National Express Coaches Discussion

[Martin1988]

It will have been a duplicate, we sometimes have them on our services, what we try and do is get all passengers for one stop on the dupe so it can run direct,though its not always possible

Am pretty sure that on this particular occasion the Stotts Coach was operating a scheduled working. If memory serves me correctly it was a journey on Service 310 which only ran on Fridays and Sundays and was the return leg of a Bradford-Leicester-Bradford diagram. Am guessing it must have reached Sheffield at the same time as a 240 was also6 in heading to Bradford so the drivers decided to have one coach going to Leeds and the other Bradford.

Been on plenty of NX dupes over the years mainly on Bristol-London and Bristol-Birmingham corridors.

Whenever I travelled on a dupe on the former 532 Edinburgh to Plymouth (and later Blackpool to Plymouth) service in Birmingham the dupe almost always got filled up with passengers for Bristol and then sent away once filled with any remaining passengers then put on the service car along with passengers going South of Bristol.

Normally the drivers called for passengers for Bristol first (with the aim of filling the dupe) but on at least one occasion there was a delay in loading the dupe so the drivers loaded the service car first, calling for "everyone except Bristol". Of course at least one passenger going to Bristol came forward. Also found that every time I boarded the 532 in Birmingham, when they called for passengers who had already been on the coach to reboard, someone traveling from Birmingham would try to push in the queue and board then.

 

[gray1404]

Is there a fault with the National Express booking system? Whenever I book Liverpool to Brighton it only gives itineries changing in London. This is despite the fact the Liverpool to London sector goes via Birmingham.

For a Birmingham to Brighton search it will give an itinerary changing at Heathrow Airport and this saves a lot of time compared to going via London.

So customers going from Liverpool are faced with additional milage having to go onto London and back out to Heathrow, when a simple change at Birmingham (where their existing coach takes a rest break) would cut a lot of the journey time.

This situation applies in both directions of travel.

 

[Parebunks]

Is there a fault with the National Express booking system? Whenever I book Liverpool to Brighton it only gives itineries changing in London. This is despite the fact the Liverpool to London sector goes via Birmingham.

For a Birmingham to Brighton search it will give an itinerary changing at Heathrow Airport and this saves a lot of time compared to going via London.

So customers going from Liverpool are faced with additional milage having to go onto London and back out to Heathrow, when a simple change at Birmingham (where their existing coach takes a rest break) would cut a lot of the journey time.

This situation applies in both directions of travel.

The booking system will never suggest more than one change, which Liverpool-Birmingham-Heathrow-Brighton would be. I assume it's set up that way as selling a single ticket for a journey implies guaranteed connections, and more than two legs creates too many points of failure?

 

[Titfield]

The booking system will never suggest more than one change, which Liverpool-Birmingham-Heathrow-Brighton would be. I assume it's set up that way as selling a single ticket for a journey implies guaranteed connections, and more than two legs creates too many points of failure?

Thats pretty much the standard logic built into many transportation booking systems: direct (no change), then one change, then two changes.

 

[gray1404]

I can think of a couple of journeys I make with National Express for which there are two changes. That said there is no alternative on those journeys.

 

[Eyersey468]

We do sometimes see tickets with 2 changes but I can't think of any that have more than that

 

[cambsy]

When will 24 plates enter service with National Express, including the Van Hools? I am hoping to ride the van Hools, as soon as they enter service on 040 and 540.

 

[gray1404]

Has anyone any experience of using a free journey code voucher? Previously I've had one of these valid for 6 months from date of issue. However one I've received recently says valid for 12 months from date of issue. I just wanted to check this wasn't an error in the terms and conditions I've been given?

 

[Smethwickian]

Has anyone any experience of using a free journey code voucher? Previously I've had one of these valid for 6 months from date of issue. However one I've received recently says valid for 12 months from date of issue. I just wanted to check this wasn't an error in the terms and conditions I've been given?

Validity of vouchers given for delays and other 'Sorry you had a problem here's a voucher now go away' customer relations responses was changed from 6 to 12 months last year. Other codes for promotional offers will have specific validity dates and conditions.

 

[SeanM1997]

With the new Crewe Bus Station due to open on 7th May - could National Express return for the first time since COVID?

It previously served Crewe daily between Chester and Norwich I believe, with the calling point between Nantwich and Hanley. Nantwich and Hanley are now on route 551 so diverting to Crewe would add approximately 15 minutes onto the journey but serves a town of 80,000 so has scope for passengers.

 

[Simon75]

With the new Crewe Bus Station due to open on 7th May - could National Express return for the first time since COVID?

It previously served Crewe daily between Chester and Norwich I believe, with the calling point between Nantwich and Hanley. Nantwich and Hanley are now on route 551 so diverting to Crewe would add approximately 15 minutes onto the journey but serves a town of 80,000 so has scope for passengers.

Macclesfield hasn't had a National Express service for years, or Buxton
Not sure if say a Chester, Crewe Macclesfield Buxton to Sheffield services would be viable?

 

[M60lad]

Wasn't the Buxton service a 440 London-Manchester service that ran via Derby then virtually followed TP route all the way to Buxton and Manchester?

 

[317 forever]

Wasn't the Buxton service a 440 London-Manchester service that ran via Derby then virtually followed TP route all the way to Buxton and Manchester?

Yes. I used it from Stockport to Bakewell in 2015.

 

[MCR247]

Macclesfield hasn't had a National Express service for years, or Buxton
Not sure if say a Chester, Crewe Macclesfield Buxton to Sheffield services would be viable?

If NatEx were wanting to reintroduce these destinations, I’d imagine it’s more likely they’d be diversions/extensions of existing routes, rather than trying to make a route out of stops they’ve deemed unviable in the past.

 

[route101]

I think the National Express network has stabilised after Covid and I will be surprised if there is big changes ahead. I still think there is gaps, for example Birmingham to Norwich.

 

[markymark2000]

I think the National Express network has stabilised after Covid and I will be surprised if there is big changes ahead. I still think there is gaps, for example Birmingham to Norwich.

Sadly, I think I agree. It's a shame though as National Express was a place to go because of how many places it links. Now for all too many people, there are no coaches with NatEx as they have focussed more and more resource on fewer core routes rather than lots of infrequent routes

 

[WibbleWobble]

Sadly, I think I agree. It's a shame though as National Express was a place to go because of how many places it links. Now for all too many people, there are no coaches with NatEx as they have focussed more and more resource on fewer core routes rather than lots of infrequent routes

It just opens the door for Flixbus as part of their masterplan of having the country's largest network.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I move which I think might backfire in several ways as whilst a lot of people do use flixbus, there are a lot of others who either won't do it again or like me won't touch it at all because of the appalling customer service and problems like short notice cancellations and various other things where a traveler with a disability like myself would be left vulnerable. I have had a National Express cancellation and because I notify them in advance that I was a passenger with a disability they were really quick to sort me out for stop there is no real mechanism for doing likewise with flakes and they don't care clearly,

 

[markymark2000]

It just opens the door for Flixbus as part of their masterplan of having the country's largest network.

Unlikely to happen in my opinion. Flixbus will just focus on the key areas. You can see with how the network is evolving that there is very little that is Flixbus exclusive. For starters, I don't think Flixbus will even touch Wales bar the M4 corridor and Megabus refuses to serve the area too, so anywhere off the M4 corridor will be left with a substandard public transport network. I'm also not seeing much of a sway towards Flixbus as a first choice, more people are going there because NatEx is fully booked or more expensive.

I move which I think might backfire in several ways as whilst a lot of people do use flixbus, there are a lot of others who either won't do it again or like me won't touch it at all because of the appalling customer service and problems like short notice cancellations and various other things where a traveler with a disability like myself would be left vulnerable. I have had a National Express cancellation and because I notify them in advance that I was a passenger with a disability they were really quick to sort me out for stop there is no real mechanism for doing likewise with flakes and they don't care clearly,

Yes. I know that I for one am not enjoying the centralised European customer service that Flixbus offer but then again, given some of the issues I have had with NatEx, it may as well have been a foreign customer service desk because the amount of prewritten replies that I got back was shocking. I'll agree with you though on accessibility. Many of Flixbus stops aren't accessible for wheelchair users at all and I believe it took Doug Paulley to get Flixbus to comply with PSVAR on their first go around.

At least National Express seems pretty good at these things, just their network that lets them down now. Adamant to get footfall up in Digbeth Coach Station and screw everyone over with paying for the toilet and overpriced food at the cafe, so many direct journeys lost and the number of proper stops compared to pre-covid to now is shocking. Cumbria gone, North Wales basically gone, Butlins buses gone. Many destinations on the route map are only served because of them doing festival coaches or because of partnerships with local buses (14 destinations only exist on the map because of a partnership with Transdev for example).

 

[londonteacher]

I move which I think might backfire in several ways as whilst a lot of people do use flixbus, there are a lot of others who either won't do it again or like me won't touch it at all because of the appalling customer service and problems like short notice cancellations and various other things where a traveler with a disability like myself would be left vulnerable. I have had a National Express cancellation and because I notify them in advance that I was a passenger with a disability they were really quick to sort me out for stop there is no real mechanism for doing likewise with flakes and they don't care clearly,

But like always when it comes to companies, people have different experiences. I have only ever had an issue with the staff at Paris Bercy, but FlixBus staff, customer services and drivers have always been helpful and provided an informative service.

I’m sure people have the same experiences for all companies but i applaud National Express and how they handled your case.

 

[Eyersey468]

I think the National Express network has stabilised after Covid and I will be surprised if there is big changes ahead. I still think there is gaps, for example Birmingham to Norwich.

There are rumours of an uplift in service over the summer, though what form it may take or exactly when or if it will happen is anyone's guess.

It just opens the door for Flixbus as part of their masterplan of having the country's largest network.

National Express don't see Flixbus as a threat

 

[Statto]

With the new Crewe Bus Station due to open on 7th May - could National Express return for the first time since COVID?

It previously served Crewe daily between Chester and Norwich I believe, with the calling point between Nantwich and Hanley. Nantwich and Hanley are now on route 551 so diverting to Crewe would add approximately 15 minutes onto the journey but serves a town of 80,000 so has scope for passengers.

Back in the day i remember a couple of routes that went via Crewe & Nantwich, i remember 545 Birkenhead - London, & a Liverpool - Birmingham route that continued to either Southend or Southsea

 

[paul1609]

Sadly, I think I agree. It's a shame though as National Express was a place to go because of how many places it links. Now for all too many people, there are no coaches with NatEx as they have focussed more and more resource on fewer core routes rather than lots of infrequent routes

I think what you have to do is use the coach for the trunk route and local rail. I often use the train from Kent to Golders Green/Finchley Rd/Victoria, coach for the "Intercity" segment to Manchester/Meadowhall/ Birmingham then a local rail or bus service.

 

[MotCO]

Despite The Kings Ferry operation at Gillingham closing down, I've still seen several The Kings Ferry coaches around, e.g. on Nat Express diagrams. Where are they operating from?

 

[Smethwickian]

Despite The Kings Ferry operation at Gillingham closing down, I've still seen several The Kings Ferry coaches around, e.g. on Nat Express diagrams. Where are they operating from?

Kings Ferry at Dover run NX services 007 and 022

 

[cambsy]

When are the brand new Van Hools likely to enter service on 040 and 540?

 

[Dfatcontroller]

When are the brand new Van Hools likely to enter service on 040 and 540?

It's been alleged that the VH that was on display in the UK for the press release was taken back abroad when news of Van Hool's administration broke.

 

[DaveLondon]

It's been alleged that the VH that was on display in the UK for the press release was taken back abroad when news of Van Hool's administration broke.

Yes I believe that is correct. The intention was to build the batch (other than the first one) in Macedonia but it is not clear if these will now arrive now as I cannot see details of what VDL intend for the small section of the builder they took over.

Time will tell I guess.
#

 

[route101]

Noticed a new service 466 from Bradford to London via Birmingham Airport and Heathrow.

 

[GusB]

I've separated a few posts off from this thread - if you have a specific query about a journey you'd like to make and have a query relating to the timetable or fares, please start a separate thread. Do not hijack this thread.