We've lost the franchise, why not take the coach instead?

[Bighat]

Did it really say "may of" ?!?! It annoys me when people make that mistake on forums but I can forgive that, but for a company to make that mistake in a press release is unforgivable! Can they not even be bothered to proof read? It just shows them up to lack intelligence IMO.

And what does "guaranteed seat" mean? Ah yes, that you are not guaranteed travel. Is that what customers want? Strangely enough, no it isn't. You are almost guaranteed travel on the East Coast franchise, as the chances of the train being so full you cannot physically get on are negligible, as you can stand. But the equivalent coach services can turf you away and it could be hours before the next one, which could also send you packing. Only a complete idiot would make the conclusion that coach travel is more convenient for customers on that basis.

yes, the 'of' instead of 'have' in this context grinds with me too.

Unfortunately, the great unwashed, the British public, are now so ingrained in this grammatical faux-pas I don't think there is any chance of reversing this.

But for a corporate body to have it in their printed literature, whatever next?

disgusted, OF Tubridge Wells!

 

[Failed Unit]

We have all seen this arguement about rail -v- air as well, sometimes rail is quicker than flying (even between London and Scotland) sometimes air is.

Take for example if you are travelling between Edinburgh and Glasgow, sometime the city-link coach is a lot quicker. Say you live in Christophine and are going to Glasgow shopping off peak, the coach will be a lot quicker as you don't need to get to Haymarket. I know in most cases this won't be true on the ECML.

Have a look at Inverness - Fort William, extreme example but why would anyone take the train that isn't looking to do some track bashing!

Each mode has its merits. I wouldn't discount coach travel, but I would try and make sure the coach isn't operated by national express, which in honesty isn't that hard with both stagecoach and first group along with multiple independant operators offering express bus links between major cities. I would avoid national express simply because I don't like the way the company treats passengers based on my experience of Central trains and East coast. Thier coach operations may be totally different, but I am not prepared to find out, for me thier rail operations has lost them a customer to any of thier groups services.

 

[madannie77]

Each mode has its merits. I wouldn't discount coach travel, but I would try and make sure the coach isn't operated by national express, which in honesty isn't that hard with both stagecoach and first group along with multiple independant operators offering express bus links between major cities.

A large number of National Express branded coach services are not operated by National Express, and never have been. They are operated under contract by other operators under the National Express coach branding. Here in Carlisle it is Parks of Hamilton, Bebb, Stuarts of Carluke & Bruces of Shotts who provide the National Express services I see regularly. Elsewhere a large number of companies are involved, including, I think, some Stagecoach companies - certainly saw a Stagecoach Yorkshire coach in National Express livery on a National Express service last December.

 

[dk1]

Ireland is a good example. Just about everything has to travel via Belfast or Dublin. Much as i dislike coach travel, Londonderry to Sligo would have just taken so much time by train.

 

[Trains06]

Ok - Fair enough. Works out more expensive on the train by a fiver, but I think that Id rather pay that than waste 3 and a half hours of my life on a Coach :roll:

 

[jon0844]

But I found that it was easier to find a cheap coach ticket than a cheap advanced train ticket. Your mileage may vary, of course, but I always find the allocation of cheap train tickets are limited - while even the 'full price' coach fare is likely to be quite cheap, before you find the special advanced booking deals.

If cost is the most important factor (as it will be to many) then the train isn't even an option - regardless of the time saved.

Imagine if the coaches didn't exist and all of those people were forced onto trains (or into their cars). At the moment, it's beneficial to have coaches taking some of the strain.

 

[tbtc]

A large number of National Express branded coach services are not operated by National Express, and never have been. They are operated under contract by other operators under the National Express coach branding. Here in Carlisle it is Parks of Hamilton, Bebb, Stuarts of Carluke & Bruces of Shotts who provide the National Express services I see regularly. Elsewhere a large number of companies are involved, including, I think, some Stagecoach companies - certainly saw a Stagecoach Yorkshire coach in National Express livery on a National Express service last December.

Yeah, Stagecoach even compete with themselves on some routes, by running the National Express contract as well as the Megabus, but that's business; it differentiates the market (in the way that the same company may sell two brands of a similar product).

One thing I liked with National Express adverts round here is that they used to advertise the lowest fare (Sheffield - London = £1) as well as the highest fare (Sheffield - London = £30), so you knew you'd never have to pay more than a certain amount even on the busiest journeys. Can you imagine Ryanair/ Easyjet etc having to disclose this? Airlines love to tout the lowest price available, but get coy when talking of the highest price

 

[peradon]

I don't see why everyone is moaning about coaches so much. Obviously, i'd rather take the train but on shorter journeys that aren't connected to the network it can be much nicer than driving.

if the coaches aren't national express , that is.

 

[Metroland]

I don't see why everyone is moaning about coaches so much.

Probably because its a rail forum. I suspect there's much moaning about trains over on certain motorists forums, constant whining about high speed rail over on the aviation forums, and lots of moaning about cars on the cyclist forums!

Nowt wrong with any form of transport if used properly, while everyone has a preference, the key is to use them all sensibly and appropriately, including your own two legs!

I would add I suspect the reason the thread was started to illustrate perhaps some of the TOCs (many of which are bus companies) are perhaps not to be trusted, and merely use the railways as a cash cow when times are good. I'm still open minded about it, but I think rather the franchise system is at fault.

Coaches are useful for the hard up when time isn't an issue - they have the luxury of not providing any of their infrastructure off their own backs, mostly paid for by motorists who are quite happy to pay often £500 plus per month of running their vehicles. I'm on a very limited budget and spend less than £500 a year on travel, most of which goes on rail travel. I don't own a car and I, personally wouldn't use coaches if there is a choice between a train and a coach, because I don't like them and they are far too slow (rail replacement coaches are bad enough!). I'm quite happy to use buses when I have to, the trains don't go everywhere. If I had more money, I'd buy a car, but I'd still use the train, especially going into cities. I'd cycle, if I hadn't have been knocked off twice and there were more cycle paths. I'd also walk less than 2 miles when I could and take buses, where for example there are park and ride, because I see this as a sensible use - though give me a tram any day. Finally, as a rail enthusiast I like to support the rail network (to reduce any subsidy) and help in a very small way towards its continued existence. I will not be apologising for this, especially on a rail forum.

 

[krus_aragon]

lots of moaning about cars on the cyclist forums!

In my experience, the main enemies are HGV drivers and bendy buses. Also derided are fellow cyclists: red light jumpers and ninjas (no lights at night) specifically.

 

[90019]

In my experience, the main enemies are HGV drivers and bendy buses. Also derided are fellow cyclists: red light jumpers and ninjas (no lights at night) specifically.

Jumping red lights can sometimes be safer though. Generally I don't do it, but there are a couple of junctions I do, one because if you don't, you risk being forced into a fence if someone decides they want past, which a lot do.

I really don't like the people who ride without lights, i almost crashed a few nights ago because someone was sitting in the road chatting to someone in a parked car and I couldn't see him until i was almost on him, because he had dark clothes on as well.

 

[jopsuk]

I had a fellow cyclist invite me back for a fight a couple of weeks back after I yelled at him for not having lights- I nearly ran into him in on a sharp corner on a foul evening on an unlit path. Exchange was roughly:
Me: LIGHTS!!!
Him: {fornicate} off
Me (as I pass him): Idiot
Him (as I recede): What did you say?
I cycle further, he stops
Him: gonna say that to my face?
Him: {fornicating} come back here, pussy

I carried on, what with wanting to get home (it was wet) and having a "no phycical confrontations with knuckle dragging idiots" policy.

Anyway, that's wildly off topic. I find Bus Drivers are mainly OK as long as you respect their blindspots, vans tend tovary with how beaten up they are, and taxi drivers are pretty much all dangerous psychos.

 

[WillPS]

I don't like coaches - however they provide competition for the InterCity TOCs, which can only be a good thing.