Flixbus Discussion

[Andyh82]

Well it sounds like they going to be replacing leeds bus station stop with a stop outside cafe nero on sovereign street. So where the leeds fest and elland road specials run from

Cafe Nero will be quids in.

It’s probably better than the bus station, as there is a long parking bay, so multiple coaches can turn up at once

 

[markymark2000]

Some of the services now show the Leeds stop as 'Sovereign Street' when you search for journeys from April 1st onwards.

Just hope the booking system doesn't has a complete meltdown and changes me onto some completely different timed services like they have done before, although may be more difficult this time given there's only one trip in each direction on the 073 that stops at Darlington (new stop on the network, starting from next week).

Currently the everything on the 072, 074, 075 and 930 between 6am and 11pm show off Sovereign Street. 11pm-6am on these routes shows from Cultural C, and then everything else shows from the bus station still. Definitely not confusing at all.

In terms of the system, if you have connections, then it will probably break things (or least won't work for new bookings) as services must share the exact same stop for connections to work (no walking between stops. You can't even get connections where you alight at the bus station but board at Cultural)

Cafe Nero will be quids in.

It’s probably better than the bus station, as there is a long parking bay, so multiple coaches can turn up at once

While not as ideal for some onward connections, it's closer to the train station but not too far out of the way. You've got Nero and Sainsbury Local there so all is quite good.
The only issues that I can see is that there isn't much shelter from the Great British weather (bar Nero which isn't that big), and the fact that there is space for only 2 coaches (37m bay and most Flixbuses are 12-15m. Taking into account getting out as well it's basically just 2 bays). I guess Metro could install shelters down there (or Flix could pay for shelters to be put up down there) and the council could review the on street parking/taxi rank situation down there to make more coach spaces if this is to become a more permanent thing.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Mar 2026 ==

In a change to the previous plans, it seems that the 072, 074, 075 and 930 between 6am and 11pm will now use 'Eastgate F' stop which is outside Leeds City College (and looks to be 20 minute coach bays currently). Given the lack of facilities there, I can't help but feel that Sovereign Street is slightly better.

 

[t rex]

Berry's yutong yd24eso on flixbus in bristol today
Also on flixbus was irizar yt26afz 71210 dealtop on 087 Plymouth

 

[Simon75]

I've tended to find NX drivers always honour seat reservations whereas with Flixbus its hit and miss with some drivers telling you to sit in the seat shown on your ticket and others telling you to sit anywhere.

The back seat is one of my preferred seat choices so welcome the option to reserve it on Flixbus journeys although have had several instances where I've reserved a seat there and boarded to find it occupied and on several occasions the back row seats have been shown as unavailable when booking but then not had anyone sitting there during the actual journey.

Went on that Watts 077 journey from Cardiff to Birmingham (well Bristol to Birmingham) at the start of July and there was no option to reserve a seat. The driver wouldn't allow anyone at all to sit in the front 4 seats and at the same time there was an inconsiderate passenger lying across the back 5 seats. Ended up having to unneccesarrily sit next to another passenger in the second row. On the way home that evening on another Watts coach, the driver told me to sit in my reserved seat on the back row.

I traveled on 2 the first time the other day, didn't realised they allocated a seat.
The 024 driver never said anything
The 924 driver told me a seat number, but chose my own seat

 

[route101]

I traveled on 2 the first time the other day, didn't realised they allocated a seat.
The 024 driver never said anything
The 924 driver told me a seat number, but chose my own seat

I take it everyone is allocated a seat, even when not choosing at time of booking. There is always people who just sit anywhere.

The McGills operated services are usually hot on allocated seats.

 

[JonathanH]

I take it everyone is allocated a seat, even when not choosing at time of booking. There is always people who just sit anywhere.

The McGills operated services are usually hot on allocated seats.

Everyone is allocated a seat with Flixbus. The 'book without a neighbour' thing wouldn't work if that wasn't the case. If you don't specify a seat you get allocated one.

In my experience most Flixbus drivers will state the reserved seat when they scan the booking and be clear about the need to sit in the seat given.

On my last trip someone arranged an informal swap with me by sitting in my seat and then telling me their seat, which worked out fine in the end, but only because the seat was free after the end of their booking.

 

[Sealink]

79 pages of posts so sorry if this has been asked before, between Glasgow and Inverness, what would your choice be between Citylink/Megabus, Ember and Flixbus? Fares are similar, basic Flixbus fare being the cheapest.

 

[Bletchleyite]

79 pages of posts so sorry if this has been asked before, between Glasgow and Inverness, what would your choice be between Citylink/Megabus, Ember and Flixbus? Fares are similar, basic Flixbus fare being the cheapest.

Probably Ember first, Citylink second and Flix third, as the latter are not known for comfort and quality.

Well, actually, I'd choose the train

 

[Sealink]

Probably Ember first, Citylink second and Flix third, as the latter are not known for comfort and quality.

Well, actually, I'd choose the train

That would be my first choice, but the train fare is double just now, and I can't book till the day before the journey.

 

[route101]

Ember, unless he bus is full, I know the price and book at short notice.
Citylink, bonus double decker at times.
Last Flixbus, not a fan of seat reservations.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Apr 2026 ==

Everyone is allocated a seat with Flixbus. The 'book without a neighbour' thing wouldn't work if that wasn't the case. If you don't specify a seat you get allocated one.

In my experience most Flixbus drivers will state the reserved seat when they scan the booking and be clear about the need to sit in the seat given.

On my last trip someone arranged an informal swap with me by sitting in my seat and then telling me their seat, which worked out fine in the end, but only because the seat was free after the end of their booking.

Yeah, used to book the seat next to me on overnight services but always had someone getting on at a intermediate stop attempt to sit down. The price for booking the seat next to you can be eyewatering on the anglo - scots services, £140 one way anyone?

 

[markymark2000]

Some unreported changes which have happened since the post in January listing the April changes as they were known at the time (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/flixbus-discussion.191981/page-75#post-7652194)

• Route 002 from Leeds to London is now operated with 2 buses from Wellglade, 3 buses which are jointly First Leicester & J&B plus 2 buses from a currently unknown operator (no one has come forward to confirm they run the trips and no sightings reported).
• Desi Coaches now run 4 buses on the Flixbus network and they have taken over 2 of the duties which were previously covered by Fernhill Travel on the 004 Nottingham route.
• The 014/N14 York service is being operated by Central Connect/Transport Made Simple group. Made possible by them moving resource from their 005 route.
• New routes 025 (Birmingham - Oxford - London) & 083 (Birmingham - Norwich) have been delayed from the original start date of 1st April, with the new start date looking to be 7th May.
• The 026 Blackpool service is being operated by London Travel In (previously the operator was unknown).
• Route 044 (Gloucester to London) seems to have a new operator for the London based trips from Fernhill Travel. Some reports that this is Dhillon of London, other reports that this is New Bharat but I've seen nothing concrete yet other than if you use BusListsOnTheWeb which report the vehicles sighted as belonging to New Bharat.
• Route 905 (Leeds - Northampton - Heathrow & Gatwick) seemed to start up but has now been suspended until 25th April.
• The 920 stop in Oxford (and stop of the future 025) is now on Beaufort Street outside the Playhouse Theatre. I'm not sure what issue there was with them accessing Gloucester Green.

Further changes in April:
A stop change in Birmingham is coming on the 20th April for the 020 service (Birmingham - London). These journeys will move to Jennens Road near the Matthew Boulton College. This stop is currently used by the 024 service. I believe this is due to congestion at the Queensway stop, probably not helped by the fact that on the 1st April the stop gained 12 extra journeys per day, and from Thursday just gone, it gained an extra 3 journeys per day (the previously reported enhancement to the 920 and the new 084 were delayed from 1st April until 16th April).

Journeys from the Queensway stop to London are still possible but this will be limited to the 021/N21, N23, 026 & 030/N30.

(link to Flixbus departures board for this stop. Click the link and amend the date to anything after Monday and it will show you 020 departures)

Changes coming in May (based on what is currently showing on Flix site)
The delayed 025 and 084 have a new provisional start date of 7th May
From 25th May there are changes to the 007 Norwich service which will gain 2 new trips each way between Norwich and London Stratford City. 1 bus will run via Ipswich, Colchester & Chelmsford. The other bus will run via Uni of East Anglia and Thetford (extra PVR is 1)
Also a new 950 service from Norwich to Heathrow via Uni of East Anglia, Thetford, Cambridge Parkside, Cambridge Trupington P&R and Luton Airport Parkway operating 6 trips each way (PVR 3)

 

[Mwanesh]

Some unreported changes which have happened since the post in January listing the April changes as they were known at the time (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/flixbus-discussion.191981/page-75#post-7652194)

• Route 002 from Leeds to London is now operated with 2 buses from Wellglade, 3 buses which are jointly First Leicester & J&B plus 2 buses from a currently unknown operator (no one has come forward to confirm they run the trips and no sightings reported).
• Desi Coaches now run 4 buses on the Flixbus network and they have taken over 2 of the duties which were previously covered by Fernhill Travel on the 004 Nottingham route.
• The 014/N14 York service is being operated by Central Connect/Transport Made Simple group. Made possible by them moving resource from their 005 route.
• New routes 025 (Birmingham - Oxford - London) & 083 (Birmingham - Norwich) have been delayed from the original start date of 1st April, with the new start date looking to be 7th May.
• The 026 Blackpool service is being operated by London Travel In (previously the operator was unknown).
• Route 044 (Gloucester to London) seems to have a new operator for the London based trips from Fernhill Travel. Some reports that this is Dhillon of London, other reports that this is New Bharat but I've seen nothing concrete yet other than if you use BusListsOnTheWeb which report the vehicles sighted as belonging to New Bharat.
• Route 905 (Leeds - Northampton - Heathrow & Gatwick) seemed to start up but has now been suspended until 25th April.
• The 920 stop in Oxford (and stop of the future 025) is now on Beaufort Street outside the Playhouse Theatre. I'm not sure what issue there was with them accessing Gloucester Green.

Further changes in April:
A stop change in Birmingham is coming on the 20th April for the 020 service (Birmingham - London). These journeys will move to Jennens Road near the Matthew Boulton College. This stop is currently used by the 024 service. I believe this is due to congestion at the Queensway stop, probably not helped by the fact that on the 1st April the stop gained 12 extra journeys per day, and from Thursday just gone, it gained an extra 3 journeys per day (the previously reported enhancement to the 920 and the new 084 were delayed from 1st April until 16th April).

Journeys from the Queensway stop to London are still possible but this will be limited to the 021/N21, N23, 026 & 030/N30.

(link to Flixbus departures board for this stop. Click the link and amend the date to anything after Monday and it will show you 020 departures)

Changes coming in May (based on what is currently showing on Flix site)
The delayed 025 and 084 have a new provisional start date of 7th May
From 25th May there are changes to the 007 Norwich service which will gain 2 new trips each way between Norwich and London Stratford City. 1 bus will run via Ipswich, Colchester & Chelmsford. The other bus will run via Uni of East Anglia and Thetford (extra PVR is 1)
Also a new 950 service from Norwich to Heathrow via Uni of East Anglia, Thetford, Cambridge Parkside, Cambridge Trupington P&R and Luton Airport Parkway operating 6 trips each way (PVR 3)

This will confuse passengers having multiple stops

 

[JD2168]

Any ideas who this Yutong belongs to on 002, seen in Leeds on Friday 17/4/26 at 2:05pm in plain white & no visible legals either

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Any ideas who this Yutong belongs to on 002, seen in Leeds on Friday 17/4/26 at 2:05pm in plain white & no visible legals either

Hearn, Watford apparently.

 

[markymark2000]

Any ideas who this Yutong belongs to on 002, seen in Leeds on Friday 17/4/26 at 2:05pm in plain white & no visible legals either

It's currently being used by First using fleet number 26998. Seen operating one of the J&B/First Leicester joint duties.

 

[Trainman40083]

Some unreported changes which have happened since the post in January listing the April changes as they were known at the time (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/flixbus-discussion.191981/page-75#post-7652194)

• Route 002 from Leeds to London is now operated with 2 buses from Wellglade, 3 buses which are jointly First Leicester & J&B plus 2 buses from a currently unknown operator (no one has come forward to confirm they run the trips and no sightings reported).
• Desi Coaches now run 4 buses on the Flixbus network and they have taken over 2 of the duties which were previously covered by Fernhill Travel on the 004 Nottingham route.
• The 014/N14 York service is being operated by Central Connect/Transport Made Simple group. Made possible by them moving resource from their 005 route.
• New routes 025 (Birmingham - Oxford - London) & 083 (Birmingham - Norwich) have been delayed from the original start date of 1st April, with the new start date looking to be 7th May.
• The 026 Blackpool service is being operated by London Travel In (previously the operator was unknown).
• Route 044 (Gloucester to London) seems to have a new operator for the London based trips from Fernhill Travel. Some reports that this is Dhillon of London, other reports that this is New Bharat but I've seen nothing concrete yet other than if you use BusListsOnTheWeb which report the vehicles sighted as belonging to New Bharat.
• Route 905 (Leeds - Northampton - Heathrow & Gatwick) seemed to start up but has now been suspended until 25th April.
• The 920 stop in Oxford (and stop of the future 025) is now on Beaufort Street outside the Playhouse Theatre. I'm not sure what issue there was with them accessing Gloucester Green.

Further changes in April:
A stop change in Birmingham is coming on the 20th April for the 020 service (Birmingham - London). These journeys will move to Jennens Road near the Matthew Boulton College. This stop is currently used by the 024 service. I believe this is due to congestion at the Queensway stop, probably not helped by the fact that on the 1st April the stop gained 12 extra journeys per day, and from Thursday just gone, it gained an extra 3 journeys per day (the previously reported enhancement to the 920 and the new 084 were delayed from 1st April until 16th April).

Journeys from the Queensway stop to London are still possible but this will be limited to the 021/N21, N23, 026 & 030/N30.

(link to Flixbus departures board for this stop. Click the link and amend the date to anything after Monday and it will show you 020 departures)

Changes coming in May (based on what is currently showing on Flix site)
The delayed 025 and 084 have a new provisional start date of 7th May
From 25th May there are changes to the 007 Norwich service which will gain 2 new trips each way between Norwich and London Stratford City. 1 bus will run via Ipswich, Colchester & Chelmsford. The other bus will run via Uni of East Anglia and Thetford (extra PVR is 1)
Also a new 950 service from Norwich to Heathrow via Uni of East Anglia, Thetford, Cambridge Parkside, Cambridge Trupington P&R and Luton Airport Parkway operating 6 trips each way (PVR 3)

Yes, re 014 service. I saw Yutong coach YK75 LFV in Derby this morning, about 11.30 I think it was originally licenced to Simmonds of Diss, but now Central Connect.

 

[CN12 AWU]

Hi all

Does Cymru Coaches in Swansea still operate Flixbus or have there routes moved to Newport Bus and Watts Coaches?

 

[markymark2000]

Hi all

Does Cymru Coaches in Swansea still operate Flixbus or have there routes moved to Newport Bus and Watts Coaches?

I believe that Cymru Coaches run the 910 (Swansea to Bristol Airport).
Newport Bus run 3 of the 046s (Swansea to London) and all of the 940 (South Wales to Heathrow & Gatwick) service.
Watts Coaches run all of the 042s (Cardiff to London). One of the 046 round trips, the 077 (Cardiff to Birmingham) and the Cardiff 078 (Cardiff to Newcastle)

 

[nick291]

Hi all

Does Cymru Coaches in Swansea still operate Flixbus or have there routes moved to Newport Bus and Watts Coaches?

I think they still work the 910 between Bristol Airport and Swansea

 

[CN12 AWU]

I think they still work the 910 between Bristol Airport and Swansea

Hello

Is that there only route?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Apr 2026 ==

I think they still work the 910 between Bristol Airport and Swansea

I thought they ran more than one route

Any idea what they use on the route as the 910 doesn't seem to track on bustimes?

 

[buscoaster]

Mercedes Tourismos mostly

 

[CN12 AWU]

Mercedes Tourismos mostly

Didn't realise the 910 was in the hands of Tourismos thought was Vanhools

I was just intrested in what they operated to be honest I thought adventure also did some flixbus

 

[t rex]

Didn't realise the 910 was in the hands of Tourismos thought was Vanhools

I was just intrested in what they operated to be honest I thought adventure also did some flixbus

 

[gingerheid]

UK990 Swindon - Cambridge ends on 24th May.

UK066 Cambridge - Brighton loses a service between Gatwick to Brighton, gains a 7th journey from Cambridge to Gatwick, and sees departures spread through the daytime more evenly.

 

[Andyh82]

Do York Pullman now operate some FlixBus work?

I noticed one of their coaches in Leeds, in “Wrays of Harrogate” livery on a flix service, so are wondering if it’s a permanent fixture, or maybe standing in for another FirstGroup operator. They don’t as far as I’m aware have any coaches in FlixBus livery

 

[Volvodart]

Do York Pullman now operate some FlixBus work?

I noticed one of their coaches in Leeds, in “Wrays of Harrogate” livery on a flix service, so are wondering if it’s a permanent fixture, or maybe standing in for another FirstGroup operator. They don’t as far as I’m aware have any coaches in FlixBus livery

They have had coaches on hire to J&B Travel before.

 

[markymark2000]

UK990 Swindon - Cambridge ends on 24th May.

UK066 Cambridge - Brighton loses a service between Gatwick to Brighton, gains a 7th journey from Cambridge to Gatwick, and sees departures spread through the daytime more evenly.

Interesting changes as these weren't advertised when I checked last week. Hopefully with one less driver needed each day, Cozys will be able to be slightly more reliable than current.

Do York Pullman now operate some FlixBus work?

I noticed one of their coaches in Leeds, in “Wrays of Harrogate” livery on a flix service, so are wondering if it’s a permanent fixture, or maybe standing in for another FirstGroup operator. They don’t as far as I’m aware have any coaches in FlixBus livery

Yes and no. J&B operate services out of Pullman's depot but I believe it officially comes under J&B still.
I know that there are/were buses being loaned due to some delays to new coaches.

 

[gingerheid]

Interesting changes as these weren't advertised when I checked last week. Hopefully with one less driver needed each day, Cozys will be able to be slightly more reliable than current.

Yes. The truth of the matter is that the withdrawn 0440 to Brighton never really ran very much anyway, and it felt like the 0330 to Swindon ran only infrequently.

The 0630 Cambridge to Brighton seems to be cancelled in advance for most of the week beginning 25/5, which is odd as that's usually a very busy journey both from Cambridge to Stratford and then again (with an almost completely
different load) from Stratford to Gatwick. It's a really useful commuter journey that's really competitive against the train in terms of cost, convenience (no change) and even journey time!

 

[route101]

The Norwich to London via Ipswich is not showing to book. Has this been pushed back?

 

[gingerheid]

The Norwich to London via Ipswich is not showing to book. Has this been pushed back?

Looks like they've cut the intermediate stops between Stratford and Thetford?

Edit: Bookable from 13th July.