Option of Long distance timetabled coach journeys with 2 hourly rest stops for walking about etc

[AHBD]

This forum keeps suggesting cyclists can just get the coach (instead of space constrained awkward modern rail stock) but.....

When I look at longer distance coach journeys they seem rather slow compared to trains and cars, and given my tolerance for being stuck in a seat in a coach ( 2.5 hours absolute max) is much less than for being in a train where one can leave ones seat along with other civilised properties of trains:

Organised point to point coach trips (eg for package holiday) tend to stop for food / walking about every few hours (luggage left securely locked in coach hold), which seems much more civilised and more like the going by private car approach (which is encouraged by compliance with Highway code rule 91 ).

I wonder if their would be a market for a proportion of long distance coach journeys modeled on more rest stops as above: in my opinion it would makelong journeys more civilised even if slower on paper (on an epic many hour coach journey with no breaks, you presumably lose an entire day travelling anyway and will be wrecked...).
Again at rest/food stops, luggage would remain securely locked in the hold.

 

[AHBD]

No responses at all?

No one minds 3hour+ continuous coach journeys?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Presumably if the route is a busy one you could arrange that yourself by booking the journey in sections with a gap between them at the desired location?

 

[al78]

No responses at all?

No one minds 3hour+ continuous coach journeys?

I must admit, Glasgow to London was tedious on a coach with no opportunity to stretch my legs.

 

[JonathanH]

I must admit, Glasgow to London was tedious on a coach with no opportunity to stretch my legs.

Overnight however, the longer the non-stop movement the better.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I wonder if their would be a market for a proportion of long distance coach journeys modeled on more rest stops as above: in my opinion it would makelong journeys more civilised even if slower on paper (on an epic many hour coach journey with no breaks, you presumably lose an entire day travelling anyway and will be wrecked...).

Maybe, but longer journeys are most likely less attractive, and would cost more to run, and on longer journeys may risk the driver running out of time.

 

[AHBD]

Presumably if the route is a busy one you could arrange that yourself by booking the journey in sections with a gap between them at the desired location?

But that would involve removing ones bike, unfolding and or reattaching luggage, (or,if a pedestrian just removing/reloading luggage which you must then lug about*) then reversing the process. For a loaded cycle,if this isnt at a terminus, then there is an added feeling of time pressure..

*I was mainly thinking of loaded cycles as this forum keeps suggesting coaches rather than improving train cycle carriage..but I still thinks it would be useful to pedestrians..

 

[Bletchleyite]

But that would involve removing ones bike, unfolding and or reattaching luggage, (or,if a pedestrian just removing/reloading luggage which you must then lug about) then reversing the process. For a loaded cycle,if this isnt at a terminus, then there is an added feeling of time pressure..

A tiny proportion of coach passengers travel with a bicycle, so this doesn't even (and indeed should not) enter consideration when designing services.

 

[AHBD]

There

A tiny proportion of coach passengers travel with a bicycle, so this doesn't even (and indeed should not) enter consideration when designing services.

My point was if some coach travel per long route, was more civilised in said fashion, there could be more cyclists( and pedestrians with large luggage) using such services, especially given this forums support for squeezing cyclists off modern trains..

 

[BuhSnarf]

Coaches are already a slow method of travel compared to the train usually.

For a 4 hour coach journey, I'm not going to be looking forward to it. But I'd rather take a 4 hour non-stop journey rather than have the coach stop for (an hour?) stretch my legs break as that suddenly makes my 4 hour journey become 5 and usually my coach journey has elements at either end (maybe a local bus or a short train ride) making the journey even longer.

I think most prefer to suck up the 2+ hours on the coach and just be thankful they got their quicker.

 

[8ace]

Where would the coach stop. a motorway service station? Who wants to spend an hour there getting fleeced.

 

[Bletchleyite]

My point was if some coach travel per long route, was more civilised in said fashion, there could be more cyclists( and pedestrians with large luggage) using such services, especially given this forums support for squeezing cyclists off modern trains..

Most people just want to get where they're going ASAP, not spend two hours wandering around Digbeth. A niche consisting of "people who do fancy two hours in Digbeth and are travelling with a lot of luggage and a bicycle" must be single figures of passengers per day if that.

You're extrapolating from you to a wider group that doesn't exist.

Bicycles aside, if you want to wander round with luggage try a rucksack instead of a trolley. I find it quite odd when I see people pulling tiny bags around like dogs, particularly the Ryanair underseat bags which are only about 20l, a very small day rucksack indeed.

 

[AHBD]

Most people just want to get where they're going ASAP, not spend two hours wandering around Digbeth. A niche consisting of "people who do fancy two hours in Digbeth and are travelling with a lot of luggage and a bicycle" must be single figures of passengers per day if that.

You're extrapolating from you to a wider group that doesn't exist.....

How do you know that wider group dont exist if no civilised coaches as proposed currently exist?

Where are all the loaded cyclists displaced by modern trains going then... probably cars..., eg the CTCs last Techncal Officer(reluntantly) learnt to drive (and bought a car), because no matter how much he tried, he could no longer fit his (cycling) family onto modern rolling stock.

But reducing car travel is good ( even if electric is viewed as green enough, their risk of causing death or injury to other rightful road users needs massively reduced).

Thus, there will be lots of cyclists seeing 'no option' but to drive. But not everybody can drive. Flying is neither a green option or that convenient for bikes..

Even, for a pedestrian, a light daysac would be an improvement over lugging a bigger full rucsac of necessary stuff
(Perhaps you're extrapolating from you .... .

Coaches do exist for specifically for cyclists, even if not in the proposed style eg:

Bike Express - The Best Way Into Europe For You And Your Bike

European Bike Express is the best way into Europe for you and your bike by Coach. Cycling Holidays to Spain too! We have 23 points in the UK and 24 locations in France or Spain. Simply turn the handlebars, it couldn't be easier. Book online.

bike-express.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Oct 2026 ==

An alternative might be to split some* of each longer journey route into shorter routes with a reasonably spaced connection time (ie enough to wonder about / eat).


The fact that one would get on and off at a terminus would mitigate having to unload/reload ones bike etc.

I think some sort of rail-like on-line journey planner would be needed to easily build a civilised longer journey from the sub 2 and a bit hour hops...
There should be one anyway...perhaps railforums could make one to compensate for torpedoing most reopening suggestions


*Sufficient of the standard 2+ hours mega-duration journeys would remain to keep the impatient masochists happy....