2015 fare rises - alternatives ?

[Rich McLean]

Aren't there class 180s allocated to the Paddington to Oxford services ? What's the fastest journey time by coach these days? I know it was 'under 100 minutes' in the old days when coaches didn't stop at Hillingdon and could use lane 3 and do 70 mph+.

Class 180s operate the Great Malvern - London via Oxford diagrams, however this is different in the peaks with some starting and terminating at Oxford on Semi Fast workings.

Off peak, 16x still work Oxford starters and terminators, with 180's and HST coming off the Cotswold line. Moreton in marsh starters are still 166s mostly. A 165/6, will also work an early down service in the morning, and operate the Halts service back as far as Oxford.

HSTs work just about all of the fasts in the peak

Also 180s are tucked away at weekends, in order to limit the amount of Guards needed, as 16x run DOO from Oxford towards London

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

But the National Express solution is not very practical, is it? Passengers left behind is not a very pleasant news story for the operator. Compulsory prebooking eliminates all that, plus no costs associated with accounting for drivers takings, and boarding delays reduced by eliminating the retail operation on board. It also allows the operator to smooth out peaks in demand, improve vehicle utilisation and thereby reduce costs.

Not sure what help the train analogy is? Trains are generally more able to cope with demand peaks, due to their crush loading capabilities not enjoyed by most coach types. Why quote an undesirable, fairly rare, train occurrence and imply that because of this it is an acceptable situation for coach travel? What would a passenger gain from this?

That's why the vast majority of NatEx services are pre-bookable and that they are clever in which services are duped and which ones aren't.

In terms of the Shuttle routes of old, they also looked at selected dupes on a regular basis (or the day staff having a vehicle they could mobilise) based on previous demand patterns. They would also factor in things like major sporting events and the like, and have dupes lined up.

 

[starrymarkb]

Another peculiar contrast is that National Express don't allow passengers to pick up luggage from under the coach, whereas in Ireland most customers do all their luggage handling with the driver simply opening the luggage door from his seat.

Megabus also seem to be self loading though the driver will supervise

 

[Deerfold]

But the National Express solution is not very practical, is it?

Seems to work - though as has been noted they sell far fewer open returns than they used to as their loadings are higher - it worked well when most coaches had free seats.

Passengers left behind is not a very pleasant news story for the operator.

No. When was the last time you heard of one?

Compulsory prebooking eliminates all that, plus no costs associated with accounting for drivers takings, and boarding delays reduced by eliminating the retail operation on board. It also allows the operator to smooth out peaks in demand, improve vehicle utilisation and thereby reduce costs.

National Express have always been happy for me to buy a ticket on board - this is when I would have been unable to buy a ticket elsewhere. Would it have been better for me or NX if I had been unable to travel? It was no slower than me boarding a bus.

Not sure what help the train analogy is? Trains are generally more able to cope with demand peaks, due to their crush loading capabilities not enjoyed by most coach types. Why quote an undesirable, fairly rare, train occurrence and imply that because of this it is an acceptable situation for coach travel? What would a passenger gain from this?

Both trains and coaches have a capacity, though the train one is usually much higher (and not specified by law).

I've seen people left behind by both trains and coaches. There's lines where it's not unusual for trains to leave people behind - without local knowledge you're unlikely to know if you're likely to be left behind - I was nearly one of a few people left behind at Brighouse on a two-carriage service last year as I was't aware a large number of people would be travelling to a football match in Huddersfield. Every other time I've caught that service I've had a large part of a carriage to myself (and it's often longer).

What would a passenger gain from what?