National Express Coaches Discussion

[MCR247]

N

Up thread it was mentioned that NX should employ people who have some knowledge of the coach industry. Employing those with a lack of knowledge is nothing new. Back in the day I worked for NX as a " Customer Experience Manager" at Milton Keynes Coach way. For reasons I won't go into my services were dispensed with. I believe the person who replaced me was, as I understand it an ex Spanish Hotel Manager. Obviously a vast knowledge of public transport in this country was on hand.

Not that you’re bitter or anything..

At least on the face of it, an ex hotel manager would seem quite a good fit for a role titled “Customer Experience manager”

 

[coach fan]

National Express have published the Christmas Day and Boxing Day fares on their fares page now:

National Express Coaches - Coach Guide Pages

www.nxagents.com

They are taking the mick with these fares. Christmas Day fares are approximately triple the normal fare. So if you want to travel on Christmas Day then you have to pay three times your usual fare. They are really taking advantage of the fact that no trains are running and people have no choice. Boxing Day fares are only a couple pounds extra compared to the usual fares.

Well drivers are on double pay on Christmas Day plus a day in lieu. Someone has to pay for this. I’m sorry but if you wanna travel on Christmas Day. A day when most drivers don’t wanna work then you’re gonna pay through the nose for it!

 

[johncrossley]

To be fair, these are the buy onboard fares which most people don't pay.

I just looked at the fare from London to Manchester on the booking website and it is £93.50 one-way (excluding booking fee).

 

[Eyersey468]

To be fair, these are the buy onboard fares which most people don't pay. There will also be increased costs associated with operating on Christmas day.

Double pay for drivers which on a Hull to London run means 60+ hours wages instead of 30+ as they are double manned

 

[Mwanesh]

Surely you can't begrudge people working Christmas day; they have to make it worthwhile.

There is no choice in most places. Check the price of a taxi from Heathrow on Christmas day.

 

[route101]

An

I just looked at the fare from London to Manchester on the booking website and it is £93.50 one-way (excluding booking fee).

The fares on Anglo - Scots services are around £100 and above on NX and Flixbus this week if services are not sold out.

 

[pitdiver]

N

Not that you’re bitter or anything..

At least on the face of it, an ex hotel manager would seem quite a good fit for a role titled “Customer Experience manager”

Not bitter, this was 2011. I've got over now. At the time it seemed a strange choice but who knows. Apparently they didn't last long in the job

 

[Deerfold]

I just looked at the fare from London to Manchester on the booking website and it is £93.50 one-way (excluding booking fee).

That doesn't sound ludicrous for Christmas Day.

 

[johncrossley]

That doesn't sound ludicrous for Christmas Day.

In other countries where they celebrate Christmas you might be able to travel on a *train* for that distance for less money.

 

[route101]

That doesn't sound ludicrous for Christmas Day.

Not just Christmas, its the whole week or two around this period the big two coach companies have these higher fares.

 

[Smethwickian]

It's been confirmed via Park's' internal comms that Edwards are to take over Plymouth in January 2026.
Good timing on Park's part as most of the fleet in Plymouth is due for replacement.

Arrangements have been confirmed for services running overnight 31 December - 1 January as Parks officially cease being a network operator at 2359 on 31st.
31.12.2025 404 - 20:00 Penzance to London - (Parks of Hamilton run Penzance to Plymouth in their coach, Edwards to run Plymouth to London. Coach swap in Plymouth at 23:15 on 31.12.2025
31.12.2025 406 - 21:25 Penzance to London - (Parks of Hamilton run Penzance to Plymouth in their coach, Edwards to run Plymouth to London. Coach swap in Plymouth at 00:30 on 01.01.2026
31.12.2025 504 - 13:30 London to Penzance - (Parks of Hamilton run London to Plymouth in their coach, Edwards to run Plymouth to Penzance. Coach swap in Plymouth at 20:00 on 31.12.2025
31.12.2025 406 - 22:30 London to Penzance - (Parks of Hamilton run London to Plymouth in their coach, Edwards to run Plymouth to Penzance. Coach swap in Plymouth at 04:15 on 01.01.2026

 

[Daydoo25]

gotta feel sorry for the parks staff being kept in limbo not knowing what 20 drivers will be keeping a job after christmas .

 

[dmncf]

31.12.2025 406 - 22:30 London to Penzance - (Parks of Hamilton run London to Plymouth in their coach, Edwards to run Plymouth to Penzance. Coach swap in Plymouth at 04:15 on 01.01.2026

Happy New Year passengers!

 

[embers25]

Service from Exeter to London around 12 was popular and a 74 plate Edwards coach.

 

[Deerfold]

Not just Christmas, its the whole week or two around this period the big two coach companies have these higher fares.

There's quite a few cheaper than that. On the 27th there's plenty around £40.

 

[route101]

There's quite a few cheaper than that. On the 27th there's plenty around £40.

Glasgow to London £65 is the cheapest fare, Edinburgh to London may of been cheaper.

I have noticed the 594 Edinburgh to London runs via Glasgow before heading South. The Heathrow Call is now only on the 594.

 

[Deerfold]

Glasgow to London £65 is the cheapest fare, Edinburgh to London may of been cheaper.

I have noticed the 594 Edinburgh to London runs via Glasgow before heading South. The Heathrow Call is now only on the 594.

The posts I responded to were talking about Manchester, not Scotland.

 

[cambsy]

Reading on a post further up thread, the plans for Parks Of Hamilton changing over to Edward’s, its good to see the actual plans, think most if not all the current Parks drivers will be offered to stay on, as Edward’s wont want to have to try get Avonmouth drivers to transfer to Plymouth, and I imagine apart from driving a lot newer coaches, and maybe some changes in terms and conditions and pay, there wont be much change in day to day running, as this seems normal when most companies get taken over etc.

Ill be interested to see if the Plymouth-Birmingham services which were with drawn, will come back now Edward’s taking over, and be good have newer coaches in the South West to London etc.

 

[MotCO]

Reading on a post further up thread, the plans for Parks Of Hamilton changing over to Edward’s, its good to see the actual plans, think most if not all the current Parks drivers will be offered to stay on, as Edward’s wont want to have to try get Avonmouth drivers to transfer to Plymouth, and I imagine apart from driving a lot newer coaches, and maybe some changes in terms and conditions and pay, there wont be much change in day to day running, as this seems normal when most companies get taken over etc.

Ill be interested to see if the Plymouth-Birmingham services which were with drawn, will come back now Edward’s taking over, and be good have newer coaches in the South West to London etc.

Wouldn't TUPE apply, if Edwards was taking over / buying the Parks operation in the south west?

(TUPE = Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment). When a business changes owner, its employees may be protected under the TUPE.)

 

[henryb]

Reading on a post further up thread, the plans for Parks Of Hamilton changing over to Edward’s, its good to see the actual plans, think most if not all the current Parks drivers will be offered to stay on, as Edward’s wont want to have to try get Avonmouth drivers to transfer to Plymouth, and I imagine apart from driving a lot newer coaches, and maybe some changes in terms and conditions and pay, there wont be much change in day to day running, as this seems normal when most companies get taken over etc.

Ill be interested to see if the Plymouth-Birmingham services which were with drawn, will come back now Edward’s taking over, and be good have newer coaches in the South West to London etc.

The 1610 501 from Newton Abbot to London doesn’t seem to be bookable from Jan/Feb… changed already?

 

[cambsy]

The 16.10 NewtonAbbott-London 501, is now Plymouth-Exeter direct, doesn’t serve Torbay. This could be due low loading this time of year or other factors.

 

[henryb]

The 16.10 NewtonAbbott-London 501, is now Plymouth-Exeter direct, doesn’t serve Torbay. This could be due low loading this time of year or other factors.

It was always double manned so maybe someting else is changed

 

[nick291]

It was always double manned so maybe someting else is changed

Single driver as far as Avonmouth then Avonmouth driver takes it to London? That's if Edwards has taken over already of course

 

[Daydoo25]

Wouldn't TUPE apply, if Edwards was taking over / buying the Parks operation in the south west?

(TUPE = Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment). When a business changes owner, its employees may be protected under the TUPE.)

Tupe does apply at point of transfer
But its already been made clear 72 staff at Plymouth parks depot now gonna be made redundant as edwards only want to keep 24 in total

 

[embers25]

Tupe does apply at point of transfer
But its already been made clear 72 staff at Plymouth parks depot now gonna be made redundant as edwards only want to keep 24 in total

Will the switch to Edwards mean the driver changes at Taunton Deane Services will be removed?

 

[markymark2000]

Tupe does apply at point of transfer
But its already been made clear 72 staff at Plymouth parks depot now gonna be made redundant as edwards only want to keep 24 in total

That's a big difference. They won't make enough efficiencies of scale to drop their driver requirements that much. Either Edwards can't be taking on all of the work, they plan on running a lot more stuff from Bristol.

 

[MotCO]

That's a big difference. They won't make enough efficiencies of scale to drop their driver requirements that much. Either Edwards can't be taking on all of the work, they plan on running a lot more stuff from Bristol.

That is indeed a lot. Did Parks have many vacancies or find it hard to recruit staff? I know Go-Ahead found it difficult initially when they took over the Cornwall contract, but is it still difficult to recruit staff in Plymouth? Is it easier in Bristol?

 

[PJ19826]

Park’s annual accounts published last week states that their Plymouth operation will cease on 31st December 2025.

 

[Peter Philips]

That's a big difference. They won't make enough efficiencies of scale to drop their driver requirements that much. Either Edwards can't be taking on all of the work, they plan on running a lot more stuff from Bristol.

No idea if true but two Parks drivers were chatting on my 501 journey a couple of weeks ago & suggested the Plymouth base would only be left with 'feeder driving duties' to just Exeter or Bristol? Also suggested there would be no maintenance or support staff left at Plymouth.

 

[Daydoo25]

Everyone thinking that current parks staff in Plymouth will have there jobs due to edwards taking over and TUPE your very wrong 72 staff are loosing there jobs only 20 drivers and 4 controllers will be kept on .staff currently are being kept in the dark as to what drivers and 4 controller staff are still gonna have a job.
Poor staff have been left hanging for wks today is parks last day in plymouth .