Flixbus Discussion

[Starmill]

I guess the issue is, if this "cherry picking" ends up causing a large shift in passengers from competitors who have a more filled out timetable, then there is the potential for that competitor to cut services or pull out entirely. Whilst you may say that would just be the market choosing the winner, I'd be hesitant to say places ending up with a worse timetable than now is a good thing!

I agree with that absolutely. Unfortunately this kind of market failure can only really be corrected through regulation and subsidy. It would make plenty of sense for towns that aren't on the railway network to have these kinds of contracted coach services, but unfortunately the government in England seems to have pretty much zero interest in the idea.

 

[markymark2000]

I agree with that absolutely. Unfortunately this kind of market failure can only really be corrected through regulation and subsidy. It would make plenty of sense for towns that aren't on the railway network to have these kinds of contracted coach services, but unfortunately the government in England seems to have pretty much zero interest in the idea.

I think it's so strange that Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland all have extensive coach networks yet England doesnt really have as big of a coach network (most routes are only a few per day at some obscure times) and Wales has only a few coaches. The bulk is Swansea, Cardiff and Newport.

How do these other areas have such big coach networks with such frequencies and yet most of England and Wales get nothing or just 1 coach per day.

 

[Steddenm]

I think it's so strange that Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland all have extensive coach networks yet England doesnt really have as big of a coach network (most routes are only a few per day at some obscure times) and Wales has only a few coaches. The bulk is Swansea, Cardiff and Newport.

How do these other areas have such big coach networks with such frequencies and yet most of England and Wales get nothing or just 1 coach per day.

I think it's to do with the fact that the railways are much more sparse in these areas and the coaches go to places where the trains don't.

 

[Deerfold]

I think it's so strange that Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland all have extensive coach networks yet England doesnt really have as big of a coach network (most routes are only a few per day at some obscure times) and Wales has only a few coaches. The bulk is Swansea, Cardiff and Newport.

How do these other areas have such big coach networks with such frequencies and yet most of England and Wales get nothing or just 1 coach per day.

Scotland has a lot fewer rail links compared to the areas covered. And some of these are very slow. Much as I've enjoyed getting the train from Fort William to Glasgow, the coach is half an hour quicker. There's 5 coaches compared with 4 trains each day.

 

[M803UYA]

From Route One.

New year sees expansion for FlixBus and McGill's

FlixBus and McGill’s have announced a significant partnership expansion for the pair’s Scottish scheduled coach network

www.route-one.net

To kick off 2023, FlixBus and McGill’s have announced a significant partnership expansion for the pair’s Scottish scheduled coach network that builds on recent success​

FlixBus has moved a step further in its plans to build the largest intercity coach network in the UK, by announcing a significant expansion of its partnership with McGill’s in Scotland.
The collaboration will eventually see 25 coaches on the FlixBus-McGill’s partner network. That will comprise the introduction of new routes, to be announced in the future.
In an exclusive interview, routeone speaks with Andreas Schörling, FlixBus Managing Director UK, and McGill’s CEO Ralph Roberts on why the partnership between McGill’s and FlixBus has proven so successful – and why now is the right time to grow and “redefine” the Scottish scheduled coach network.

Excellent partnership​

The expansion follows strong partnership that the two companies have built since starting on a small scale in 2021. FlixBus extended its scheduled coach network into Scotland in July 2021 by adding Edinburgh and Glasgow to its cross-border east coast mainline. It announced its entrance to the Scottish internal market with the launch the daily 91 service between Glasgow and Aberdeen in August 2022.
Andreas puts the successful working down to a “high degree of trust” between the two organisations. “We see McGill’s as a very reliable partner,” he says. “It delivers incredibly high quality in the services that we are operating together. It takes pride in its work, and we share an ambitious mindset.
“We communicated when we entered the UK market that we intend to build the largest intercity coach network in the UK. We maintain that ambition, and to achieve that we need to have strong and reliable partners such as McGill’s, Ralph and his team.”
Another contributing factor to the expansion is a successful 2022 for the wider FlixBus network. The business carried its one millionth UK coach passenger in the summer as part of a reported 94% increase in customer numbers between April and September compared to the same period in 2021. The same period saw the launch of its first line into the Scottish domestic market, and its first international line into the UK domestic market, connecting Manchester, Birmingham and Cambridge with Paris. That strength was present in the wider FlixBus group, which globally saw 34 million passengers over its summer season.

‘Happy relationship’​

McGill’s reveals its initial involvement with FlixBus came as it sought a franchise with “similarly high expectations” for service delivery as its own.
In its own right, the Greenock business reveals it is now delivering over one million passenger trips per week and that any partner would have to meet its ambition to deliver the best possible journey experience for the customer.
“We feel that we found that with FlixBus,” Ralph says. “We’re more like a partner, not just a franchisee. We feel included in terms of planning and how things happen. It’s a very happy relationship and we’re keen to move forward into the next phase of growth.”
Crucial in identifying and establishing partnerships for FlixBus, according to Andreas, is having operators that share the same ethos on quality. This has been reflected in McGill’s, both with the care demonstrated by drivers and their delivery of customer service (Andreas reveals it was a McGill’s driver that won the nomination for best driver on the FlixBus network) and McGill’s achievement of having one of the highest rated net promotor score lines, not just in the UK, but on the global FlixBus network, meaning it has one of the highest levels of passenger satisfaction. “That attention to detail and focus on quality has been a key component of expanding this partnership together with McGill’s,” says Andreas.
Reaction within Scotland to the network demonstrates clear “latent demand” for new coach travel in the marketplace, according to Ralph. Comparing growth of the Scottish lines in terms of passengers numbers with other FlixBus lines in the UK and globally, Scotland has demonstrated “fantastic growth” both in terms of new passengers and returning passengers. For Andreas, this is both driven by the existing network and awareness of the FlixBus brand, and the high service delivery through McGill’s.
Ralph adds that there is even an appetite among drivers, helped by McGill’s decision to put drivers through Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs).
“We approach coach operation the way we approach bus operation,” says Ralph. “We demand the highest calibre. We’ve gotour own three internal training academies, and one of the things we are doing with coach drivers is putting them through SVQs rather than relying just on a driving licence, Driver CPC, and other training that would be involved in customer services.”
That, he adds, delivers a calibre of long-distance coach driving “at the top where it belongs.”

New vehicles​

McGill’s and FlixBus have partnered with Volvo for the new vehicles due to enter service on the expanded network. That makes it a “tripartite approach”, according to Ralph, with an investment into after sales support and uptime commitment from Volvo into the project.
18 vehicles will join seven already being used on the existing FlixBus-McGill’s partner network, bringing the total to 25. According to Ralph, all 18 vehicles being added will be Volvo 9700 models. Eight will be built on the current generation B11 chassis, while 10 will use the new B13 chassis. The latter are currently in build, and will bring even greener credentials to the network, with lower emissions and better fuel economy following “key improvements” to the driveline and technology.
That decision to choose Volvo comes after what is believed to be the UK’s first 9700 PSVAR-equipped coach was bought and operated by McGill’s with FlixBus on the initial Glasgow-Edinburgh-London east coast line. Both parties believe Volvo brings the “quality and support” needed to build robust intercity coach lines.
“The reason for the choice of Volvo in the UK is multifaceted,” adds Ralph. “There’s a product, the specification, and there’s the support, commitment, and buy-in from the manufacturer, in terms of service delivery, uptime availability, and making it work seamlessly.
“It’s a whole package and very holistic view in terms of the procurement, the servicing, the quality, customer experience and the backup – because running intercity coaches is not an easy thing to do, and coaches need to be tip-top for every mile they operate – and that is a lot of miles over the course of a year.”

Market defining opportunity?​

The choice to expand on the partnership goes back to FlixBus’ long-term goal and its partnership approach of making decisive moves when “the right partner” comes along. But Ralph describes both organisations as prime movers that oppose any “wait and see” attitude. He argues there is a real chance to define the 2023 coach market by taking advantage of recent disruption among intercity rail services, and pressure on household budgets.
“You have to accept that there is a risk involved in all business,” he says. “But you also have to trust in your skills, judgment and teams in order to get business right. We’re looking at market conditions where, in terms of intercity travel, disruption is on everyone’s mind, and people are losing confidence in rail. People are also looking for better value for money, and one of the key things that FlixBus delivers is value for money at high quality.
“Of people that are trying coach travel for the first time, we’re getting good feedback. It’s a common comment that people find coaches comfortable and quick. They’re not trading too much time or quality. That’s an opportunity to redefine and drive the market.”
Andreas also points to a “phenomenal opportunity” for the industry to show what a fantastic transportation mode coach travel is – and that it needs to be prepared to have the capacity and supply to meet growing demand as the present situation continues. “That’s something we are really looking forward to in 2023, to continue leveraging the success of 2022 and making the most of the opportunities that are coming,” he adds.
The Scottish coach market also presents unique opportunities from McGill’s perspective. That includes the sparse rail network outside of the urban belt, in which areas intercity coach becomes even more competitive with rail and car.
There is also positivity about the Scottish Government’s view of travel for under-22s and over-60s, which creates travel patterns potentially absent in other areas of the UK and which raises questions of how those patterns might change over the coming years. “That creates an environment where we believe that 2023 should be a buoyant year of growth,” comments Andreas.
In the meantime, FlixBus continues to prepare for its second anniversary in the UK and its 10th anniversary globally – promising much positive news as the year progresses.

 

[route101]

Do you think this would be part of a longer route towards Victoria, or some other destination south?

They already operate between these cites: Flixbus is running 2 services from Edinburgh to Glasgow tomorrow from £1.99, if anyone is interested.

Cant be many using Flixbus currently between Glasgow and Edinburgh at them frequencies.

I reckon it will be Edinburgh to Aberdeen for one of the routes.

 

[Starmill]

I think it's so strange that Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland all have extensive coach networks yet England doesnt really have as big of a coach network (most routes are only a few per day at some obscure times) and Wales has only a few coaches. The bulk is Swansea, Cardiff and Newport.

How do these other areas have such big coach networks with such frequencies and yet most of England and Wales get nothing or just 1 coach per day.

Wales has a handful more when you consider the tendered local routes that are long-distance too, e.g. Newtown to Cardiff. But of course that's nothing like as fast or effective Scottish Citylink or Ulsterbus Goldiner.

 

[WizCastro197]

Cant be many using Flixbus currently between Glasgow and Edinburgh at them frequencies.

I reckon it will be Edinburgh to Aberdeen for one of the routes.

I assume the coach starts from elsewhere, otherwise they wouldn't make a profit If there really are low numbers. It isn't Victoria however, the timings don't align and neither do the stops.

 

[Starmill]

Scotland has a lot fewer rail links compared to the areas covered. And some of these are very slow. Much as I've enjoyed getting the train from Fort William to Glasgow, the coach is half an hour quicker. There's 5 coaches compared with 4 trains each day.

It's interesting that Edinburgh - Dundee has Citylink, Ember, ScotRail, LNER and CrossCountry, and may soon have Flixbus. Dundee to Edinburgh Airport also has Xplore Dundee FLY.

 

[route101]

I assume the coach starts from elsewhere, otherwise they wouldn't make a profit If there really are low numbers. It isn't Victoria however, the timings don't align and neither do the stops.

It's Glasgow to London Victoria via Newcastle service 010 and N10

 

[JonathanH]

I think it's so strange that Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland all have extensive coach networks yet England doesnt really have as big of a coach network (most routes are only a few per day at some obscure times) and Wales has only a few coaches. The bulk is Swansea, Cardiff and Newport.

There are some routes which would be coaches elsewhere but operate as normal buses in England. Routes like Norwich to Peterborough could be a coach link, but instead it is operated by conventional buses, with an interior no better than what was described as 'dual purpose' in the 1970s and 1980s.

Very few destination pairs can sustain a local and an express bus route.

 

[markymark2000]

Flixbus is now following in the footsteps of the other intercity operators and is significantly increasing it's network. Flixbus larger network starts on 27th April 2023 and the changes are in the spoiler below. Overall, this is quite a big increase with at least 2 new routes added (Manchester - Newcastle & Edinburgh - Aberdeen). Glasgow to Aberdeen more than doubling the current level of service.


If anyone is looking for the timetables for the new services, please see the below link to the Google Sheets that I have made. Please note that this only works on computers or Sheets mobile app. Blame Google.

Flixbus UK Public Timetable

docs.google.com

Spoiler: April 27th Changes

Route	Change
001 Newcastle	Service withdrawn
002 Bradford/Leeds	New Stops: University of Leeds Times are changed
004 Nottingham	New Stops: University of Nottingham Removed: Northampton Times are changed
005 Leicester	Reduced to 2 trips per day (3rd journey from St Margarets now provided by N02.) Times are changed
006 Cambridge	New Stops: Stevenage Retimed with more trips added
010 Glasgow EC	New Stops: Sunderland & Leicester. Runs earlier in both directions
021 Liverpool	Awaiting finalised timetables
023 Manchester	Removed: Leicester All trips now run via Birmingham. Times are changed
030 Glasgow WC	Southbound runs later
041 Bristol	Looks like a number of additional trips (upto 7 round trips per day). Unsure if these continue onwards to new stops.
045 Plymouth	Heathrow removed or added on some trips. Times are changed.
046 Swansea	No change
070 Bristol/Birm/Leeds	Thursday added. Times changed
091 Glasgow/Aberdeen	Lots of trips added. Now 7 full journeys per day, each way. Plus shorts to/from Dundee.
N02 Leeds/Bradford	New Stops: Uni of Leeds & Leicester St Margarets Times are changes
N10 Glasgow EC	Northbound runs 2-2.5 hours later Southbound runs around 1 hour earlier
N23 Liverpool & Manchester	Service now runs northbound the same way as southbound. Some times are changed
N30 Glasgow WC	Southbound runs around 20 mins earlier
N45 Plymouth	Removed: Bridgwater Changed: Reading Mereoak for Reading Uni Times changed
Unknown Route Number Manchester - Newcastle	New route. One rounder per day via Leeds & Middlesbrough
Unknown Route Number Edinburgh - Aberdeen	New route. 3 trips per day, each way. Via Edinburgh Gateway, Halbeath P&R, Perth (Broxden) and Dundee
Unknown Route Number Taunton - Newcastle	New route with 1 trip per day via Bristol, Birmingham, Sheffield Leeds and Sunderland (few other stops too)

 

[GusB]

Flixbus is now following in the footsteps of the other intercity operators and is significantly increasing it's network. Flixbus larger network starts on 27th April 2023 and the changes are in the spoiler below. Overall, this is quite a big increase with at least 2 new routes added (Manchester - Newcastle & Edinburgh - Aberdeen). Glasgow to Aberdeen more than doubling the current level of service.


If anyone is looking for the timetables for the new services, please see the below link to the Google Sheets that I have made. Please note that this only works on computers or Sheets mobile app. Blame Google.

Flixbus UK Public Timetable

docs.google.com

Spoiler: April 27th Changes

Route	Change
001 Newcastle	Service withdrawn
002 Bradford/Leeds	New Stops: University of Leeds Times are changed
004 Nottingham	New Stops: University of Nottingham Removed: Northampton Times are changed
005 Leicester	Reduced to 2 trips per day (3rd journey from St Margarets now provided by N02.) Times are changed
006 Cambridge	New Stops: Stevenage Retimed with more trips added
010 Glasgow EC	New Stops: Sunderland & Leicester. Runs earlier in both directions
021 Liverpool	Awaiting finalised timetables
023 Manchester	Removed: Leicester All trips now run via Birmingham. Times are changed
030 Glasgow WC	Southbound runs later
041 Bristol	Looks like a number of additional trips (upto 7 round trips per day). Unsure if these continue onwards to new stops.
045 Plymouth	Heathrow removed or added on some trips. Times are changed.
046 Swansea	No change
070 Bristol/Birm/Leeds	Thursday added. Times changed
091 Glasgow/Aberdeen	Lots of trips added. Now 7 full journeys per day, each way. Plus shorts to/from Dundee.
N02 Leeds/Bradford	New Stops: Uni of Leeds & Leicester St Margarets Times are changes
N10 Glasgow EC	Northbound runs 2-2.5 hours later Southbound runs around 1 hour earlier
N23 Liverpool & Manchester	Service now runs northbound the same way as southbound. Some times are changed
N30 Glasgow WC	Southbound runs around 20 mins earlier
N45 Plymouth	Removed: Bridgwater Changed: Reading Mereoak for Reading Uni Times changed
Unknown Route Number Manchester - Newcastle	New route. One rounder per day via Leeds & Middlesbrough
Unknown Route Number Edinburgh - Aberdeen	New route. 3 trips per day, each way. Via Edinburgh Gateway, Halbeath P&R, Perth (Broxden) and Dundee

In case anyone has issues accessing Google Docs, I've attached a PDF version.

 

[markymark2000]

In case anyone has issues accessing Google Docs, I've attached a PDF version.

The PDF only shows one route for one day though. It's interactive if you want to get all of the details.

 

[GusB]

The PDF only shows one route for one day though. It's interactive if you want to get all of the details.

Okay, fair enough! I didn't actually play round with it much (and I had woken up unexpectedly at 3am!)

Either way, it should be accessible through any web browser without the need to have the app installed.

 

[M803UYA]

Flixbus is now following in the footsteps of the other intercity operators and is significantly increasing it's network. Flixbus larger network starts on 27th April 2023 and the changes are in the spoiler below. Overall, this is quite a big increase with at least 2 new routes added (Manchester - Newcastle & Edinburgh - Aberdeen). Glasgow to Aberdeen more than doubling the current level of service.


If anyone is looking for the timetables for the new services, please see the below link to the Google Sheets that I have made. Please note that this only works on computers or Sheets mobile app. Blame Google.

Flixbus UK Public Timetable

docs.google.com

Spoiler: April 27th Changes

Route	Change
001 Newcastle	Service withdrawn
002 Bradford/Leeds	New Stops: University of Leeds Times are changed
004 Nottingham	New Stops: University of Nottingham Removed: Northampton Times are changed
005 Leicester	Reduced to 2 trips per day (3rd journey from St Margarets now provided by N02.) Times are changed
006 Cambridge	New Stops: Stevenage Retimed with more trips added
010 Glasgow EC	New Stops: Sunderland & Leicester. Runs earlier in both directions
021 Liverpool	Awaiting finalised timetables
023 Manchester	Removed: Leicester All trips now run via Birmingham. Times are changed
030 Glasgow WC	Southbound runs later
041 Bristol	Looks like a number of additional trips (upto 7 round trips per day). Unsure if these continue onwards to new stops.
045 Plymouth	Heathrow removed or added on some trips. Times are changed.
046 Swansea	No change
070 Bristol/Birm/Leeds	Thursday added. Times changed
091 Glasgow/Aberdeen	Lots of trips added. Now 7 full journeys per day, each way. Plus shorts to/from Dundee.
N02 Leeds/Bradford	New Stops: Uni of Leeds & Leicester St Margarets Times are changes
N10 Glasgow EC	Northbound runs 2-2.5 hours later Southbound runs around 1 hour earlier
N23 Liverpool & Manchester	Service now runs northbound the same way as southbound. Some times are changed
N30 Glasgow WC	Southbound runs around 20 mins earlier
N45 Plymouth	Removed: Bridgwater Changed: Reading Mereoak for Reading Uni Times changed
Unknown Route Number Manchester - Newcastle	New route. One rounder per day via Leeds & Middlesbrough
Unknown Route Number Edinburgh - Aberdeen	New route. 3 trips per day, each way. Via Edinburgh Gateway, Halbeath P&R, Perth (Broxden) and Dundee

Unless I'm doing something wrong, I can't get this spreadsheet to display all the timetables, using a chromebook and google chrome.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The additional services to Aberdeen are going to be interesting, the bus station already doesn't really have the capacity as it is. Never mind with Flixbus additionally using it most of the day.

 

[markymark2000]

Unless I'm doing something wrong, I can't get this spreadsheet to display all the timetables, using a chromebook and google chrome.

At the top where it says route and day, there should be a drop down list which enables you to change the details. it does take a few seconds to update.

There is no way to see all timetables currently.

 

[BobbyBKinross]

I see Flixbus are launching a new Dundee to Edinburgh via Halbeath & Edinburgh Gateway from the last week in April. More competition on a very popular route!

 

[GusB]

I see Flixbus are launching a new Dundee to Edinburgh via Halbeath & Edinburgh Gateway from the last week in April. More competition on a very popular route!

Where has this little nugget of information come from? (Source required, please!)

 

[Jordan Adam]

Where has this little nugget of information come from? (Source required, please!)

See post #1,092 further up this page...

 

[GusB]

See post #1,092 further up this page...

It's not a primary source.

 

[Jordan Adam]

It's not a primary source.

Flixbus don't tend to publicly announce their timetable changes so we probably won't be seeing any official press release. However if you go on to their journey planner through the website or apps you'll be able to view the new services there.

It's not exactly ideal but it's the only primary source there is, why they don't offically advertise timetable changes is beyond me!

 

[markymark2000]

Flixbus don't tend to publicly announce their timetable changes so we probably won't be seeing any official press release. However if you go on to their journey planner through the website or apps you'll be able to view the new services there.

It's not exactly ideal but it's the only primary source there is, why they don't offically advertise timetable changes is beyond me!

They will likely do a press release or something like that one the day. That is the sort of thing that they normally do. I agree with you though, it's a shame that they don't do more announcing for new routes etc. That's the one thing that Flix is missing. They are purely focused on generic UK wide paid promotion on social media and word of mouth. No advertising at stops (bar sometimes the council puts 'Flixbus' on the bus stop) and no local advertising. How on earth that style of working works I will never know but somehow they are getting passengers.

 

[Stan Drews]

They will likely do a press release or something like that one the day. That is the sort of thing that they normally do. I agree with you though, it's a shame that they don't do more announcing for new routes etc. That's the one thing that Flix is missing. They are purely focused on generic UK wide paid promotion on social media and word of mouth. No advertising at stops (bar sometimes the council puts 'Flixbus' on the bus stop) and no local advertising. How on earth that style of working works I will never know but somehow they are getting passengers.

Perhaps they understand their market?

 

[Jordan Adam]

They will likely do a press release or something like that one the day. That is the sort of thing that they normally do. I agree with you though, it's a shame that they don't do more announcing for new routes etc. That's the one thing that Flix is missing. They are purely focused on generic UK wide paid promotion on social media and word of mouth. No advertising at stops (bar sometimes the council puts 'Flixbus' on the bus stop) and no local advertising. How on earth that style of working works I will never know but somehow they are getting passengers.

When the Aberdeen service first started there weren't any formal announcements at all by Flixbus. However, the local press did pick up on it quite a bit along with the fact they were offering tickets between Aberdeen and Glasgow for 99p so word of mouth spread fairly quickly.

The Aberdeen service seems to be quite well loaded whenever i see it, albeit nowhere near on the same level as the Citylink M9.

 

[markymark2000]

Perhaps they understand their market?

But how does anyone find out about the new routes or journey options without being told about them? Maybe I am just old school and see advertising such as 'We run 6 times per day from Leeds to London' or 'Now linking Edinburgh and Dundee' to be more effective. Constant promotion of specific lines to try and encourage people to make journeys rather than 'Yeah, we stop here, maybe we have a route where you want to go, maybe we don't. Try our site and find out but do keep coming back to us incase our routes change and we try your route'

When the Aberdeen service first started there was any formal announcements at all by Flixbus, however the local press did pick up on it quite a bit along with the fact they were offering tickets between Aberdeen and Glasgow for 99p so word of mouth spread fairly quickly.

But then how do you keep people checking back when the fares are now higher? And for everyone who looked and went 'that bus time doesn't suit me' or 'I can't make connections onto the London services so my journey isn't as good', these new times may be perfect for people making certain journeys. Some examples being passengers from the Aberdeen-Perth 091 stops wanting to go to stops along the Scotland to London 010 stops, this journey time has now decreased by upto 4 hours as people go via Edinburgh instead of Glasgow. For the 091 onto the 030/N30 service, there are now 2 journeys per day (rather than 1) and journey time reduced by upto 3 hours.

The Aberdeen service seems to be quite well loaded whenever i see it, albeit nowhere near on the same level as the Citylink M9.

Given the concessionary pass (including Under 22) acceptance though, you can just turn up and go on whichever bus comes first. The only difference to the user then is onboard seat comfort and journey time. It's quite a different story if all seats have to be pre booked.

 

[Jordan Adam]

But then how do you keep people checking back when the fares are now higher? And for everyone who looked and went 'that bus time doesn't suit me' or 'I can't make connections onto the London services so my journey isn't as good', these new times may be perfect for people making certain journeys. Some examples being passengers from the Aberdeen-Perth 091 stops wanting to go to stops along the Scotland to London 010 stops, this journey time has now decreased by upto 4 hours as people go via Edinburgh instead of Glasgow. For the 091 onto the 030/N30 service, there are now 2 journeys per day (rather than 1) and journey time reduced by upto 3 hours.

I don't disagree, i was just pointing out what seems to have happened in this particular case. However at that time Flixbus was a brand new service, i doubt subsequent improvements or changes would see the same level of "unofficial" publicity. The Edinburgh service and additional Glasgow journeys seem to have went very much under the radar thus far.

It had been pointed out that the last bus from Edinburgh to Aberdeen is at 13:10. This means anyone wanting to make a daytrip to Edinburgh from Aberdeen would only have an hour before their return bus, journey times are also quite a bit longer than the M92. Similarly on the Glasgow service the first bus from Aberdeen doesn't get to Glasgow until 11:10 and the last bus from Glasgow to Aberdeen is at 18:15, in contrast Citylink already provide a 24/7 service on this corridor.

 

[markymark2000]

I don't disagree, i was just pointing out what seems to have happened in this particular case. However at that time Flixbus was a brand new service, i doubt subsequent improvements or changes would see the same level of "unofficial" publicity. The Edinburgh service and additional Glasgow journeys seem to have went very much under the radar thus far.

It had been pointed out that the last bus from Edinburgh to Aberdeen is at 13:10. This means anyone wanting to make a daytrip to Edinburgh from Aberdeen would only have an hour before their return bus, journey times are also quite a bit longer than the M92. Similarly on the Glasgow service the first bus from Aberdeen doesn't get to Glasgow until 11:10 and the last bus from Glasgow to Aberdeen is at 18:15, in contrast Citylink already provide a 24/7 service on this corridor.

I feel like there could be quite an uplift on this route in the future. I am not sure how well Dundee is doing for drivers but with Livingston depot having a big driver shortage (as mentioned in the McGills Scotland East thread) and that whole division struggling for buses, doing a big expansion with coaches and dedicated coach drivers probably isn't the best way to go about things. Certainly not if the public get wind of it. (Yes I know this work would attract other drivers to normal local bus but the public don't see it that way).


This is similar to how McGills have started up their other Flixbus areas though. Starting off small and then quick expansion. Dundee for example going from 1 bus currently on Flixbus, up to 5 from 27th April. Just 8 months since it started with 1, it's massively expanding to 5.

 

[route101]

I would say its not just Flixbus with lack of advertising for new services. Megabus are just as bad, and while National Express have timetables, you have to watch for any changes. I am booked on the Aberdeen Flixbus this Friday, picked it over Citylink due to price.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Apr 2023 ==

Flixbus is now following in the footsteps of the other intercity operators and is significantly increasing it's network. Flixbus larger network starts on 27th April 2023 and the changes are in the spoiler below. Overall, this is quite a big increase with at least 2 new routes added (Manchester - Newcastle & Edinburgh - Aberdeen). Glasgow to Aberdeen more than doubling the current level of service.


If anyone is looking for the timetables for the new services, please see the below link to the Google Sheets that I have made. Please note that this only works on computers or Sheets mobile app. Blame Google.

Flixbus UK Public Timetable

docs.google.com

Spoiler: April 27th Changes

Route	Change
001 Newcastle	Service withdrawn
002 Bradford/Leeds	New Stops: University of Leeds Times are changed
004 Nottingham	New Stops: University of Nottingham Removed: Northampton Times are changed
005 Leicester	Reduced to 2 trips per day (3rd journey from St Margarets now provided by N02.) Times are changed
006 Cambridge	New Stops: Stevenage Retimed with more trips added
010 Glasgow EC	New Stops: Sunderland & Leicester. Runs earlier in both directions
021 Liverpool	Awaiting finalised timetables
023 Manchester	Removed: Leicester All trips now run via Birmingham. Times are changed
030 Glasgow WC	Southbound runs later
041 Bristol	Looks like a number of additional trips (upto 7 round trips per day). Unsure if these continue onwards to new stops.
045 Plymouth	Heathrow removed or added on some trips. Times are changed.
046 Swansea	No change
070 Bristol/Birm/Leeds	Thursday added. Times changed
091 Glasgow/Aberdeen	Lots of trips added. Now 7 full journeys per day, each way. Plus shorts to/from Dundee.
N02 Leeds/Bradford	New Stops: Uni of Leeds & Leicester St Margarets Times are changes
N10 Glasgow EC	Northbound runs 2-2.5 hours later Southbound runs around 1 hour earlier
N23 Liverpool & Manchester	Service now runs northbound the same way as southbound. Some times are changed
N30 Glasgow WC	Southbound runs around 20 mins earlier
N45 Plymouth	Removed: Bridgwater Changed: Reading Mereoak for Reading Uni Times changed
Unknown Route Number Manchester - Newcastle	New route. One rounder per day via Leeds & Middlesbrough
Unknown Route Number Edinburgh - Aberdeen	New route. 3 trips per day, each way. Via Edinburgh Gateway, Halbeath P&R, Perth (Broxden) and Dundee

One of the 023 services is still running via Leicester according to Flixbus website.