Train v National Express Coach v Plane

[Bungle965]

DarloRich, it seems things may have changed a bit for the better than if they now use a zapper. "In my day" it was a pen. We crossed the ticket number off the list, which included any 'e' or 'm' tickets whose numbers were also on there.

The driver also did the right thing by making any walk-ups wait. At places where there is a NX ticket office these walk-ups are generally ones who are booked on later coaches who want to travel early. Any late arrivals who have missed an earlier coach should go and get their ticket changed, but many just chance it to avoid the amendement fee.

Hopefully what your driver also did was inform Control if he took any walk-ups. This used to be by phone although I'm guessing things may have improved now to the point where the "zapper" means a call isn't necessary.

I don't think so, I have made many journeys with National Express and I have never had my ticket scanned. I rather doubt that National Express has the technology anyway.
Sam

 

[DarloRich]

I don't think so, I have made many journeys with National Express and I have never had my ticket scanned. I rather doubt that National Express has the technology anyway.
Sam

I am certain that there was a beep as the square barcode thing was looked at

 

[Bungle965]

I am certain that there was a beep as the square barcode thing was looked at

I'm not saying that I don't believe you... Far from it. My point is that the use of the scanner seems to be inconsistent, and so the results that the control room in Birmingham gets will not be the truth.
Sam

 

[DarloRich]

I'm not saying that I don't believe you... Far from it. My point is that the use of the scanner seems to be inconsistent, and so the results that the control room in Birmingham gets will not be the truth.
Sam

tbh I expected a pen and paper approach so wasnt really paying attention and am by no means an experianced coach user

 

[Lrd]

Talking about airport passengers, I remember being at Southampton Coach Station on multiple occasions waiting for my coach and there would be a delay on the Heathrow/Gatwick services due to various reasons. So the staff made announcements and the passengers would come up and say "but I need to be in Heathrow in an hour" (or words to that effect) and we would tell them with a smile that the coach was booked to take a minimum of 1hr 45m (if not longer) if it was on time so they should consider taking a taxi that may just about make it an hour.

 

[dievoyagerdie]

I've used the NatX London-Sunderland overnight trip. I take earplugs, eyeshades, neck pillow, wrap up warm and take a Nytol. I also load my phone with things to watch. It's not a great experience, but it's no worse than an over night flight back from the states. For the prices they charge too it's a bargain. Megabus is quicker but i find them far to uncomfortable.

 

[anti-pacer]

Talking about airport passengers, I remember being at Southampton Coach Station on multiple occasions waiting for my coach and there would be a delay on the Heathrow/Gatwick services due to various reasons. So the staff made announcements and the passengers would come up and say "but I need to be in Heathrow in an hour" (or words to that effect) and we would tell them with a smile that the coach was booked to take a minimum of 1hr 45m (if not longer) if it was on time so they should consider taking a taxi that may just about make it an hour.

Did you work at Southampton coach station? If so, when?

 

[Lrd]

Did you work at Southampton coach station? If so, when?

Used to be a driver for Bournemouth Transport who had the 032 and 035 and they opened a remote booking on point at Southampton Coach Station. We had standby duties so I got to know the staff there. I left in April 2016

 

[anti-pacer]

Used to be a driver for Bournemouth Transport who had the 032 and 035 and they opened a remote booking on point at Southampton Coach Station. We had standby duties so I got to know the staff there. I left in April 2016

What technology did you have access to prior to leaving, or was it the same loading charts ticked off with a pen, etc?

 

[Bookd]

The issue of overbookng with turn up and go has similarity to the railway, except that on the coach everyone needs a seat, whilst the train would cram everyone on.
In ' the old days' in both cases there were reserves to cover this which for economic reasons no longer exist - the railway had loads of coaches which saw action a few times each year but would be dragged into service for a particularly busy day.
On coaches, in the North of England, there were major services, such as the Tyne Tees Mersey, and both Lancashire and Newcastle to Scotland (all now NX routes) which were pay on board, and when demand required numerous duplicates could be produced.
In a book of memories of a Ribble driver he said that it was not unknown to have done a shift on Preston town services and be asked to take a duplicate to Glasgow because the service car was full - no doubt profitable but it would not be allowed now (quite rightly) in terms of drivers hours.

 

[Qwerty133]

The issue of overbookng with turn up and go has similarity to the railway, except that on the coach everyone needs a seat, whilst the train would cram everyone on.
In ' the old days' in both cases there were reserves to cover this which for economic reasons no longer exist - the railway had loads of coaches which saw action a few times each year but would be dragged into service for a particularly busy day.
On coaches, in the North of England, there were major services, such as the Tyne Tees Mersey, and both Lancashire and Newcastle to Scotland (all now NX routes) which were pay on board, and when demand required numerous duplicates could be produced.
In a book of memories of a Ribble driver he said that it was not unknown to have done a shift on Preston town services and be asked to take a duplicate to Glasgow because the service car was full - no doubt profitable but it would not be allowed now (quite rightly) in terms of drivers hours.

Duplicates can still be arranged at short notice and according to some firms are the only national express work worth doing (as unlike scheduled services they are paid well for operating them).

 

[Calthrop]

In this new-ish century, I have largely switched for more-than-short journeys, from rail to National Express coach; feeling a bit of a traitor for doing so – it’s just that in the main, coach proves a lot cheaper than rail: and I’m not among the country’s more affluent inhabitants.

On the whole, I find rail travel more agreeable than coach; though that’s not always 100% the case.

Various pros-and-cons: a PP mentioned the possibility on a train, of getting up and stretching one’s legs. Regarding modern long-distance stock: I’m one of those who perceive a tendency on the part of whoever designs these conveyances, to try to make train travel, resemble plane travel as much as possible – hyper-narrow coach aisles, in various ways difficult and stressful to negotiate. When travelling long-distance by train nowadays, I’m reluctant to leave my seat even to visit the loo. IMO present-day rail is, in this matter -- allowing for context -- no worse than road coach; but no better.

Coach-travel downsides for me: usually more time-consuming than rail. In the past few years, I’ve been doing a good deal of travelling between Birmingham, where I live; and Exeter, where a relative to whom I’m close, now lives. Rail time between the two, generally two-and-a-varied-amount, hours. Coach (scheduled) ditto, four-and-a-half-hours-plus. Greater amount of time by coach: because of time needed to get off / back on the motorway to access city / town-centre bus / coach stations, given the grappling with traffic to get into and out of said places. And, periodic half-hour / three-quarter-hour stops at motorway service stations, and / or city stops en route, to let passengers get refreshments / use the loo if they prefer not to brave the in-coach same / cover coach staff’s necessary rest breaks. I personally can live with, and accommodate to, “long time taken” thus; but it’s not a thing which one would ideally choose. And I’ve found that sometimes, National Express coach seats are not quite big enough for me – not agonising discomfort, but not all that pleasant – a thing that rail, overall, does better.

Coach “pros”: as said, mostly cheaper than rail, unless (in some cases) one books rail travel wildly far ahead – often in my life, I don’t know as far ahead as that, that I’m going to wish to make the journey; and, taking it that you book in advance (as I do), you’re guaranteed a seat, “no messing”. I’ve never yet had a problem with National Express, regarding seat-booking / occupancy. On rail (with this being essentially a different ball-game) – even if you reserve a seat, there is no certainty that someone will not steal same from you; resolving this, or failing to, being liable to lead to unpleasant and rancorous stuff in which – if you’re me – even “winning”, can result in a miserable situation. And; in the great majority of my travelling with National Express, the staff have been very competent; and, even at their worst, OK to deal with.

 

[Lrd]

What technology did you have access to prior to leaving, or was it the same loading charts ticked off with a pen, etc?

Yep loading chart and a pen. For the early morning service which left before the coach station opened, the driver from the night before would get a loading chart and leave it on the coach for the early driver. So you would have a chart printed at 11pm for the 5am service and they would also print one for the late service that left at 1830 as the ticket office would be closed before the late driver signed on.

We had the phone in the cab but it was against our company policy to use it even on hands free but this was usually ignored if SCC called.

 

[philthetube]

In this new-ish century, I have largely switched for more-than-short journeys, from rail to National Express coach; feeling a bit of a traitor for doing so – it’s just that in the main, coach proves a lot cheaper than rail: and I’m not among the country’s more affluent inhabitants.

On the whole, I find rail travel more agreeable than coach; though that’s not always 100% the case.

Various pros-and-cons: a PP mentioned the possibility on a train, of getting up and stretching one’s legs. Regarding modern long-distance stock: I’m one of those who perceive a tendency on the part of whoever designs these conveyances, to try to make train travel, resemble plane travel as much as possible – hyper-narrow coach aisles, in various ways difficult and stressful to negotiate. When travelling long-distance by train nowadays, I’m reluctant to leave my seat even to visit the loo. IMO present-day rail is, in this matter -- allowing for context -- no worse than road coach; but no better.

Coach-travel downsides for me: usually more time-consuming than rail. In the past few years, I’ve been doing a good deal of travelling between Birmingham, where I live; and Exeter, where a relative to whom I’m close, now lives. Rail time between the two, generally two-and-a-varied-amount, hours. Coach (scheduled) ditto, four-and-a-half-hours-plus. Greater amount of time by coach: because of time needed to get off / back on the motorway to access city / town-centre bus / coach stations, given the grappling with traffic to get into and out of said places. And, periodic half-hour / three-quarter-hour stops at motorway service stations, and / or city stops en route, to let passengers get refreshments / use the loo if they prefer not to brave the in-coach same / cover coach staff’s necessary rest breaks. I personally can live with, and accommodate to, “long time taken” thus; but it’s not a thing which one would ideally choose. And I’ve found that sometimes, National Express coach seats are not quite big enough for me – not agonising discomfort, but not all that pleasant – a thing that rail, overall, does better.

Coach “pros”: as said, mostly cheaper than rail, unless (in some cases) one books rail travel wildly far ahead – often in my life, I don’t know as far ahead as that, that I’m going to wish to make the journey; and, taking it that you book in advance (as I do), you’re guaranteed a seat, “no messing”. I’ve never yet had a problem with National Express, regarding seat-booking / occupancy. On rail (with this being essentially a different ball-game) – even if you reserve a seat, there is no certainty that someone will not steal same from you; resolving this, or failing to, being liable to lead to unpleasant and rancorous stuff in which – if you’re me – even “winning”, can result in a miserable situation. And; in the great majority of my travelling with National Express, the staff have been very competent; and, even at their worst, OK to deal with.

Sorry but if the companies cure these problems I imagine that the complaint would be reversed. Seems like a lose lose.

 

[Calthrop]

Sorry but if the companies cure these problems I imagine that the complaint would be reversed. Seems like a lose lose.

Probably -- seems I'm a miserable git whom there's no pleasing .

 

[Jamesrob637]

I'm going on Megabus from Manchester to London in a few weeks having paid a whopping £1.50 the whole way! What do I expect?! Not a lot! Just to get there, and more or less on time!

 

[Bletchleyite]

On time? Good luck with that...though it's not really their fault of course if you don't.

 

[Qwerty133]

On time? Good luck with that...though it's not really their fault of course if you don't.

Depends on the reason- espeically with National Express who don't ever go the same way twice, ignore road signs and don't have traffic info it could be argued that it is at least partially there fault

 

[3141]

Firstly I will be honest - I hate buses, expect those in London, with a passion. I think they are for plebs, oiks and children.

There are many people who rarely or never travel on a train. It may be for an obvious reason like there's no station anywhere near to where they live, but there'll be some who avoid trains because they have some distorted or prejudiced view about them, which maybe they picked up from reading the Daily Mail.

I guess that most members of this forum, if they met such a person, would try to convince him or her that train travel is mostly quite civilised, except maybe in rush hours, when every form of transport can be unpleasant (even inside a car that's stuck in urban traffic jams), and that basing an opinion that trains are awful on one unsatisfactory journey in the past is a bit....well, odd.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Depends on the reason- espeically with National Express who don't ever go the same way twice, ignore road signs and don't have traffic info it could be argued that it is at least partially there fault

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.

 

[anthony263]

I drive national esxpress coaches from south wales to destinations including London Victoria/Heathrow & Gatwick

Coaches are cleaned each time they return to the depot and drivers also do some cleaning at the end of each journey.
We are lucky that we are having new coaches being delivered with many more on order. Sadly some times accidents on the motorways can cause delays and disruption

 

[Bletchleyite]

train travel is mostly quite civilised

Is it?

I want it to be, but of late the "peaks" are getting wider, fares are going up and so on, so I think it's increasingly *less* civilised to me at least. If coach companies would solve the key problems of the seats being too narrow (solvable by being able to reserve a double seat for a fee or by premium 2+1 sections) and insufficient legroom I would be quite easy to persuade to switch for some journeys.

I can't think of many journeys on XC I would describe as civilised - same with TPE until the new stock turns up - and that's nothing to do with the rolling stock (other than it being about 2 coaches too short).

First Class is civilised, but it is *pricey* much of the time.

 

[313103]

Deleted

 

[Qwerty133]

National Express is only a trading name and apart from 1 vehicle that they own, all other coaches are run like a franchise agreement. Take the routes near where i live they were run by First Cymru, but since 2012 they have been operated under contract by Edwards coaches of LLanwit Fadre.

I have only used a National Express service from Swansea to London once and it was a First group vehicle very well kept, nice and clean. The same i supposed could be said about Edwards the coaches always look nice and clean except in winter when the weather can play havoc with the exterior.

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).

 

[313103]

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).

Sorry i caused offence. i will now delete my post.

 

[DarloRich]

There are many people who rarely or never travel on a train. It may be for an obvious reason like there's no station anywhere near to where they live, but there'll be some who avoid trains because they have some distorted or prejudiced view about them, which maybe they picked up from reading the Daily Mail.

I guess that most members of this forum, if they met such a person, would try to convince him or her that train travel is mostly quite civilised, except maybe in rush hours, when every form of transport can be unpleasant (even inside a car that's stuck in urban traffic jams), and that basing an opinion that trains are awful on one unsatisfactory journey in the past is a bit....well, odd.

The prevailing view away from sites such as this and certainly away from London is that the bus is for poor people who cant afford a car and have no choice. Go an ask some real people if they would willingly stop driving or getting the train and instead get a bus to work. They wont, even if the service is good. I know how few people get the bus to my place of work despite a decent service from many parts of the town and a bus interchange but moments away.

I have made lots of bus journeys, many of them horrible. They are (or until recently were) often on rubbish, aged buses offering terrible comfort, facilities, driving standards and the type of customer service a Stasi agent would have admired.

They have in recent times improved but still have an image problem with many sections of the community. They also cost a fortune of you don't have a bus pass!

That is why I was impressed with National Express. It was quite pleasant.

 

[richw]

I'd never used the coach until around 18 months ago, I've now used it in the last 18 months more than the train!
Travelling at peak time especially there is no competition on the price. The coach is often 10% of the train price at most!
Guaranteed seats, and 90% of the coaches I've travelled on have more comfortable seats than the trains. Most of the coaches are under 3 years old and always kept very clean.

 

[Bletchleyite]

They have in recent times improved but still have an image problem with many sections of the community. They also cost a fortune of you don't have a bus pass!

Single tickets do. Weekly and monthly seasons, and things like day tickets on long X5 runs, are amazing value for what you get.

 

[richw]

I've just been looking at travelling to London from Plymouth on 23rd Feb returning on the 24th for a friend. He needs to be in London before 0830,
Natex £20 return
Megabus £15 return
Train £267 return due to the peak arrival in London.
Apparently London to south west passenger numbers are down on the train yet the coaches are booming. The coach of course has zero flexibility, but that seems a price worth paying to save £250!

 

[Bletchleyite]

While reservations are compulsory, the cost of changing coach tickets is not swingeing.


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