Flixbus Discussion

[Dwarfer1979]

FlixBus isn’t a turn up and go service for the able bodied or anyone else.

No but you can book on the day via the web and if you can do that as an able bodied person you need to be able to do the same as a wheelchair user, that is the letter of PSVAR not just the spirit.

You do wonder how much of this issue comes from the fact that UK PSVAR is more strict than most other countries and so Flixbus don't really understand it themselves. In most of Europe it appears that you can have different booking conditions for wheelchairs (such as requiring 24 hours notice) but in the UK that isn't the law and wheelchairs must be given the same booking terms as an able bodied person - if one can book on the day so must everyone be able to.

Flixbus also has an ongoing saga of choosing stops which are deliberately not accessible for wheelchair users because they are so desperate to get into certain bus stations, accessibility doesn't matter (Ie Leicester and Bristol whereby offloading a wheelchair means lifts are deployed into the middle of a bus apron, and Nottingham Broadmarsh where there isn't enough space for a wheelchair lift to extend and a wheelchair to board. There's other examples but this will suffice).

The issue with wheelchair lifts in bus stations for coaches is not just a Flixbus problem, I suspect even National Express have problems at some sites as the space between coach & building isn't big enough for the lifts to deploy even from a front doo lift (Coventry looks a problem but I have never seen them try to be sure). Leicester could accommodate Flixbus better with the current design, the National Express stands by their ticket office could mostly do so without problems (not all are but several are side on) though I suspect both parties would prefer to be separate and at the other end the tour coach bay next to the Flixbus bay is side on so if they had a wheelchair booked I assume they would pull onto that stand so they can deploy their lift.

That said in some locations the issue occurs due to, or is exacerbated by, the fact that Flixbus allows operators to specify their coaches as they will and as no one generally offers an express coach spec vehicle (except Caetano which I think is still an exclusive product to Nat Ex contractors - Plaxton used to but they have suspended production) you end up with varied locations of side mounted lifts which then are difficult to accommodate in the design of a bus station even if you wanted to try. For instance Leicester St Margarets provided an extended bay beyond those dedicated to National Express to provide space for the Arriva X6 to deploy their lifts as these have the lift just behind the front wheel but you couldn't do so with models with the lift further back. A front entrance lift can be accommodated into a bus station design, as can with some compromise one just after the front wheel, but a side lift needs a full clear side access of several metres so effectively forces roadside pickups (which causes an issue over passenger facilities and convenience for all) and even there you will have issues where road furniture and pavement width could interfere with lift deployment.

 

[MotCO]

(except Caetano which I think is still an exclusive product to Nat Ex contractors -

I seem to recall that some years ago, The Kings Ferry, whilst still independent, bought some Levantes on a Mercedes chassis, so I don't think it was an exclusive design.

 

[DJames]

That said in some locations the issue occurs due to, or is exacerbated by, the fact that Flixbus allows operators to specify their coaches as they will and as no one generally offers an express coach spec vehicle (except Caetano which I think is still an exclusive product to Nat Ex contractors - Plaxton used to but they have suspended production) you end up with varied locations of side mounted lifts which then are difficult to accommodate in the design of a bus station even if you wanted to try.

I believe you can still get an Altano from Van Hool, which has the downstairs wheelchair space through the front door, and Beulas offer the Glory which is a similar product. I can't recall any other products that have front entrance wheelchair access though, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

I seem to recall that some years ago, The Kings Ferry, whilst still independent, bought some Levantes on a Mercedes chassis, so I don't think it was an exclusive design.

Those were technically not Levantes, but Caetano Winners. Basically the same product, but with a conventional continental door and toilet location, if specified. They were also sold over in Europe, primarily on Mercedes chassis, but also available with a MAN, Scania or Volvo chassis.

 

[Kieran_MF135]

FlixBus isn’t a turn up and go service for the able bodied or anyone else.

If you can buy said ticket on day 15min before departure .

and if on board by driver if there coach has enough free seat.
The word turn up and go means that I can book ticket on the same day without the need to give days notice to board under PSVAR if coach is not full then drivers duties is to make the wheelchair space available. For a wheelchair user.

The law is in black and white a public service vehicle has to be wheelchair accessible. On schedule bus/coaches as per PSVAR

If not I will kick up some fuss and refuse to allow it to depart if there being unlawfully and making a report to DVSA and legal action especially when I have pre booked and notify them and they confirmed the space and still refuse.


If an able body is able to buy ticket on the day then so are wheelchair users.

 

[RT4038]

If you can buy said ticket on day 15min before departure .

and if on board by driver if there coach has enough free seat.
The word turn up and go means that I can book ticket on the same day without the need to give days notice to board under PSVAR if coach is not full then drivers duties is to make the wheelchair space available. For a wheelchair user.

The law is in black and white a public service vehicle has to be wheelchair accessible. On schedule bus/coaches as per PSVAR




If an able body is able to buy ticket on the day then so are wheelchair users.

This is all correct; however if the wheelchair space is already being used by another wheelchair user then the coach company are within their rights to refuse you. Which is why it is better to book in advance, including the wheelchair space, to avoid that possible problem. But if you don't mind taking the risk....

 

[Mwanesh]

oh they have been reported to DVSA and legal action as well as end day there breching the law and turn up and go is legal right
even if they sold the seat which get removed the passnger who are reosnable able to move needs regarldes if they have paid or not get refund on the seat as only place a wheelchair user can get on to is there prolvided coach is not fully booked in wich case ticket be allowed use on the next service.

Flixbus stops are a bit off the tracks .The birmingham one is a pain to get to

 

[Kieran_MF135]

This is all correct; however if the wheelchair space is already being used by another wheelchair user then the coach company are within their rights to refuse you. Which is why it is better to book in advance, including the wheelchair space, to avoid that possible problem. But if you don't mind taking the risk....

There is that if occupied by different wheelchair user in which case the ticket will be allowed use for the next coach.

I do tend to book and notify in advance but on Saturday I had issues of they refused to remove seats that I had already pre booked and tried to say it mandatory 36hr in advance which is incorrect it recommended the fact I did it 6 days before travel and was confirmed space and was refused 2 coaches that I had booked and has wheelchair space confirmed for and 3rd coach refused on turn up and go space free coach not full and was still refused travel I did have other flix driver from different company who was fabulous he stayed with me and even challenged both drivers.


But it when driver's breach PSVAR and the Equality act which is down to driver and there company.

 

[RT4038]

There is that if occupied by different wheelchair user in which case the ticket will be allowed use for the next coach.

Which is fine providing that the next coach is in a reasonable amount of time, and that coach doesn't have a wheelchair on board already booked!

I do tend to book and notify in advance

Always best to avoid such possibilities! (you're doing that anyway)

but on Saturday I had issues of they refused to remove seats that I had already pre booked and tried to say it mandatory 36hr in advance which is incorrect it recommended the fact I did it 6 days before travel and was confirmed space and was refused 2 coaches that I had booked and has wheelchair space confirmed for and 3rd coach refused on turn up and go space free coach not full and was still refused travel I did have other flix driver from different company who was fabulous he stayed with me and even challenged both drivers.


But it when driver's breach PSVAR and the Equality act which is down to driver and there company.

No excuse and needs calling out.

 

[nick291]

I seem to recall that some years ago, The Kings Ferry, whilst still independent, bought some Levantes on a Mercedes chassis, so I don't think it was an exclusive design.

That is very true, however The Kings Ferry is/was a subsidiary of the NatEx Group. Those were geared more towards private hire with centre sunken toilets I believe.

 

[Dwarfer1979]

I seem to recall that some years ago, The Kings Ferry, whilst still independent, bought some Levantes on a Mercedes chassis, so I don't think it was an exclusive design.

There was a short period where they offered a slightly modified version in a deal with Mercedes outside the Nat Ex deal to the general market as Merc didn't have a PSVAR option at the time (as it was not a combination that was part of the NatEx arrangement which uses Volvo or Scania) but not sure it continued into Euro 6 and certainly isn't still on the market so we are back to the Caetanos only ever going to Nat Ex contractors new.

I believe you can still get an Altano from Van Hool, which has the downstairs wheelchair space through the front door, and Beulas offer the Glory which is a similar product. I can't recall any other products that have front entrance wheelchair access though, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

There are a number of compromises with the over-deckers which is why they are a niche product, partly simply possibly as they are always quite long options (normally I think they are 14 or 15-metre) whilst a number of the express operators seem to prefer slightly shorter 12 or 13 metre options though if you order enough you can get anyone to build anything (though the height means even a 12-metre would be 3-axle with the costs & compromises that brings) and there are plenty who do run the long stuff so not insurmountable in and of itself (I think NatEx seem to standardise on 3-axles which I assume are around 14-metres though Flix seem to more often be 2-axle vehicles). The wheelchair space is a problem with this layout as you are essentially left sat in the entrance with everyone boarding having to squeeze past (between cab & wheelchair) if boarding via the front door and you are isolated from most passengers who are sat upstairs (there are a couple of seats for companions behind the driver but these are often quite claustrophobic) which can be unpopular whilst everyone else has to climb more steps to get to most seats. Deckers can also be done with front door access, though most do it via the middle door as it simplifies the layout at the front where you have to deal with suspension & wheels designed for higher speeds than a conventional low floor bus which constricts space. All this means they are more expensive to buy and run and have their own issues but given what is on the market it could be seen as the best solution for these type of services on the open market.

 

[318266]

FlixBus isn’t a turn up and go service for the able bodied or anyone else.

Within Scotland, holders of NEC cards can turn up and go. All people in wheelchairs, generally, are eligible for NECs. I've done so many times as I find the Flixbus booking process a bit cumbersome for a Glasgow -> Livingston trip, for example.

So, for example, Loch Lomond Bus Services could be found liable if a wheelchair passenger wishes to travel on an 090 to Edinburgh and the driver is unable to remove the seats occupying the wheelchair bay, and then refuses the wheelchair passenger's travel, given that a comparative non-wheelchair passenger with a NEC (such as myself) can make the same journey without pre-booking.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Within Scotland, holders of NEC cards can turn up and go. All people in wheelchairs, generally, are eligible for NECs. I've done so many times as I find the Flixbus booking process a bit cumbersome for a Glasgow -> Livingston trip, for example.

So, for example, Loch Lomond Bus Services could be found liable if a wheelchair passenger wishes to travel on an 090 to Edinburgh and the driver is unable to remove the seats occupying the wheelchair bay, and then refuses the wheelchair passenger's travel, given that a comparative non-wheelchair passenger with a NEC (such as myself) can make the same journey without pre-booking.

I’m waiting for one of these times a Doug Paulley etc comes along and rightly catches them out. Only then will I think this would make McGill’s and Flixbus do something about this absolute nonsense.

Are they still doing the dodgy NEC ‘free travel’ adverts I raised last year?

 

[markymark2000]

FlixBus isn’t a turn up and go service for the able bodied or anyone else.

It is turn up and go though because, especially in Scotland, you can tap your concessionary pass on the ticket machine and you don't need to book the journey. That is literally turn up and go.

On some other Flixbus routes you can also turn up and pay the driver in cash, this again is turn up and go.

DVSA reminds coach operators of law surrounding wheelchair spaces - CBW

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has issued a reminder to coach operators, warning them that they will face ‘tough action’ if they fail to comply with theThe law on the use of wheelchairs [...]

cbwmagazine.com

Spoiler: Quote from article

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has issued a reminder to coach operators, warning them that they will face ‘tough action’ if they fail to comply with the law on the use of wheelchairs in vehicles.

If a wheelchair space is available wheelchair users must be able to use it – even if they buy a ticket on the day.

The key requirements operators need to be aware of are:

• to ensure that wheelchair users can use available wheelchair spaces (as long as the coach is not full, that the wheelchair space is not occupied by someone using a wheelchair or that it has not been booked by someone using a wheelchair for all or part of the same journey), including those that require the removal, folding or tipping of other seats; and
• not to require passengers who use wheelchairs to book any further in advance than passengers who don’t.

Coach operators should ensure all their staff – from drivers to ticketing and contact centre staff – are familiar with the law as well.

Coach operators can advise or recommend that wheelchair-using passengers book seats in advance, but drivers and other staff cannot require it as a condition of travel. If the wheelchair space is available – including spaces where seats have to be removed, tipped or folded – coach companies must allow a wheelchair user to occupy it, even if they turn up and buy a ticket on the day.

The DVSA says it ‘will not hesitate’ to investigate and report any breaches to the traffic commissioners, who will then decide whether there are grounds for further action. The agency is currently investigating three companies who appear to have broken the rules.

Gareth Llewelyn DVSA Chief Executive said: “DVSA’s priority is to protect the public from unsafe drivers and vehicles. We know the majority of coach operators, and their drivers and other staff, work hard to provide professional services. But there also appears to be some confusion in the industry.

“We’re currently investigating a number of cases where drivers, ticketing staff and even coach company call centres seem to be unaware of the law. So we’re working with the Confederation of Passenger Transport to put the record straight.”

There are two exceptions to the law:

• Some coaches are not required to have wheelchair spaces until 1 January 2020;
• If a service is completely full, existing passengers are not required to disembark to allow the wheelchair space to be used, but if it’s not the driver should ask other passengers who do not have a legitimate need of the wheelchair space to move to alternative seats.

The issue with wheelchair lifts in bus stations for coaches is not just a Flixbus problem, I suspect even National Express have problems at some sites as the space between coach & building isn't big enough for the lifts to deploy even from a front doo lift (Coventry looks a problem but I have never seen them try to be sure). Leicester could accommodate Flixbus better with the current design, the National Express stands by their ticket office could mostly do so without problems (not all are but several are side on) though I suspect both parties would prefer to be separate and at the other end the tour coach bay next to the Flixbus bay is side on so if they had a wheelchair booked I assume they would pull onto that stand so they can deploy their lift.

That said in some locations the issue occurs due to, or is exacerbated by, the fact that Flixbus allows operators to specify their coaches as they will and as no one generally offers an express coach spec vehicle you end up with varied locations of side mounted lifts which then are difficult to accommodate in the design of a bus station even if you wanted to try.

You've hit the nail on the head. It's nothing that can't be overcome though. For example almost all Flixbus coaches have mid lifts (only Whippets I think have the lifts over the rear axle) and so Flixbus could easily try and find stops which are accessible for middle wheelchair lifts. The issue is the culture of and mindset of Flixbus staff who quite simply couldn't care less for disabled passengers. I say this in the nicest way but their mindset is basically that they don't make money from wheelchair users. 1 wheelchair passenger takes up the space of 4 seats (so that is -3 seats worth of revenue for them), and the procedure takes time which can delay the service. The harder they make it for wheelchair passengers, the more money they can make. It's money over ethics.
I'll use the recent example of Nottingham too. They have just moved from a stop at Greyfriar Gate which is accessible and wheelchair lifts can be deployed, over to Broadmarsh Bus Station Stand 1 where lifts can't be deployed. This is active discrimination and I know it was raised with the council who committed to monitor the situation but I doubt anything will get done because the council is so desperate to get people in the bus station.

Leicester could easily be solved but seemingly a lack of care within the council. There is stop SA at the other end of the bus station which is a stand with pavement next to it for the full length of the stop. Flixbus could use this easily but instead the council has designated this stand for coach holidays and is using the smaller drive on, reverse off stop SB for Flixbus. The other issue is someone has spluttered bollards all over the place next to stop SA so lining up the wheelchair lift to come out between the bollards would be a challenge for the driver. The X6 suffers too when it should be using at bare minimum stop SV so it's closer to the coach stands, but instead Skylink gets priority to be closer to the coach stands than the X6 coach. It's just constant passive ableism and lack of care. Too much 'We have a plan if a wheelchair turns up' rather than trying to actively make things as accessible as possible.

I’m waiting for one of these times a Doug Paulley etc comes along and rightly catches them out. Only then will I think this make McGill’s and Flixbus do something about this absolute nonsense.

Doug tried in 2020. Written evidence from Doug to the Transport Committee said the following (paragraph 21 which is on page 4)

When Flixbus started its UK domestic scheduled coach operation in 2020, their subcontractor BM Coaches used non-PSVAR-compliant vehicles. Neither Flixbus nor BM Coaches faced prosecution for this failure. I therefore attempted to prosecute BM Coaches under this legislation as a litigant in person. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful due to my lack of legal training.

 

[Dwarfer1979]

Leicester could easily be solved but seemingly a lack of care within the council. There is stop SA at the other end of the bus station which is a stand with pavement next to it for the full length of the stop. Flixbus could use this easily but instead the council has designated this stand for coach holidays and is using the smaller drive on, reverse off stop SB for Flixbus. The other issue is someone has spluttered bollards all over the place next to stop SA so lining up the wheelchair lift to come out between the bollards would be a challenge for the driver. The X6 suffers too when it should be using at bare minimum stop SV so it's closer to the coach stands, but instead Skylink gets priority to be closer to the coach stands than the X6 coach. It's just constant passive ableism and lack of care. Too much 'We have a plan if a wheelchair turns up' rather than trying to actively make things as accessible as possible.

Skylink on SV is due to it running 24-hours, it needs to be on a stand that can be accessed without entering the building as that is not open all night so sits where it does on the edge of the Nat Ex bays as they have pavement access which the rest don't and their frequency means sharing stands gets difficult. The X6 is on a stand designed for coach usage and for a lift behind the front wheel to be deployed safely, allocation was carefully planned for the X6 to ensure that it would always be able to access its stand as priority.

I suspect part of the issue around Flixbus is they weren't operating to Leicester when the bus station was designed so a special stand wasn't incorporated for their needs at the time (Megabus showed no intention to ever run to the city centre, they stuck to Fosse Park on the edge of the city by the motorway junction), their stand was designed more around the eastern european coaches as it has been designed so you can board from either side than for a second UK express operator with wheelchair lifts. The coach tour bay, SA, was of course designed to give safe access to the side lockers for passengers to add or remove luggage without entering the vehicle area (the previous version of St Margarets had most tour coaches inside and this would be a problem that could be observed often). It probably would be better for Flixbus to use SA as well and some of the posts removed to ensure safe deployment (not major engineering if it needs to be done), I don't know who made the decision for them to use that specific stand (operators did have input into where they were allocated) and until it actually becomes an issue it won't be raised as one by the operator and it won't be on the councils radar as they aren't an operator so there will be no push to make changes.

 

[Robertj21a]

Skylink on SV is due to it running 24-hours, it needs to be on a stand that can be accessed without entering the building as that is not open all night so sits where it does on the edge of the Nat Ex bays as they have pavement access which the rest don't and their frequency means sharing stands gets difficult. The X6 is on a stand designed for coach usage and for a lift behind the front wheel to be deployed safely, allocation was carefully planned for the X6 to ensure that it would always be able to access its stand as priority.

I suspect part of the issue around Flixbus is they weren't operating to Leicester when the bus station was designed so a special stand wasn't incorporated for their needs at the time (Megabus showed no intention to ever run to the city centre, they stuck to Fosse Park on the edge of the city by the motorway junction), their stand was designed more around the eastern european coaches as it has been designed so you can board from either side than for a second UK express operator with wheelchair lifts. The coach tour bay, SA, was of course designed to give safe access to the side lockers for passengers to add or remove luggage without entering the vehicle area (the previous version of St Margarets had most tour coaches inside and this would be a problem that could be observed often). It probably would be better for Flixbus to use SA as well and some of the posts removed to ensure safe deployment (not major engineering if it needs to be done), I don't know who made the decision for them to use that specific stand (operators did have input into where they were allocated) and until it actually becomes an issue it won't be raised as one by the operator and it won't be on the councils radar as they aren't an operator so there will be no push to make changes.

The increased frequency on Flixbus routes can sometimes result in 2-3 of their coaches being in the area, on stand or parked up. Using SA would certainly be more logical but Flix drivers try to reverse off (rather too far) at present so that they get easy access to the slip road for the dual carriageway.
.

 

[DJames]

For example almost all Flixbus coaches have mid lifts (only Whippets I think have the lifts over the rear axle) and so Flixbus could easily try and find stops which are accessible for middle wheelchair lifts.

Prospect Coaches have a few Scania Higer Tourings that also have rear axle lifts, namely the PR73 batch that they formerly used on Megabus work.

 

[markymark2000]

Skylink on SV is due to it running 24-hours, it needs to be on a stand that can be accessed without entering the building as that is not open all night so sits where it does on the edge of the Nat Ex bays as they have pavement access which the rest don't and their frequency means sharing stands gets difficult. The X6 is on a stand designed for coach usage and for a lift behind the front wheel to be deployed safely, allocation was carefully planned for the X6 to ensure that it would always be able to access its stand as priority.

Thank you, that explains the Skylink situation well. I'm interested though you say SV is accessible for a lift behind the front wheel to be deployed as surely any lift being deployed in stand SU would either extend over onto stand SV or you would need space from stand SV to get a wheelchair onto the lift etc?

I suspect part of the issue around Flixbus is they weren't operating to Leicester when the bus station was designed so a special stand wasn't incorporated for their needs at the time (Megabus showed no intention to ever run to the city centre, they stuck to Fosse Park on the edge of the city by the motorway junction), their stand was designed more around the eastern european coaches as it has been designed so you can board from either side than for a second UK express operator with wheelchair lifts. The coach tour bay, SA, was of course designed to give safe access to the side lockers for passengers to add or remove luggage without entering the vehicle area (the previous version of St Margarets had most tour coaches inside and this would be a problem that could be observed often). It probably would be better for Flixbus to use SA as well and some of the posts removed to ensure safe deployment (not major engineering if it needs to be done), I don't know who made the decision for them to use that specific stand (operators did have input into where they were allocated) and until it actually becomes an issue it won't be raised as one by the operator and it won't be on the councils radar as they aren't an operator so there will be no push to make changes.

Sure you could make it work so that Flix/Tour coaches could be done from SA/SB and make tour coaches pre book departures (I know Chorley operate a pre booking scheme for non scheduled coaches). Some tour coaches can work off SB anyway if they have a continental door and then Flixbus gets the accessible stand all the time as well but has a backup of SB for dropping off or something if no wheelchairs are onboard, but SA becomes the primary stand.

I suspect an issue wont be raised by Flixbus because, as we are establishing, their attitude towards wheelchair pax isn't the best.

Prospect Coaches have a few Scania Higer Tourings that also have rear axle lifts, namely the PR73 batch that they formerly used on Megabus work.

Thank you, I didn't think about those.

 

[philthetube]

It is not reasonable to expect a driver to remove four seats at a stop .This is not saying that the current situation is acceptable but another solution needs to be found.

A driver grafting to remove and store seats on a coach will not be fit the then drive for a long period, also the other passengers should not be inconvenienced by the delay, or the wheelchair used embarrassed by it.

The space should be constantly available.

 

[route101]

FlixBus isn’t a turn up and go service for the able bodied or anyone else.

They do push the prices uo close to departure though. Usual price between Glasgow and Edinburgh is £5.49 , often goes up over £20 within a hour of departure.

 

[Dwarfer1979]

Thank you, that explains the Skylink situation well. I'm interested though you say SV is accessible for a lift behind the front wheel to be deployed as surely any lift being deployed in stand SU would either extend over onto stand SV or you would need space from stand SV to get a wheelchair onto the lift etc?

I would have to go and look again, and I wasn't planning to go to Leicester City Centre this week, but I assume that SU has an extended boarding platform (the bus station is sawtooth so there is a short extended pavement that buses line the door against) which means a wider gap between SU & SV that allows the lift to land on the platform. Never really paid attention when I used that stand to check how well it actually would work and how it all lines up in practice - just because they intend it and designed for it doesn't mean they have managed it well - but half the NatEx bays are also nose in sawtooths so it isn't just the X6.

 

[WelshBluebird]

In terms of the comments regarding bus stops and stations, how do National Express handle it? I saw Bristol mentioned a few posts ago so do NE have the same issue FlixBus do there or are their bays somehow different? I guess them not handling it well either is a possibility too!

 

[DJames]

In terms of the comments regarding bus stops and stations, how do National Express handle it? I saw Bristol mentioned a few posts ago so do NE have the same issue FlixBus do there or are their bays somehow different? I guess them not handling it well either is a possibility too!

The Levante coaches that National Express use have front entrance mounted lifts, so generally they have less issues with stops.

 

[Great_Western]

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't the new Yutong coaches have seats in the wheelchair area that slide back and fold up to accommodate a wheelchair rather than needing to be fully removed? As I recall it's a similar system to that fitted to certain Tourismo's.

If that's so, given the amount of new Yutongs coming on to the network the removal of seats shouldn't be a stumbling block soon.

 

[Eyersey468]

The Levante coaches that National Express use have front entrance mounted lifts, so generally they have less issues with stops.

Yes, about the only time NX have an issue is where there isn't space at the stop to deploy the lift, which doesn't happen often

 

[nick291]

Currently on the 22:00 Flixbus back from London to Bristol(02/05/2025). A Eurocoaches branded MCV EvoTor. Have Turners come off the network fully? As last time I took this journey they ran it with a white VanHool EX16M.

Boarding process in Victoria was chaotic as both Megabus and NX had lengthy delays. More annoying when your coach has the same stand as a cross border service to Scotland. Not too fond of the unnecessarily bright lights on the MCV EvoTor, nor the fact the seat comes pre reclined or has no middle armrest. Also I was unsure if my seat existed or not, as it was sold to me on the app as 7A, but is marked on the actual coach as 7C/7D. Wish flixbus would do away with reserved seating except for the first few rows as it's just causes more confusion and hassle than it's worth to be honest.

 

[route101]

Currently on the 22:00 Flixbus back from London to Bristol(02/05/2025). A Eurocoaches branded MCV EvoTor. Have Turners come off the network fully? As last time I took this journey they ran it with a white VanHool EX16M.

Boarding process in Victoria was chaotic as both Megabus and NX had lengthy delays. More annoying when your coach has the same stand as a cross border service to Scotland. Not too fond of the unnecessarily bright lights on the MCV EvoTor, nor the fact the seat comes pre reclined or has no middle armrest. Also I was unsure if my seat existed or not, as it was sold to me on the app as 7A, but is marked on the actual coach as 7C/7D. Wish flixbus would do away with reserved seating except for the first few rows as it's just causes more confusion and hassle than it's worth to be honest.

Yes, the seat reservations can cause bother. The Turismos that McGills have, every second row had seat reservations, not sure if that's still the case. I think seat reservations is a concept more popular in Europe.

 

[nick291]

Yes, the seat reservations can cause bother. The Turismos that McGills have, every second row had seat reservations, not sure if that's still the case. I think seat reservations is a concept more popular in Europe.

It's also used on their Greyhound services in America, but it works much better there.

 

[Martin1988]

Yes, the seat reservations can cause bother. The Turismos that McGills have, every second row had seat reservations, not sure if that's still the case. I think seat reservations is a concept more popular in Europe.

Don't get me started on Flixbus and seat reservations. Had so much trouble with that over the last few years. Most memorable one was on a McGills coach last year when I had reserved a front seat and upon boarding was told "The front seats are wet" and to sit somewhere else! They were being used to store the driver's bags.

 

[route101]

Don't get me started on Flixbus and seat reservations. Had so much trouble with that over the last few years. Most memorable one was on a McGills coach last year when I had reserved a front seat and upon boarding was told "The front seats are wet" and to sit somewhere else! They were being used to store the driver's bags.

I have seen people kicked out them seats before. I am not sure if the booking engine allows for the first row out of bounds.

 

[Martin1988]

I have seen people kicked out them seats before. I am not sure if the booking engine allows for the first row out of bounds.

The front seats are definitely bookable by passengers. From experience though some drivers are a bit bad for blocking them off.

I recently traveled on a service which was an earlier departure to the one I was booked on and upon boarding was specifically told not to sit in the front seats despite them being empty. However two other passengers already on board then came and plonked themselves there and the driver allowed them to stay sitting there.