National Express Coaches Discussion

[route101]

Would anyone by any chance be able to tell me on what date the 786 (Luton Airport to Cambridge) started operating, please? Possibly with the 4 december improvements, or earlier?
Thanks.

Was earlier possibly the summer. I think when the Heathrow to Peterborough service was cut.

 

[Bedford OB]

Was earlier possibly the summer. I think when the Heathrow to Peterborough service was cut.

Thanks very much, that's a great help.

 

[j_walker1804]

Would anyone by any chance be able to tell me on what date the 786 (Luton Airport to Cambridge) started operating, please? Possibly with the 4 december improvements, or earlier?
Thanks.

July 12th I believe along with the other changes.

 

[Bedford OB]

July 12th I believe along with the other changes.

Thanks very much for that clarification.

 

[telstarbox]

Quite interesting to see the live NX map on BusTimes.org - you can pick out the motorways M1, M4, M5 and the south part of the M6:

Map – National Express

bustimes.org

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Dec 2024 ==

And a closer look at the Oxford - Milton Keynes - Stansted - Heathrow - London patch:

 

[Flange Squeal]

The Reading-based Stewarts Coaches operation within the National Express Transport Solutions (NETS) part of the business is being acquired by The Coach Travel Group. This follows the recent sale of another local NETS subsidiary Mortons Travel, which went to Rambler Group Holdings.

Below is from the Coach Travel Group website:

The Coach Travel Group has completed a deal to acquire Berkshire-based Stewarts Coaches – further strengthening the group’s position in London and the South East.

The move takes the number of operators in The Coach Travel Group up to nine following the group’s formation during the summer. In addition to expanding the group's national presence and influence, services delivered along the vital M4 corridor will be further enhanced by the addition of Stewarts Coaches.

“We haven’t been standing still since forming The Coach Travel Group over the summer,” said Tom Stables, CEO at The Coach Travel Group.

“Our plan to date has been to bring together similar, established operators, many being family-owned. Stewarts is slightly different as the brand had previously been absorbed into National Express. This means we have an opportunity to make our mark on the brand, adding value and sharing our passion for first-class group travel.

“With our support, Stewarts Coaches will serve the community as a trusted regional coach operator, serving the needs of its local customers while being better equipped to navigate the future challenges of the sector by being part of a Group dedicated to the coach sector.”

Mark Heffernan, Chief Operations and Safety Officer, National Express, said:

“We are pleased to complete this deal with Coach Travel Group as part of our strategic objective to transform our operating model. This sale will enhance our operational performance and increase profitability within our scheduled coach network.”

The Coach Travel Group was formed by the strategic merger of Alpine Travel, Barnes Coaches, Coatham Coaches, Horseman Coaches, JH Coaches, Johnsons Coaches, The Ready Group, Swans Travel and Whittles. Established in June 2024, the group has approximately 700 employees and 450 vehicles in its fleet. Its focus is on leveraging the extensive experience and investment across the seven operators to provide a best-in-class service offering to its customers.

About Stewarts Coaches

Located in Reading, Berkshire, Stewarts Coaches was established in 1986 and has been acquired from National Express Group. Its fleet of modern vehicles is available for one-off hire and contract work, such as the shuttle service from Slough Station to the Bath Road Central Business Estate, and the Thames Valley Park shuttle.

Tom Stables, CEO at The Coach Travel Group added: “Building partnerships and giving customers better value and choice is at the heart of The Coach Travel Group,” said Tom. “With a diverse and unrivalled portfolio of outstanding coach operators, our people understand the UK travel industry and their local markets. Our approach to group travel is to continually focus on passenger experience.”

Source: https://www.coachtravelgroup.com/ne...vel-group-signs-deal-acquire-stewarts-coaches

 

[route101]

Quite interesting to see the live NX map on BusTimes.org - you can pick out the motorways M1, M4, M5 and the south part of the M6:

Map – National Express

bustimes.org

View attachment 171538

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Dec 2024 ==

And a closer look at the Oxford - Milton Keynes - Stansted - Heathrow - London patch:

View attachment 171539

The A1 corridor is not used by NX at all out of London and so is the A12 corridor.

I wonder where that 025 is going in the centre, that service goes via Heathrow to Brighton.

 

[H&I]

Thanks everyone for all the responses to my earlier question on substitute and duplicate buses!

National Express is running a limited number of services on Christmas Day. Whilst the 824 is set down only at Golders Green, I chanced it and bought a £2.60 flexible ticket to Victoria. I asked the coach driver nicely if I could board, as there are spare seats, and he was cool about it. I thanked him for saving me the cost of a taxi.

 

[YorkRailFan]

National Express has successfully retained their contract with Stansted Airport:

National Express has successfully retained its contract with London Stansted Airport, following a competitive tender process managed by the airport’s owners, Manchester Airports Group (MAG).



The UK's leading scheduled coach operator has secured a five-year deal to operate high frequency coach services on behalf of the airport. It will continue to serve over 20 major London locations, as well as key regional routes including services to Birmingham, Cambridge, Leicester, Luton, Norwich, Milton Keynes and Oxford.

The CEO of National Express said the following:

Alex Jensen, Chief Executive Officer at National Express, said:

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with London Stansted Airport. This win is a reflection of our experience, expertise and dedication to providing high-quality public transport services for our partners and customers.


“With hundreds of services running day and night to Stansted Airport, customers are repeatedly choosing us because they know we’re the most reliable, affordable and convenient option, with our brilliant coach drivers taking them right to the airport terminal door.


“We’re proud to play a part in Stansted’s expansion plans and look forward to many years of service delivery and growth.”

National Express wins London Stansted Airport contract

National Express has successfully retained its contract with London Stansted Airport, following a competitive tender process managed by the airport’s owners, Manchester Airports Group (MAG). The UK's leading scheduled coach operator has secured a five-year deal to operate high frequency coach...

www.nationalexpress.com

Out of interest, who else bid for this contract? With Megabus mostly gone from England, it seems like the only real challenger for this contract would have been FlixBus.

 

[TravelDream]

National Express has successfully retained their contract with Stansted Airport:

What exactly does the contract give them?

Airport Bus Express also operate Stansted to London, plus there are plenty of local services stopping there too.

 

[johncrossley]

What exactly does the contract give them?

The airport restricts access to the terminal to operators who are successful in their tendering process. Basically, National Express have to pay Manchester Airports Group a fee for the privilege of serving the terminal.

 

[markymark2000]

Out of interest, who else bid for this contract? With Megabus mostly gone from England, it seems like the only real challenger for this contract would have been FlixBus

Fiblico seems to have also won the contract and is going to be start offering Stansted to London services. https://www.route-one.net/news/flibco-to-award-coach-operator-contract-soon-for-stansted-route/

Airport transfer specialist Flibco expects to agree a contract with a coach operator partner “soon” to deliver a new scheduled service between Stansted airport and central London that will begin on 1 April.

(Including link and text just to show that other companies bid and won the contract)

 

[Teds]

Airport Bus who are an Italian operation also run to the airport at the moment and may have bid. Last time round in 2020, Arriva won a service to Stratford and Liverpool Street. It should have started on 1 April 2020. The timetable was on their website as Green Line 720. They had obtained the vehicles - Mercedes Tourismos - and started recruiting drivers before Covid intervened and the project went no further. It would have operated out of Harlow garage. I think the vehicles are now on the Luton Airport service.
In the previous contract, starting 10 years ago, Citylink won a route to King's Cross operated by vehicles on the Metroline licence but it didn't attract enough customers to survive.
The airport operation does not really fit the Flix model. Most of the traffic is walk up or sold by the airlines. Pretty much a fixed price model. My understanding is that the Airport take a cut of every fare and you can bet the airlines do too on the tickets that they sell.
That contract is very important to NX. In 2020, it represented 65% of coach revenue - not sure if that is profit or customer income. (The information is from a former NX manager in a recent talk). In addition, it is a very large commitment. I think there are 10 departures an hour for around 18 hours a day seven days a week.

 

[MotCO]

Airport Bus who are an Italian operation also run to the airport at the moment and may have bid. Last time round in 2020, Arriva won a service to Stratford and Liverpool Street. It should have started on 1 April 2020. The timetable was on their website as Green Line 720. They had obtained the vehicles - Mercedes Tourismos - and started recruiting drivers before Covid intervened and the project went no further. It would have operated out of Harlow garage. I think the vehicles are now on the Luton Airport service.
In the previous contract, starting 10 years ago, Citylink won a route to King's Cross operated by vehicles on the Metroline licence but it didn't attract enough customers to survive.
The airport operation does not really fit the Flix model. Most of the traffic is walk up or sold by the airlines. Pretty much a fixed price model. My understanding is that the Airport take a cut of every fare and you can bet the airlines do too on the tickets that they sell.
That contract is very important to NX. In 2020, it represented 65% of coach revenue - not sure if that is profit or customer income. (The information is from a former NX manager in a recent talk). In addition, it is a very large commitment. I think there are 10 departures an hour for around 18 hours a day seven days a week.

Wasn't there also an Italian operation using coaches supplied by Epsom Coaches many years ago?

 

[MCR247]

Wasn't there also an Italian operation using coaches supplied by Epsom Coaches many years ago?

Terravision? I think they also had operations in the North West

 

[Bungle965]

Terravision? I think they also had operations in the North West

Manchester (Shudehill Interchange) to Liverpool John Lennon

 

[Flying Snail]

Terravision? I think they also had operations in the North West

Good riddance to them, an awful cowboy operation. Their fleet was in bits, held together with gaffer tape.

 

[Teds]

Good riddance to them, an awful cowboy operation. Their fleet was in bits, held together with gaffer tape.

They lost the contract in 2019, I think, when Airport Bus took over. They tried to keep running by various means - I think one of them was to take people to Bishop's Stortford and put them on the train because their vehicles were banned from the airport. Their fleet was dire as mentioned probably not helped by the enthusiastic drivers.

 

[TravelDream]

Good riddance to them, an awful cowboy operation. Their fleet was in bits, held together with gaffer tape.

Like Airport Bus Express right now. Tatty fleet that's falling apart. Terrible reviews online (never taken them myself).

Incomparable to the NX services.

 

[gray1404]

Can I ask for some advice on a National Express ticket please?

I've used a free journey code to book a Liverpool to Oxford ticket for this Saturday. I selected fully flexible (amendable and refundable) when booking online. I now no longer need to make the journey. I also don't know if I'll be travelling to Oxford at any point in the future. Although I will be going to other destinations on the National Express network.

I'm unable to make any changes or refund it on my account as I used a free journey voucher code. Do I have any options here? I'm concerned that cancelling it would be a refund of zero.

Is there anything I can ask National Express to do for me?

 

[MCR247]

Can I ask for some advice on a National Express ticket please?

I've used a free journey code to book a Liverpool to Oxford ticket for this Saturday. I selected fully flexible (amendable and refundable) when booking online. I now no longer need to make the journey. I also don't know if I'll be travelling to Oxford at any point in the future. Although I will be going to other destinations on the National Express network.

I'm unable to make any changes or refund it on my account as I used a free journey voucher code. Do I have any options here? I'm concerned that cancelling it would be a refund of zero.

Is there anything I can ask National Express to do for me?

Perhaps asking them nicely on social media/via email? If you have an alternative journey you’d be looking to use them on (i.e essentially wanting to change the travel from this weekend to one in a few weekends time) they might agree to change it for you. But I imagine that’d be down to their discretion. If you’re wanting a new free code that’d also be down to their discretion but it seems a bit less likely they’d agree to it.

 

[GusB]

Can I ask for some advice on a National Express ticket please?

I've used a free journey code to book a Liverpool to Oxford ticket for this Saturday. I selected fully flexible (amendable and refundable) when booking online. I now no longer need to make the journey. I also don't know if I'll be travelling to Oxford at any point in the future. Although I will be going to other destinations on the National Express network.

I'm unable to make any changes or refund it on my account as I used a free journey voucher code. Do I have any options here? I'm concerned that cancelling it would be a refund of zero.

Is there anything I can ask National Express to do for me?

You've booked a journey at no cost to you and now you've decided that you can't make that journey, but you still want to change your mind and keep your voucher. Contact National Express customer services and ask them directly; they may allow you to re-book your journey. Nobody on this forum is going to be able to make that decision.

 

[gray1404]

Thanks for your replies.

I think asking for a brand new journey code is asking too much.

I might ask nicely at their discretion if they'll change it to a new journey and provide them with all the details at that point.

If they say no then at the very least I think I might change the date if the Oxford journey to one in the future and just have a day out.

Update: National Express very kindly offered to cancel my ticket to Oxford and issue a new voucher code. That was very kind and I'm very impressed.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Not sure if I've just been unlucky due to when I'm travelling etc, but I'm seeing quite a hike in prices on the Bristol to London route. What used to be able to be booked at more than a weeks notice for less than 20 quid is now not far off double that, and for leas than a weeks notice I'm paying almost 50 quid this weekend.

I'm suspecting this is the result of megabus no longer operating the route and so a combination of more people choosing national express (meaning the cheaper tickets sell more quickly) and a less competition to keep the prices down. Even flixbus aren't cheap from what I'm seeing (infact for some journeys they are more expensive than national express).

 

[centraltrains]

Not sure if I've just been unlucky due to when I'm travelling etc, but I'm seeing quite a hike in prices on the Bristol to London route. What used to be able to be booked at more than a weeks notice for less than 20 quid is now not far off double that, and for leas than a weeks notice I'm paying 50 quid this weekend.

I'm suspecting this is the result of megabus no longer operating the route and so a combination of more people choosing national express (meaning the cheaper tickets sell more quickly) and a less competition to keep the prices down. Even flixbus aren't cheap from what I'm seeing (infact for some journeys they are more expensive than national express).

I can't see any daytime services for more than £20 Bristol - London? Plenty under £10 single?

 

[WelshBluebird]

I can't see any daytime services for more than £20 Bristol - London? Plenty under £10 single

Sorry I wasn't clear, talking about the total cost for 2 adults. That means even £10 single is £40 return for two adults when you could easily get it for less than £20 total last year.

 

[route101]

Not sure if I've just been unlucky due to when I'm travelling etc, but I'm seeing quite a hike in prices on the Bristol to London route. What used to be able to be booked at more than a weeks notice for less than 20 quid is now not far off double that, and for leas than a weeks notice I'm paying almost 50 quid this weekend.

I'm suspecting this is the result of megabus no longer operating the route and so a combination of more people choosing national express (meaning the cheaper tickets sell more quickly) and a less competition to keep the prices down. Even flixbus aren't cheap from what I'm seeing (infact for some journeys they are more expensive than national express).

Flixbus tickets at short notice can be really expensive on the long routes. National Express will quite sell out on the route from Glasgow to London but fares will top out at around £45.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Have to say that on Thursday there was a less than acceptable standard of service put out by Galloway on the 717 to Stansted Airport.

The inbound coach arrived at 25 minutes before the departure was due to go out and offloaded passengers and people were waiting for the coach as normal at Ipswich and obviously you assume that there is nothing wrong. About 20 minutes before the coach was due to leave another driver turned up in a staff car I assume to relieve the driver who drove the inbound leg,

At exactly on the departure time, both drivers got out the coach and said the coach cannot operate because someone was sick on board and the coach cannot be used in service because of it. So they were just calling the company. Firstly at this point my wonder was why the coach had been sitting there for 25 minutes and they just chose the company at departure time. And if someone was sick on the coach on the way, surely they could have informed people sooner rather than waiting for the departure time, even if it was to say that the coach would be at least delayed and more information would follow.

Anyway they called the depot and whilst there was a spare coach, there was nobody to drive it, so the solution was that the driver would have to drive the unusable coach all the way back to the depot and then collect a clean coach and then drive it all the way back. They said that this would take at least an hour (and in reality it was over 1.5 hours late by the time it did depart). Whilst they said that taxis would be provided if it was more than 45 minutes, it transpired that this was not the case and we would need to wait for thhe bus..

At the time there was also issues on the Stansted Express and at Cambridge so going via train was not an option. I had to get an Uber in the end to avoid the risk of missing my flight. National Express agreed to refund the ticket cost, but of course didn't want to pay the difference between the fare and the Uber, because theys aid that the delay was only at 1.5 hours.

But some questions remain.

Why does Galloway not have any spare drivers standing by?
Why, knowing the coach was full of sick, already at that point,did operations allow the relief driver drive all the way from the depot to Ipswich in a staff car when he'd be better off driving the spare bus which he ultimately had to drive all the way back for and then back to Ipswich in anyway?
Why did they wait until coach departure time to communicate. I get people needs breaks but a total lack of customer focus.

A really expensive experience.

 

[transportphoto]

Why does Galloway not have any spare drivers standing by?
Why, knowing the coach was full of sick, already at that point,did operations allow the relief driver drive all the way from the depot to Ipswich in a staff car when he'd be better off driving the spare bus which he ultimately had to drive all the way back for and then back to Ipswich in anyway?
Why did they wait until coach departure time to communicate. I get people needs breaks but a total lack of customer focus.

Did you ask these questions to NX when making your complaint?

 

[Titfield]

I would be interested to know the answer to the spare drivers question as there can be many answers: (1) they had had a spare driver but he / she had been used already, (2) they don't roster spare drivers because of the cost or (3) simply not having enough drivers.

In my experience of coach operations, problem solving skills and communication skills are highly variable amongst drivers. Some are very good but I regret to say many adopt a "thats above my pay grade attitude".