I was going to comment that it was odd for a third Heathrow service to go a different route from the other two, but it looked well timed with them and then discovered the other two no longer serve Bradford (though all serve Leeds).
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National Express Coaches Discussion
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National Express returning to Banbury on the 460 from next week (see bustimes.org here, apologies to admins for not including this in my original post), sending about half in whilst increasing frequency generally and removing the small number of journeys via the M1 on the 461 (see bustimes.org here, with the timetable not continuing past Thursday 23rd). Seems that tickets are only available to London (see the booking engine, or the 'route map' feature on the website here) - a shame considering the lack of Oxford-Coventry coaches. Does anyone know if any other routes are changing at the same time?
To add to the above:
www.busandcoachbuyer.com
There are further amendments announced in the same article:
NatEx increasing network coverage - Bus & Coach Buyer
National Express is increasing its coach network coverage across the UK, including a new overnight service from Bradford to London. The news follows a separate announcement that it is introducing faster journey times on its 540 coach service between Manchester and London, with journey times...
www.busandcoachbuyer.com
There are further amendments announced in the same article:
Ridercross
Member
Although I see that it's not Banbury Town Centre/ Bus Station they're serving like they did before, they are doing a quick dash in off from the M40 junction.
The 466 is already running, but the two coaches currently run very close together on that section.
They don't mention that the service between Bradford and Heathrow has actually halvied.
317 forever
Established Member
Having just travelled from Manchester to London and back for a long weekend, I see the reason for the faster journeys is that, matching Megabus, they have cut out the refreshment break on several journeys, including mine.To add to the above:
NatEx increasing network coverage - Bus & Coach Buyer
National Express is increasing its coach network coverage across the UK, including a new overnight service from Bradford to London. The news follows a separate announcement that it is introducing faster journey times on its 540 coach service between Manchester and London, with journey times...
There are further amendments announced in the same article:
Smethwickian
Member
Nearly all 540 journeys are operated by Selwyn's of Manchester which now also has a base in Milton Keynes, so they now nearly all call at MK Coachway to pickup/set down and change drivers, instead of taking the break at Norton Canes Services on the M6 Toll.
The other tradition that this ends is the regular daily calls from passengers left behind at Norton Canes or from service station staff trying to help stranded pax.
markymark2000
On Moderation
Down side is that now they will either have to pay for the M6 toll or they will have to avoid it. If coaches stop at Norton Cannes, they get to go through the toll booth for free.
Blindtraveler
Established Member
never quite been able to understand why people who have been told specifically that they must be back on board by a specific time and that the coach will not wait still somehow managed to miss it d
Butts
Veteran Member
Bad news for smokers and people who want to stretch their legs.
317 forever
Established Member
Oh yes, I remember about the driver changeover at Milton Keynes.
This may influence what times I am willing to use NatEx for such routes, if I can no longer get a cup of coffee at an appropriate time. Last week I went to arrive in London just before lunch and came home just after teatime so was fine.
londonteacher
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I suppose the issue is if the competitors have quicker journey times people will be more likely to travel with them.
As for refreshments, people can purchase before boarding (usually at significantly less of a price).
Were the service breaks ever (in the last 5/10 years) designed for smokers though or was it a stop for operational reasons?
As for refreshments, people can purchase before boarding (usually at significantly less of a price).
Butts
Veteran Member
Eyersey468
Established Member
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- 2,192
We see it all the time to be honest, and those that turn up absolute last second for the coach
I was going to post here to ask what the black-coloured bulges are behind the front wheels on some new Caetano Levante coaches, but while trying to find a photo I found this article explaining that they're radar sensors to detect vulnerable road users or other obstructions in the blind spot area:
www.route-one.net
National Express to trial digital mirrors on new Levante IIIA
National Express is set to trial a digital camera monitoring system in place of traditional wing mirrors on the new Caetano Levante IIIA.
www.route-one.net
Eyersey468
Established Member
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Yes, that's one of the differences between Levante 3 and 3AI was going to post here to ask what the black-coloured bulges are behind the front wheels on some new Caetano Levante coaches, but while trying to find a photo I found this article explaining that they're radar sensors to detect vulnerable road users or other obstructions in the blind spot area:
National Express to trial digital mirrors on new Levante IIIA
National Express is set to trial a digital camera monitoring system in place of traditional wing mirrors on the new Caetano Levante IIIA.
Blindtraveler
Established Member
What other differences are there with the new one
joieman
Member
The main difference is the replacement of regular mirrors with cameras.
I have seen Megabus service 1x stop at Norton Canes too. The Scottish services still all have service station stops one or two to make up a 45 minute break for driver.
Eyersey468
Established Member
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There's also cupholders for the driver and Co driver, USB-C chargers and a few other things
omnicity4659
Member
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- 25 Sep 2017
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On our double crewed journeys its to comply with the rule on having a 20 minute uninterrupted break on shifts longer than 6 hours, but previously it was part of the EU driving hours when single crewed.
They're also a lot less squeaky inside.
I used National Express for the first time in ages for a day trip to London recently. I like new coaches, very comfy seating and the chargers were working well.
Ticket was £50 less than the train, and the journey was only about an hour longer, quite a bit of that the crawl through London to Victoria.
I'll definitely be using them again based on this experience.
markymark2000
On Moderation
Always baffled me why TFL has never tried to make it quicker considering how many buses and coaches are coming from the M1 to Victoria Coach Station. It certainly feels like there must be a better way of doing things.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
You're never going to get through central London quickly, nothing does that at street level aside from at 3am. Many big cities worldwide have separate north, south, east and west coach stations to avoid the issue.
gray1404
Established Member
National Express has a lot of connecting customers who enjoy transfering at one coach station. A transit across London is not attractive. One of the drawbacks to the train.
TravelDream
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I am a fairly regular user of NX from Cardiff to Victoria and then Victoria to Luton Airport and back. Well, maybe not fairly regular, but I have done it about 10 times.
The worst part is the crawl in Central London. But arriving at a hypothetical London West and departing from a hypothetical London North would be worse.
The worst part is the crawl in Central London. But arriving at a hypothetical London West and departing from a hypothetical London North would be worse.
The topic of London having outlying coach stations now has its own thread:
Outlying coach stations for London?
It's raised on the National Express thread that coaches spend a long time getting through to Victoria from the west and north (which is where most of them originate). This does raise a bit of a question - why do we have coaches traipsing slowly across central London? Would it make more sense...
www.railforums.co.uk
joieman
Member
I think, on the 440 at least, people can alight at Golders Green, and then presumably take the Tube into central London.
Some stop there, some stop at Finchley Road (or did - the last couple i've taken have stopped at Marble Arch as the first stop). Whilst that does save a fair bit of time you really have to get on at Victoria for the return journey.