Scheduled Intercity Coaches ran by Independants

I thought I would start a thread for us to keep track of some of the lesser known scheduled coaches. OF course we have Megabus, Citylink and NatEx who we all know but companies like Thandi Coaches and Berrys run their own scheduled intercity coaches and I thought it would be a good topic for discussion.


Airport Bus Express
A20 - Over 20 return trips daily - Stansted Airport to London Victoria

Berrys:
Superfast 1 - 2 x return trips - Tiverton, Wellington, Taunton, North Petherton & Bridgwater to London (Hammersmith Bus Station)
Superfast 2 - 2 x return trips - Taunton, Ilminster, South Petherton, Yeovil, Ilchester, RNAS Yeovilton & Wincanton to London (Hammersmith Bus Station)
Superfast 3 - 1 x return trip - Taunton, Street, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Frome, Warminster & Codford to London (Hammersmith Bus Station)

BusFeda, Doherty's Travel & John McGinley
2-4 trips return trips each week - Donegal to Glagsow (Multiple stops en-route)
This route is ran by 3 operators who all meet at one stop. They then meet in Letterkenny and transfer all passengers onto one bus. The operators take it in turns to run through to Glasgow

Eamonn Rooney
7 x return trips Mon-Fri - Rostrevor & Newry to Belfast
2 x return trips Mon-Fri - Rostrevor & Newry to Dublin

Hannon Coach
2 return trips - Lurgan, Lisburn, Belfast to Glasgow

JH Coaches
B66 - 1 return trip (Summer Mon, Fri & Sun) - Newcastle, Durham, Bishop Auckland to Blackpool.

John McGinley
B - 2 return trips daily - Co Donegal - Londonderry - Monaghan - Ardee - Dublin

New Bharat Coaches:
2 return trips - Southall, Slough, Coventry, Handsworth, Smethwick & Wolverhampton
1 return trip - Southall, Slough & Leicester
1 return trip - Southall, Slough, Leicester, Derby & Bradford

New Punjab
upto 3 return trips - Southall, Slough, Coventry, Handsworth, Smethwick & Wolverhampton
1 return trip - Southall, Slough & Leicester
1 return trip - Southall, Slough, Leicester, Derby & Bradford

Swanbrook
Upto 4 return trips - Cheltenham, Burford, Whitney & Oxford

Thandi Executive:
751 - 2 x return trips - Gravesend, Dartford, East Ham, Barking, Luton, Coventry, Handsworth, Smethwick & Wolverhampton
752 - 2 x return trips - Gravesend, Dartford, East Ham, Barking, Luton, Leicester, Sheffield & Bradford
753 - 1 x return trip - Bradford, Sheffield, Leicester, Luton, Slough & Southall
754 - 2 x return trips - Bradford, Sheffield, Leicester, Coventry, Handsworth, Smethwick & Wolverhampton

Wright Bros
888 - 1 return trip (June-September) - Newcastle, Hexham, Penrith, Keswick


Commuter Coaches
Not listing all the routes as there are quite a few. Please see the list in post #2 by njawley for full routes.
To London:
Brookline, Centaur, Clarkes, Kings Ferry, Marshalls, Redwing

If anyone can help fill any gaps or if people want to post news regarding scheduled intercity coach routes then feel free.

Thandi
751 : Gravesend - Dartford - East Ham - Barking - Luton - Coventry - Handsworth - Smethwick - Wolverhampton (2 each way daily)
752 : Gravesend - Dartford - East Ham - Barking - Luton - Leicester - Sheffield - Bradford (up to 2 each way daily)
753 : Bradford - Sheffield - Leicester - Luton - Slough - Southall (1 each way daily)
754 : Bradford - Sheffield - Leicester - Coventry - Handsworth - Smethwick - Wolverhampton (up to 2 each way daily)

New Bharat
Southall - Slough - Coventry - Handsworth - Smethwick - Wolverhampton (2 each way daily)
Southall - Slough - Leicester (1 each way daily)
Southall - Slough - Leicester - Derby - Bradford (1 each way daily)

New Punjab
Southall - Slough - Coventry - Handsworth - Smethwick - Wolverhampton (up to 3 each way daily)
Southall - Slough - Leicester (1 each way daily)
Southall - Slough - Leicester - Derby - Bradford (1 each way daily)

There are the commuter services from Kent and Bedfordshire into central London...
700 Mierscourt & Wigmore (Kings Ferry, 1 each way)
715 Hempstead & Wigmore (Kings Ferry, 1 each way)
716 Gillingham & Lordwood areas (Kings Ferry, 3 each way)
717 Chatham & Rochester areas (Kings Ferry, 2 each way)
719 Hempstead & Walderslade areas (Kings Ferry, 5 each way)
720 Gillingham & Rainham areas (Kings Ferry, 3 each way)
721 Rainham & Wigmore areas (Kings Ferry, 3 each way)
722 Gillingham & Frindsbury (Kings Ferry, 2 each way)
734 West Malling area (Brookline, 3 each way)
735 Gravesend area (Redwing, 5 each way)
736 Gravesend area (Redwing, 5 each way)
750 Isle of Sheppey (Kings Ferry, 4 each way)
751 Shippingbourne (Kings Ferry, 5 each way)
763 Strood area (Clarkes, 2 each way)
764 Snodland, Halling & Strood (Clarkes, 2 each way)
765 Hoo area & Strood (Clarkes, 4 each way)
769 Vigo area (Clarkes, 3 each way)
770 New Ash Green area (Clarkes, 3 each way)
771 Linslade, Leighton Buzzard & Dunstable (Marshalls, 2 out, 3 back)
772 Houghton Regis & Dunstable (Marshalls, 1 each way)
774 Maidstone (Kings Ferry, 2 each way)
785 Aylesford (Kings Ferry, 2 each way)
786 Pembury & Tunbridge Wells (Centaur, 4 each way)
788 Rusthall (Centaur, 2 each way)
789 Paddock Wood & Tonbridge (Centaur, 2 each way)
790 Sevenoaks area (Centaur, 2 each way)
793 Tonbridge (Centaur, 2 each way)

Thanks for those. I know there are a fair few commuter coaches around. I was trying not to touch them but if you think they are relevant to the discussion, I will happily put them in.

Do New Bharat and New Punjab actually run the same services or is it just 2 companies selling tickets for 1 service?

I took a look at both of their websites and I did wonder - I listed them both simply because of the Wolverhampton route having a different number of journeys. Although a quick Google search suggests they are competing companies.

njlawley said:

I took a look at both of their websites and I did wonder - I listed them both simply because of the Wolverhampton route having a different number of journeys. Although a quick Google search suggests they are competing companies.

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Strange that 3 companies all run similar routes. Who knew there was such a demand for Southall/Barking to Wolverhampton haha.

There must be a link somewhere between the companies for them to be so similar. Are they the only companies (except Berrys and the obvious Megabus/NatEx/Citylink) to run intercity coach trips which aren't specifically for commuters?

Not for commuters, but specifically linking the major Sikh communities in the UK. Some of the stopping points are outside, or close to, Sikh temples.

Thandi operate to Nottingham as I've seen the same coach at similar times here. It was a Thandi Mercedes

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but Fishers Tours (Dundee) used to run Scottish express services of their own. A few of their coaches still have these advertised so would assume they still run? Never been able to find any information on routes or times etc

DMU180 said:

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but Fishers Tours (Dundee) used to run Scottish express services of their own. A few of their coaches still have these advertised so would assume they still run? Never been able to find any information on routes or times etc

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Just had a look and they have a fair few routes but they are mostly fortnightly.

DMU180 said:

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but Fishers Tours (Dundee) used to run Scottish express services of their own. A few of their coaches still have these advertised so would assume they still run? Never been able to find any information on routes or times etc

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Yes, they do still operate their Scottish Express services, most run once a fortnight. I’ll save listing them and instead link to their 2019 timetable.

http://fisherstours.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2019-Timetable.pdf

Those I’ve seen tend to be operated by ex-Stagecoach Volvo B12BT/Panthers.

McGill’s also operate the 902 Capital Flyer Wednesday to Saturday, one return trip, linking Greenock - Paisley - Edinburgh.

ClydeCoaster said:

McGill’s also operate the 902 Capital Flyer Wednesday to Saturday, one return trip, linking Greenock - Paisley - Edinburgh.

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August only according to their site. I did look on their site as they had the 906 which I would have included.

A Thandi coach has turned up several times on the M6 in Lancashire in the last few weeks, heading north around 8:15 Wigan/Preston, south around 18:00 same area.
Scottish service???

JH Coaches of Birtley operate their B66 Newcastle - Blackpool as a summer weekend only registered stopping service.

cnjb8 said:

Thandi operate to Nottingham as I've seen the same coach at similar times here. It was a Thandi Mercedes

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The 752 mentioned earlier calls at Nottingham - the online timetables don't mention all the calling points which are clearer from the map (and are bookable on their web site).

randyrippley said:

A Thandi coach has turned up several times on the M6 in Lancashire in the last few weeks, heading north around 8:15 Wigan/Preston, south around 18:00 same area.
Scottish service???

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They don't run a regular service so far as I can tell but they do do normal coach hire.

I've never used Thandi services but what I've heard about them from others and the online reviews isn't encouraging.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en...e=lurev_0x4870bd3e226a50ad:0xddc8bc6a2f15f195

Deerfold said:

The 752 mentioned earlier calls at Nottingham - the online timetables don't mention all the calling points which are clearer from the map (and are bookable on their web site).

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For some reason, all of the sikh community coaches have similar ways of showing the timetables. They show pick up until around half way through the route and then drop off after that making you think you can't book short journeys when in fact you can.

Pluto said:

I've never used Thandi services but what I've heard about them from others and the online reviews isn't encouraging.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en...e=lurev_0x4870bd3e226a50ad:0xddc8bc6a2f15f195

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Just reading this, a lot is down to punctuality with drivers leaving early or really late.

With these being scheduled services, they should be registered shouldn't they and therefore leaving early means you can have licences revoked and stuff.

James101 said:

JH Coaches of Birtley operate their B66 Newcastle - Blackpool as a summer weekend only registered stopping service.

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What route does it take?

DMU180 said:

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but Fishers Tours (Dundee) used to run Scottish express services of their own. A few of their coaches still have these advertised so would assume they still run? Never been able to find any information on routes or times etc

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Seen a few , they are really tours that are registered , concession pass holder too . Run from like Dundee to Silverburn shopping centre.

Sure there is (was) a Saturday coach service from Newcastle over to Keswick - can’t remember who!

Sandy Drew said:

Sure there is (was) a Saturday coach service from Newcastle over to Keswick - can’t remember who!

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That's the 888 operated by Wright Bros between July and September.
I took a trip on it the other week and I think it's more scenic than the Yorkshire Coastliner 840...

northrob said:

That's the 888 operated by Wright Bros between July and September.
I took a trip on it the other week and I think it's more scenic than the Yorkshire Coastliner 840...

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Now much advertising about it. Seems a bit strange for it to be kept quiet.

markymark2000 said:

Now much advertising about it. Seems a bit strange for it to be kept quiet.

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As far as I recall, this has been running for, literally, decades.

markymark2000 said:

For some reason, all of the sikh community coaches have similar ways of showing the timetables. They show pick up until around half way through the route and then drop off after that making you think you can't book short journeys when in fact you can.


Just reading this, a lot is down to punctuality with drivers leaving early or really late.

With these being scheduled services, they should be registered shouldn't they and therefore leaving early means you can have licences revoked and stuff.

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There’s a bit more to the complaints than just punctuality, a friend of mine used the service once and it was a case of "never again" but he uses National Express and Megabus regularly. I guess regulars just put up with it for a cheap journey?

markymark2000 said:

Now much advertising about it. Seems a bit strange for it to be kept quiet.

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I'm surprised as well, in spite of it having run for a long time. However the fact that the ENCTS pass is valid on it, means that there is usually a fair loading on it anyway (or at least there was when I rode it).

One other point I forgot to mention earlier, it is currently runs everyday between the months mentioned.

The current timetable is here: http://www.wrightscoaches.co.uk/timetables.html

Pluto said:

There’s a bit more to the complaints than just punctuality, a friend of mine used the service once and it was a case of "never again" but he uses National Express and Megabus regularly. I guess regulars just put up with it for a cheap journey?

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I suppose we have to be careful with what we say so as not to upset people. Could they be classed as a cowboy operator with their punctuality and the reviews on google. They certainly aren't reputable.

If their target market is a very specific then perhaps that market is uninformed of the alternatives out there. Thandi is probably a bit faster as well with them stopping at motorway junctions rather than proper interchanges like NatEx do.

route101 said:

What route does it take?

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https://moovitapp.com/index/en-gb/public_transportation-line-B66-North_East-2104-775843-574104-0

markymark2000 said:

Could they be classed as a cowboy operator.

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I have never used the firm under discussion so I don't know whether it would be fair to call them cowboys. But it seems unlikely, because the people who run the firm are very definitely Indians ...

I knew some people in the Sikh communities served by the other operators, who had interesting views on the services offered. Apparently they're easier if you want to send children to the grandparents unaccompanied, but they highlighted some potential negative aspects regarding professionalism of the operator. There was also suggestion that sometimes one operator might sell more tickets and carry more people than there were seats for.

It's interesting that almost all London commuter coach are serving Kent.
For example, there were 10 departures of 735/736 serving Gravesend per day each direction, while
no service existed across the Thames in Essex.
Is it due to the geographical reason?