Train v National Express Coach v Plane

[deltic]

National Express don't own Victoria Coach Station. It's owned by TfL.

There were rumours of VCS closing and moving to Old Oak Common to connect with Crossrail and HS2 but this appears to have been forgotten about.

Work is still going ahead to find an alternative site - if a single site cant be found then there is the possibility of operating multi-hub coach termini.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Work is still going ahead to find an alternative site - if a single site cant be found then there is the possibility of operating multi-hub coach termini.

Multiple termini probably makes some sense given the terrible traffic in central London - for instance, Old Oak Common would probably work well for coaches from the west and north-west, with probably a site around Stratford having potential for coaches to/from the north-east and east Anglia, and another south east of London for those to/from those areas - perhaps around Canary Wharf? However, the downside of that is that it would effectively destroy connections.

 

[deltic]

Multiple termini probably makes some sense given the terrible traffic in central London - for instance, Old Oak Common would probably work well for coaches from the west and north-west, with probably a site around Stratford having potential for coaches to/from the north-east and east Anglia, and another south east of London for those to/from those areas - perhaps around Canary Wharf? However, the downside of that is that it would effectively destroy connections.

Old Oak Common wont be available till 2026 so rules that out - Canary Wharf might work if Silvertown tunnel goes ahead but that wont be till 2023ish. Hammersmith or Paddington for west and north, Stratford for east and Bullied Way for south might work. Free Crossrail tickets if Stratford and Paddington are feasible would partially address interchange issue.

 

[AnonymousUser1]

I was thinking more the inevitable traffic on the M1/M6.

I do agree that traffic sat-nav (coach specific to save them whacking bridges) would save a packet.

which is the supposed USP of the 'cityzap' bus/ coach service between leeds and york becasue it has few if any intermediate stops it can take any available route ...

 

[PeterC]

However, the downside of that is that it would effectively destroy connections.

My mother used to use the coach to visit her sister because there was a single London terminus.

 

[Busaholic]

What happened with NXs plan to close Victoria Coach Station and move it elsewhere? Did the plan get dumped in the end?

My employer for five whole weeks before I joined a nationalised London Transport!

My understanding is that Vicky Coach Station is in the area where most work will need to be done in connection with Crossrail 2, so a clear above ground site would better serve that purpose.

 

[Bletchleyite]

which is the supposed USP of the 'cityzap' bus/ coach service between leeds and york becasue it has few if any intermediate stops it can take any available route ...

The UCOC X5, too.

Edit: it is registered to run via the A422 from MK to Buckingham but sometimes runs via the A421 in the event of problems.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[anthony263]

If you want to be pedantic I am on about services ran by De Courcey, Stotts, and Silverdale. They also own more than 1 bus (quite a few around Heathrow and Birmingham I believe).

From May 2017 Edwards coaches will be taking over all workings on NX undertaken by South Gloucester bus and coach ltd with Edwards opening another new depot in the Avonmouth area.

All bar 2 of Edwards 12 plate levante's are moving to the Bristol depot the 2 examples staying at Llantwit Fadre are the new dedicated vehicles for the Cardiff - Bristol Airport route with the branded 60 plates which originally operated the route being returned to NX .

We do try and keep our coaches looking smart however weather conditions especially during winter time can cause havoc especially as coaches can do more than 1 trip before they return to the depot.

 

[Bungle965]

From May 2017 Edwards coaches will be taking over all workings on NX undertaken by South Gloucester bus and coach ltd with Edwards opening another new depot in the Avonmouth area.

All bar 2 of Edwards 12 plate levante's are moving to the Bristol depot the 2 examples staying at Llantwit Fadre are the new dedicated vehicles for the Cardiff - Bristol Airport route with the branded 60 plates which originally operated the route being returned to NX .

We do try and keep our coaches looking smart however weather conditions especially during winter time can cause havoc especially as coaches can do more than 1 trip before they return to the depot.

Interesting that SGBC are leaving the NX contracts, I thought that they had just bought some new levantes. Not that I am complaining however, the journeys that I have done with Edwards have always had excellent drivers, and the coaches have been relatively new.
Sam

 

[Bletchleyite]

Old Oak Common wont be available till 2026 so rules that out - Canary Wharf might work if Silvertown tunnel goes ahead but that wont be till 2023ish. Hammersmith or Paddington for west and north, Stratford for east and Bullied Way for south might work. Free Crossrail tickets if Stratford and Paddington are feasible would partially address interchange issue.

Yes, either end of Crossrail doesn't seem a bad idea at all.

 

[sk688]

Wouldn't Finchley Road be a better option, nice place, good connectivity, NR nearby ( West Hampstead), LU, plus Finchley Road corridor Proposal,

 

[anti-pacer]

Wouldn't Finchley Road be a better option, nice place, good connectivity, NR nearby ( West Hampstead), LU, plus Finchley Road corridor Proposal,

What about coaches coming in from south or south east of London, and Eurolines? Hardly convenient.

It needs to stay in Victoria but space is limited. The connections are better there though.

 

[pitdiver]

I think the biggest problem would be as others have said is interchanging. When I worked at MK Coachway a large percentage of passengers would be changing at VCS. I think this would confuse lots of people. Could there possibly be connecting services between the satellite terminals. There certainly needs to be plenty of room don't think there is space at Finchley Rd though. Here's a suggestion how about Scratchwood oops sorry I meant London Gateway for the Northern Satellite's terminal.

 

[anti-pacer]

Nine Elms would have made a good choice. A lot of coaches park up there during their breaks so there must be space. The only increase in journey times would be coaches coming from the North and Midlands, but it's not that much further.

Battersea Power Station is going to be connected to the Northern Line so build a new, bigger coach station there and link it to the tube - something the current station at Victoria isn't.

They really need to extend the Northern Line to Clapham Junction which would provide a whole host of great links to the South East rail network and London Overground services.

 

[SS4]

I don't usually get the coach largely because I have the idea in my head that NX's coaches are like their buses: fairly decent but not enough legroom, smell of BO and/or cannabis, feet on the seats and no guarantee of getting a double seat. Somewhat facetiously Digbeth Coach Station is quite annoying to get to in comparison to the rail stations.

I would get the coach if the following conditions could be met

• Guarantee of a double seat (or at least a high [80%] probability thereof)
• The equivalent of a quiet zone
• USB charging

It would be nice if there was WiFi but not necessary

 

[philthetube]

I do wonder if there is a business case for a couple of rows of first class, having read the comments about double seats.

 

[anti-pacer]

I do wonder if there is a business case for a couple of rows of first class, having read the comments about double seats.

Trust me, it would be more trouble than it's worth.

 

[AlterEgo]

There are first class and business class coaches in many countries. Spain has quite a few lovely Premium buses. https://www.alsa.es/en/alsa-experience/plan-your-journey/our-fleet/alsa-premium

Stagecoach also run Gold services with hosts.

 

[SS4]

I do wonder if there is a business case for a couple of rows of first class, having read the comments about double seats.

On a coach you only have the driver available to enforce it and naturally they are too busy actually driving the coach safely so such a system could only work on the honour system which may or may not work. You also couldn't charge that much extra IMO because the coach market is aimed at being cheaper than rail so charge too much and it forces people to the train and the supplement system would be less than another fare paying passenger. First class also has related benefits such as being quieter, more attentive service, and having more leg room. Only the last one is really likely on a coach as there is probably no physical partition.

I don't see a guaranteed way around this issue but I feel information about typical loadings (like LM do on the Cross-City peaks) would go a long way to help and also to provide information about how full the service is at the time of booking

edit: I know I said I'd only travel if I could have a double seat and this is still true but it's more a dream than an expected reality

 

[Bletchleyite]

Stagecoach also run Gold services with hosts.

Didn't they drop the daytime version of those?

 

[Bletchleyite]

There are first class and business class coaches in many countries. Spain has quite a few lovely Premium buses. https://www.alsa.es/en/alsa-experience/plan-your-journey/our-fleet/alsa-premium

At one point DB's IC Bus services had first class downstairs, second upstairs, but I believe they have now gone single-class (and in any case it was still 2+2).

 

[anti-pacer]

At one point DB's IC Bus services had first class downstairs, second upstairs, but I believe they have now gone single-class (and in any case it was still 2+2).

I'd rather sit upstairs on double deck coaches. I so wish we still had them here.

 

[anthony263]

NX have got USB charging and wifi on the new coaches and a lot of the older models are being retrofitted.

Seats have good legroom however the best seats are the front row and the second row passenger side. You can request these seats when you book your tickets as well

 

[Bungle965]

NX have got USB charging and wifi on the new coaches and a lot of the older models are being retrofitted.

Seats have good legroom however the best seats are the front row and the second row passenger side. You can request these seats when you book your tickets as well

How? I have never seen any option that allows me to do it.
Sam

 

[dievoyagerdie]

Didn't one coach Service have a system whereby you could buy the seat next to you for an extra tenner. There would then be a sign saying 'reserved for your comfort' on the seat next to you?

 

[BestWestern]

I'd rather sit upstairs on double deck coaches. I so wish we still had them here.

You're in luck then! Being reintroduced across the NatEx network right now.

 

[Ianigsy]

Coming back from Birkenhead to West Yorkshire after Christmas on the 27th when there were no trains between Liverpool and Manchester, I booked the coach between Liverpool and Leeds. It seemed far less hassle to take the train from Birkenhead to Liverpool, walk from James Street to the Liverpool One bus station, take the coach all the way through to Leeds bus and coach station and the bus home, when the alternative was the train from Birkenhead to Lime Street, coach from Liverpool to Manchester, train from Manchester to Leeds and walk across Leeds city centre to the bus station for my bus home.

I used to know a lady in her seventies whose son lived in Worcester and she preferred to take the coach because she could get on a bus in Otley, get off it at the bus station in Leeds, walk through to the coach side and board a direct coach to Worcester with her luggage stowed away for the duration of her journey. The same journey by train would have involved a change at Birmingham New Street, if not a change of stations.

 

[sk688]

I'd rather sit upstairs on double deck coaches. I so wish we still had them here.

Isnt the Oxford Tube already a double deck coach . ( X90 , I think )

 

[Bungle965]

Isnt the Oxford Tube already a double deck coach . ( X90 , I think )

Yes, Van Hool Astromegas.
Sam

 

[Joe Paxton]

Isnt the Oxford Tube already a double deck coach . ( X90 , I think )

X90 is the competing service run by the Oxford Bus Company (Go-Ahead), whilst the Oxford Tube is Stagecoach's offering.

The Oxford Tube is all double decker, the X90 has recently-ish started running some services with double decker coaches which are shared with their Oxford to Heathrow/Gatwick "airline" services.