Flixbus Discussion

[Trainman40083]

Depends on the service. Some cancellations are happening because Flixbus are stupidly optimistic with starting dates for journeys and operators keep kicking the can down the road last minute as they can't resource the expanded service.


I hope they are going to find another two to be spare (1 for each depot), or is the plan just to use existing TM Travel/Notts & Derby coaches when required?

Well originally there was said to be 10 Yutongs for Red Arrow 9 +1 spare, and 9 for Flixbus, (but there are 10). There are said to be 21 in total, for both routes, suggesting a generic spare.

 

[megabusser]

I was surprised they opted for the same route as the 900 in Edinburgh, and also that they don't stop at Maybury. I was hoping they might consider along Maybury Road then Queensferry Road as there's no link to Glasgow over there and no train stations along there. I would've been benefited from that. Or at least consider Hermiston Gait/Gyle/A71.

But hopefully with the competition Citylink will not push the prices even higher. They have been keeping the same day return at £10 but single is now £10.50 (which is stupid), and open return £17.70, while 090 can be as cheap as £7.98.

BIB - It's not stupid at all - the amount they claim back for under 22s / over 60s / disabled using their NEC pass is based as a percentage of the single price.

I agree that just competing with the 900 head on isn't a great technique. Queensferry Road is certainly an idea, but anything different really would be worth considering.

Incidentally, I have seen a few Flixbus 090s on the Western Approach Road - initially thought there were roadworks or something they were avoiding, but have seen it over several days. Any idea why that would be?

 

[markymark2000]

Yes, the 940.

I'm not sure if it is the service, but there was an 03:45 Cardiff to Gatwick and 10:05 Gatwick to Cardiff service which got put onto the site around a week ago but then their introduction got postponed until 7th July. Not sure if this is the trip that you had issues with, but if so, the likely issue seems to be the operator wasn't in a position to start the trips yet, rather than low usage and throwing people on the next one.

 

[nick291]

I'm not sure if it is the service, but there was an 03:45 Cardiff to Gatwick and 10:05 Gatwick to Cardiff service which got put onto the site around a week ago but then their introduction got postponed until 7th July. Not sure if this is the trip that you had issues with, but if so, the likely issue seems to be the operator wasn't in a position to start the trips yet, rather than low usage and throwing people on the next one.

If that's the one that leaves Bristol at 05:15 in the morning, then yes. On the following service as we speak(29/06/2025) and the driver seems to have the heating on in the middle of summer in a heatwave.

 

[markymark2000]

If that's the one that leaves Bristol at 05:15 in the morning, then yes.

Thats the one yes.

 

[nick291]

Thats the one yes.

I see, well thankyou for clarifying that it was a new service time for them and that's why it got cancelled.

 

[Mikw]

Just noticed many more journeys from Leicester St Margaret's to London from today! Already well served by National Express there must be about 15 combined services a day now.

 

[Trainman40083]

Just noticed many more journeys from Leicester St Margaret's to London from today! Already well served by National Express there must be about 15 combined services a day now.

Yes, some provided by Wellglade Group. Maybe it will affect passenger numbers on the trains.

 

[markymark2000]

Just noticed many more journeys from Leicester St Margaret's to London from today! Already well served by National Express there must be about 15 combined services a day now.

Flixbus are upto 11 services per day from St Margarets. NatEx has upto 24 (Fri-Mon) so upto 35 coaches per day from St Margarets to London.
If you count in Fosse Park too, that's another 6 coaches per day down to London from Flix.

 

[Mikw]

Flixbus are upto 11 services per day from St Margarets. NatEx has upto 24 (Fri-Mon) so upto 35 coaches per day from St Margarets to London.
If you count in Fosse Park too, that's another 6 coaches per day down to London from Flix.

Much more than I thought then - with tickets often less than £10 return it's certainly a lot more economical than taking the train, probably more reliable at the moment

 

[Martin1988]

I travelled up on the 077 from Bristol to Birmingham this morning and about an hour before the scheduled departure time I got an email and a text advising me that the vehicle would be a non liveried one. Indeed when it arrived it was a Watts Coaches own liveried.

Whilst waiting for my coach a Bristol to Gatwick service being worked by a Eurocoaches own liveried vehicle turned up and a few of the waiting passengers mentioned having a similar text.

Is informing passengers in advance if the vehicle is non Flix liveried a new thing that Flixbus have started doing? In the last year have been on Turners and Watts Coaches own liveried vehicles on Flixbus workings and never had such a text before.

 

[markymark2000]

I travelled up on the 077 from Bristol to Birmingham this morning and about an hour before the scheduled departure time I got an email and a text advising me that the vehicle would be a non liveried one. Indeed when it arrived it was a Watts Coaches own liveried.

Whilst waiting for my coach a Bristol to Gatwick service being worked by a Eurocoaches own liveried vehicle turned up and a few of the waiting passengers mentioned having a similar text.

Is informing passengers in advance if the vehicle is non Flix liveried a new thing that Flixbus have started doing? In the last year have been on Turners and Watts Coaches own liveried vehicles on Flixbus workings and never had such a text before.

I've heard about them doing these texts before. Not sure if they are just more aware of the non branded buses so can now send the texts, or whether they are improving their customer service.

In the 2 operators that you mention, Eurocoaches only have 1 green coach, but have 3 diagrams and so it's a given that at least 2 will be ran by non branded buses. With their 940 trips at least, these are only for the summer so probably not worth branding up a bus for it. Watts Coaches have 4 Flix coaches for 5 duties, so again, it's a given that at least 1 will be non branded. As such, with both operators, Flix can check up as they will know for 100% certainty that non branded buses will be used.

 

[Martin1988]

Sorry for the delay in replying. Thanks ever so much for your response.

I only ever seem to see Eurocoaches branded vehicles on Flixbus but given what you have said about them only having one that is Flix branded, that makes sense.

Last Saturday Watts were using a dark grey Temsa HD with reg number YJ25 CVU on the 077 service and the driver suggested to me that the vehicle would eventually be going into Flixbus livery so would this be the 5th vehicle?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jul 2025 ==

 

[t rex]

First group yutongs on flixbus over last two days in bristol
27001 27003
Did see 27008
Also seen berry's flixbus ooo7flx

 

[jb66]

I was surprised they opted for the same route as the 900 in Edinburgh, and also that they don't stop at Maybury. I was hoping they might consider along Maybury Road then Queensferry Road as there's no link to Glasgow over there and no train stations along there. I would've been benefited from that. Or at least consider Hermiston Gait/Gyle/A71.

But hopefully with the competition Citylink will not push the prices even higher. They have been keeping the same day return at £10 but single is now £10.50 (which is stupid), and open return £17.70, while 090 can be as cheap as £7.98.

Its probably £10.50 single so they get more money from the government when someone uses their free buspass

 

[johnnychips]

I don’t know if FlixBus have ‘standards’ for their operators, but I took the overnight bus from Leeds to London last night, and the seats were really close to each other. It was a newish Yutong, but unfortunately I didn’t note the operator. It used to be Whippet, and although their shortcomings have been discussed on here frequently, the seats and legroom were comfortable.

I’m only five foot five and my knees were nearly touching the seat in front. There was very little room to push my rucksack under the seat in front, and it wouldn’t have fitted in the overhead rack.

By contrast, I got a Slovakian FlixBus onward to Brussels: there was at least six inches between my knees and the seat in front, under which my rucksack easily fitted. It was a Setra.

I did notice a few Yutongs at Victoria coach station bearing the FlixBus livery. I really hope this is not the new standard - which I assume means squeezing an extra row of seats in. I have had nothing but positive experiences with them before.

 

[markymark2000]

I don’t know if FlixBus have ‘standards’ for their operators, but I took the overnight bus from Leeds to London last night, and the seats were really close to each other. It was a newish Yutong, but unfortunately I didn’t note the operator. It used to be Whippet, and although their shortcomings have been discussed on here frequently, the seats and legroom were comfortable.

The N02 (I presume this is the route you were on given your description) is now operated by Wellglade Group.

I’m only five foot five and my knees were nearly touching the seat in front. There was very little room to push my rucksack under the seat in front, and it wouldn’t have fitted in the overhead rack.

By contrast, I got a Slovakian FlixBus onward to Brussels: there was at least six inches between my knees and the seat in front, under which my rucksack easily fitted. It was a Setra.

I did notice a few Yutongs at Victoria coach station bearing the FlixBus livery. I really hope this is not the new standard - which I assume means squeezing an extra row of seats in. I have had nothing but positive experiences with them before.

I believe there is some kind of partnership between Flixbus and Yutong. There is also the case that Flixbus want operator to start as soon as possible and lead times for most other coach manufacturers is 18-24 months, and Yutong seems to be significantly lower.
The layout is very much 'cram them in' rather than much care for passenger comfort. The same was said for the Vanhools which turned up in Flixbus Spec at various operators.


Not Flix related but Yorkshire Rose Holidays did a video recently on their Facebook to say about how poor the leg room is on Yutongs (while they don't blame Yutong, you can see the Yutongs in the back of the video and they reference their new coaches, which are Yutongs). They then explain in here and Tiktok comments how they remove 2 rows of seats (4 pairs) and space out the remaining seats more. https://www.facebook.com/reel/703060895899633

 

[dmncf]

I know that part of Yutong's low prices amd short delivery times are enabled by high volumes of standardised production line vehicles. But I'm surprised that operators are forced to accept a seating density they don't want, because I thought Yutong's seats were installed in the UK?

 

[Qwerty133]

I know that part of Yutong's low prices amd short delivery times are enabled by high volumes of standardised production line vehicles. But I'm surprised that operators are forced to accept a seating density they don't want, because I thought Yutong's seats were installed in the UK?

Given it seems relatively straight forward to move the seats it's probably more cost effective to take the coaches in standard configuration so that they have the extra seats available for when they sell the vehicles on (or have spares to swap out immediately in the event of damaged seats).

 

[MotCO]

I believe there is some kind of partnership between Flixbus and Yutong. There is also the case that Flixbus want operator to start as soon as possible and lead times for most other coach manufacturers is 18-24 months, and Yutong seems to be significantly lower.

Manufacturers used to produce 'dealer stock' to enable operators to buy quickly 'off the peg'. Does such a thing still exist? Do the likes of Mistral and Ferrymill Motors hire out coaches or just buses, so is this the modern equivalent of 'dealer stock'?

 

[Man of Kent]

I know that part of Yutong's low prices amd short delivery times are enabled by high volumes of standardised production line vehicles. But I'm surprised that operators are forced to accept a seating density they don't want, because I thought Yutong's seats were installed in the UK?

Pelican's website (the UK importer) makes this claim only for the buses. The GT12 diesel coach is listed as 53 seats with a choice of colour finish, but nothing else; the GTe14 electric coach states "up to 59 passenger seats", so it does sound as though limited choice is one factor in keeping prices down.

 

[Dwarfer1979]

Manufacturers used to produce 'dealer stock' to enable operators to buy quickly 'off the peg'. Does such a thing still exist? Do the likes of Mistral and Ferrymill Motors hire out coaches or just buses, so is this the modern equivalent of 'dealer stock'?

They do in theory but demand has been outstripping supply for the 'traditional' European manufacturers over the last couple of years such that they are, in effect, sold before they arrive even if they were built on spec without an operator order initially. The rental companies like Mistral & Dawsons do also rent coaches (particularly Tourismos) but again high demand may affect what they have in stock.

 

[A S Leib]

I'm not sure if this post is supposed to solely focus on Flixbus in the UK.

How many passengers on their longer routes are travelling for fairly short distances? I've booked a ticket from Saarbrücken to Metz and was surprised that the destination is Figueira da Foz, close to a thousand miles beyond Metz (at least 1200 miles further by road). The fact that Tours, Bordeaux and an international interconnection point are the only stops between Versailles and Valladolid makes me think that they're expecting most of their custom on that route to be going from at least Paris to western Spain.

 

[route101]

I don’t know if FlixBus have ‘standards’ for their operators, but I took the overnight bus from Leeds to London last night, and the seats were really close to each other. It was a newish Yutong, but unfortunately I didn’t note the operator. It used to be Whippet, and although their shortcomings have been discussed on here frequently, the seats and legroom were comfortable.

I’m only five foot five and my knees were nearly touching the seat in front. There was very little room to push my rucksack under the seat in front, and it wouldn’t have fitted in the overhead rack.

By contrast, I got a Slovakian FlixBus onward to Brussels: there was at least six inches between my knees and the seat in front, under which my rucksack easily fitted. It was a Setra.

I did notice a few Yutongs at Victoria coach station bearing the FlixBus livery. I really hope this is not the new standard - which I assume means squeezing an extra row of seats in. I have had nothing but positive experiences with them before.

Yes, the legroom on the Yutongs is tight. Avoid row 5 on he left side as its cramp with limited window. Surprised they haven't gone for the tri axle version.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Yes, the legroom on the Yutongs is tight. Avoid row 5 on he left side as its cramp with limited window. Surprised they haven't gone for the tri axle version.

They might have gone for the tri-axle version. The first examples haven't been delivered here yet.

 

[t rex]

Flixbus observations in bristol today 01/08/25
Prospect coaches PR71BEC on 077 Cardiff
First group YH25FAM 27016 on 071 Manchester
First group YH25FBC 27021 on 041 London Victoria
First group YH25EZX 27010 on 078 Bristol
Eurocoaches BV72KKE on 041 Bristol

 

[markymark2000]

Flixbus observations in bristol today 01/08/25
Prospect coaches PR71BEC on 077 Cardiff
First group YH25FAM 27016 on 071 Manchester
First group YH25FBC 27021 on 041 London Victoria
First group YH25EZX 27010 on 078 Bristol
Eurocoaches BV72KKE on 041 Bristol

Great photos.

 

[GregSRHST]

Quick question on flixbus tickets.

Do drivers generally let you travel with the correct ticket (location A to B is the same) but the wrong date/time? Or was I just lucky?

I was in a mad rush today booking the bus ticket and I booked the correct time but the wrong day (I booked tomorrow).

The driver scanned my ticket and let me on the bus. No questions asked.

I then went onto my app to check if there were any delays on route and notice I had actually booked the wrong day but the correct time!!

I'm not providing details or times or locations as I don't want to get the driver in trouble.

I reckon he's not noticed when he scanned the ticket or just let me onto the bus without saying anything.

I'd have been mortified if he pulled me up as it was completely my fault and I would have bought a new ticket if required.

 

[TheSmiths82]

I am not sure how it would have scanned if the date was wrong, which suggests it wasn't even scanning the QR code but was just going through the motions. Very odd.

 

[henryb]

Anyone know anything about the Flix that left the M4 carriageway yesterday - saw a few unconfirmed comments saying the driver said there was an issue with the air. Was a modern yutong