliston P and R)
Edinburgh The Jewl (Opp ASDA Carpark)
Haddington (Market Street)
Dunbar, Highstreet
Berwick on Tweeed (rail station forcourt)
Alnwick Castle
Gateshead Metrocentre
Newcastle Nevil Street

1 run a day would opperate to the DFDS passengfr Terminal for there Morning Arrival/evening departure. I think there is a market for affordable coach travel on this run as NX are sicy and slow and megabus not regular enough, niether are NX really.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
i also have an idea for a Scotland to Preston service via the Lakedistrict but unsure if it would pay as the stagecoach services in the area are so good
 

martinsh

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if I had money I would seriusly start the following:
Jordyline - Volvo Plaxton Panthers would be the vehicle of choice and the route would be:
Glasgow Bucannon Bus Station, Livingston Bus Station (the centre)
Edinburgh (Ingliston P and R)
Edinburgh The Jewl (Opp ASDA Carpark)
Haddington (Market Street)
Dunbar, Highstreet
Berwick on Tweeed (rail station forcourt)
Alnwick Castle
Gateshead Metrocentre
Newcastle Nevil Street

1 run a day would opperate to the DFDS passengfr Terminal for there Morning Arrival/evening departure. I think there is a market for affordable coach travel on this run as NX are sicy and slow and megabus not regular enough, niether are NX really.

Wouldn't it be better to go via the Borders ? No service from there to Glasgow as far as I can see ?
 

Blindtraveler

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Nowhere near enough to a Pacer :(
one per day maybe maybe calling Gallashiels and Jedburgh maybe but the journey time would go through the roof, something I'd be trying to avoid as with the acception of the train theres no fast way of doing it as NX and MB are not regular and although MB is direct the times of departure etc aint great and if wifi, plug sockets etc were offered along with cheeper tickets you may get the business market.
Also this would slash journey time compared to the 253 bus service which does all the shacks betweeen Dunbar and Berwick
 

VTPreston_Tez

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A high speed bus service giving Savick, Westleigh, and all the Lea villages a fast Preston service.
Calling at:
Salwick Station & BNFL
Lea Town Central
-all village centre stops-
The Saddle Inn
Lea Endowed (school days only)
Westleigh, The Cotty Book
Savick, Ainsdale Drive
Savick, Ashton Primary School & Cartmel Place (new stop, school days and limited elsewise)
Savick, Shops
Ashton, Lane Ends
Preston, University Student Union
Preston, Friargate South
Preston, Friargate North
Preston, Bus Station
Well it would work I'll say that if a few services terminated Westleigh.
 

exile

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Manchester-Leigh-Wigan
Liverpool-Skelmersdale-Wigan
Liverpool Airport-Chester
Liverpool Airport-Warrington-Manchester Airport
(the last was tried for a while a couple of years ago but unfortunately didn't survive long)

However local express bus services are now very rare compared to back in the 60s when there was a complete network of limited stop services in the North West. There seems to be nothing between coaches and local stage services
 

telstarbox

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Liverpool Airport-Warrington-Manchester Airport
(the last was tried for a while a couple of years ago but unfortunately didn't survive long)

I'm not surprised as the number of people who would fly into Liverpool and out of Manchester and vice versa would be minimal (most Liverpool airport destinations are served by Manchester too). This contrasts with London where you might get a European flight into Gatwick then a long-haul flight from Heathrow, for example.

However, given the number of places that have a direct train to Manchester Airport (Scunthorpe, Barrow, Durham...) I was very surprised that there aren't any direct trains from Warrington to Manchester Airport.
 

150222

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Operated by luxury double-deck coaches,
Brighton- Three Bridges- Gatwick- Croyden- Heathrow- Kingston- Hammersmith- Victoria Coach Station- The Shard- Tower Hill Station- Whitechapel (Royal Mint Street)- Limehouse DLR- Stepney (Mile End Road)- Shoreditch- Camden Lock- M25- South Mimms Services- Aylesbury- Leamington Spa- University of Warwick- Birmingham Airport/NEC- Birmingham- Wolverhampton- M6- Manchester Airport- Manchester City Centre- Rochdale- Todmorden- Halifax- M62- Leeds- York- A1- Darlington- Hewerth Interchange- Gateshead- Newcastle- Prudhoe- Carlisle- Glasgow (Buchannan Street). Would offer advance and walk-up fares between any two points. Would not accept Oyster Cards or any other Tfl tickets.
 

anthony263

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Considering it is looking likely we will be stuck with IEP on the GWML I think there is the market for more than 2 coach operators running services between south wales & London.

However unlike National Express and Megabus I would have a coach which would get into Cardiff before 10:45 (The 1st coach from London doesnt arrive into Cardiff til after 11:00)

Coaches will be similar those double deck coaches operated by megabus and have comfortable seating with free wi-fi another option is to launch a competing service against First cymru's service 100.

I would also try some Trawscymru long distance coaches such as the old Aberystwyth - Manchester service which was operated by coach travel wales and did carry a lot of passengers.

One of my main service will be a X90 Cardiff Airport - Cardiff - Newport - Bristol - Bristol airport service which would be both a local bus link and long distance coach service.
Vehicles used would be the new Plaxton interdeck which are wheelchair acessible and dont involve the use of a lift.
 
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