Flixbus Discussion

[Flying Snail]

A large number of Irish locations are now showing on the flixbus map https://www.flixbus.co.uk/bus-routes

No services are currently bookable for any of these but the routes they depict are clearly those of the Bus Eireann commercial Expressway network including the Eurolines Dublin - London but with some locations including all in Northern Ireland missing.

 

[citybus2500]

If you have access to Facebook there is a UK Flixbus facebook group which has an ongoing Flix fleetlist pinned within it.

and for those that don't use facebook, can anyone provide a summary?

 

[londonteacher]

During the Olympic Games (and will be again during the Paralympics), FlixBus have been running their service from Saint-Denis, Vincennes and CDG. All of these are much nicer IMO than Bercy.

I travelled (and will travel again multiple times during the Paralympics) on a service to and from Saint-Denis and this was definitely a good terminus although I could imagine cold in the winter. Directly onto Line 13 on the metro along with multiple bus links. Would be a great place to regularly run the service to.

 

[signed]

All of these are much nicer IMO than Bercy.

Bercy is to be closed permanently by next year.

It will be rebuilt as a parking garage for coaches AFAIK

 

[londonteacher]

Bercy is to be closed permanently by next year.

It will be rebuilt as a parking garage for coaches AFAIK

Amazing news! Hopefully a more permanent move to the stops mentioned above.

 

[signed]

Amazing news! Hopefully a more permanent move to the stops mentioned above.

The relocation is likely to be near Saint-Denis from what I can tell, but we don't know

 

[SallyQR64]

Hello, just registered and hope I am posting in the correct section. I have a problem with Flixbus. A seat bought months ago to travel from Swansea to Bristol next month. Days ago FLIXBUS emailed stating that my booking was cancelled and instead I have been offered travel on a coach from Swansea 4 hours later. The original was 2320, this offer is 0320! That really is a big change, being forced to spend 4 more hours in a bus station which I am not sure has any shelter, and being possibly alone in the night. What is even more troubling is that even now, 1010 13th August, FLIXBUS website is still selling tickets for that same 2320 service from which I have been removed.

I couldn't get any help from Flixbus as the site contact form didn't work and the 'chat' option was never answered. Someone gave me a CEO email address but that was ignored. Finally got a reply that just stated I could get a refund but offered no explanation why my booking had been cancelled nor any reference to why they are still selling seats on the same service I paid for months ago. I am fearful of trying to book another seat [now more expensive] on the 2320 service as that might just get cancelled and I have learned that Flixbus do not issue refunds but instead just offer credit against future journeys and all this trouble has scared me off from using Flixbus.

At least Megabus and National Express seem to have proper customer support but many customers report Flixbus as being very poor in dealing with provision of the necessary support. I feel absolutely powerless and have already spent much money on other connecting services [from other coach providers] and for an event which is the reason for the trip. Even more money would now be needed to get a National Express seat, when I could have paid less money for that months ago; had I known what Flixbus would be doing. Any advice to my rights or if this is a familiar problem with Flixbus? They seem to be expanding in UK as Megabus are dwindling, so if they become the monopoly, this failure to treat customers fairly would certainly curb my coach travel. Thank you for any help you can suggest, to a new poster.

 

[Deerfold]

Hello, just registered and hope I am posting in the correct section. I have a problem with FLIXBUS. A seat bought months ago to travel from Swansea to Bristol next month. Days ago FLIXBUS emailed stating that my booking was cancelled and instead I have been offered travel on a coach from Swansea 4 hours later. The original was 2320, this offer is 0320! That really is a big change, being forced to spend 4 more hours in a bus station which I am not sure has any shelter, and being possibly alone in the night. What is even more troubling is that even now, 1010 13th August, FLIXBUS website is still selling tickets for that same 2320 service from which I have been removed. Couldn't get any help from FLIXBUS as the site contact form didn't work and the 'chat' option was never answered. Someone gave me a CEO email address but that was ignored. Finally got a reply that just stated I could get a refund but offered no explanation why my booking had been cancelled nor any reference to why they are still selling seats on the same service I paid for months ago. I am fearful of trying to book another seat [now more expensive] on the 2320 service as that might just get cancelled and I have learned that FLIXBUS do not issue refunds but instead just offer credit against future journeys and all this trouble has scared me off from using FLIXBUS. At least MEGABUS and NATIONAL EXPRESS seem to have proper customer support but many customers report FLIXBUS as being very poor in dealing with provision of the necessary support. I feel absolutely powerless and have already spent much money on other connecting services [from other coach providers] and for an event which is the reason for the trip. Even more money would now be needed to get a NATIONAL EXPRESS seat, when I could have paid less money for that months ago; had I known what FLIXBUS would be doing. Any advice to my rights or if this is a familiar problem with FLIXBUS. They seem to be expanding in UK as MEGABUS are dwindling, so if they become the monopoly, this failure to treat customers fairly would certainly curb my coach travel. Thank you for any help you can suggest, to a new poster.

You might want to split that into paragraphs to make it more readable.

If Flixbus have cancelled your trip, you're entitled to a refund, not just a credit note. If companies allow you to cancel, they've more flexibility about how they refund you.

I'm afraid I can't help with why they're selling tickets on a service they'e told you is cancelled.

Megabus change routes a lot, but I think are still expanding overall. Leeds to Newcastle has gone from a couple of services a day to over a dozen most days.

 

[markymark2000]

I'm afraid I can't help with why they're selling tickets on a service they'e told you is cancelled.

Looking at it, the 23:20 is a 940 service which from the 1st September, the stop in Bristol for most services (including the 940), moves from Bristol Bond Street to Bristol Bus Station and the trip has some times amended. As such, the email confirmation would all be wrong as it would have the wrong stop in Bristol, that would have opened them up to other legal troubles. I think that is why the ticket was cancelled.

 

[Deerfold]

Looking at it, the 23:20 is a 940 service which from the 1st September, the stop in Bristol for most services (including the 940), moves from Bristol Bond Street to Bristol Bus Station and the trip has some times amended. As such, the email confirmation would all be wrong as it would have the wrong stop in Bristol, that would have opened them up to other legal troubles. I think that is why the ticket was cancelled.

That may be it, but more sensible would have been reissuing it with the new stop - I've had coach companies contact me to let me know a departure point has changed.

 

[Temple Meads]

That may be it, but more sensible would have been reissuing it with the new stop - I've had coach companies contact me to let me know a departure point has changed.

This is exactly what happened for me when the Cardiff stopped was moved - new ticket automatically issued for the same coach with the same timings, but a different stop.

I assume these updated tickets are issued automatically, and perhaps that system hasn't worked properly for the OP, but with the poor customer service, they don't know if that's the case or not!

 

[SallyQR64]

This is exactly what happened for me when the Cardiff stopped was moved - new ticket automatically issued for the same coach with the same timings, but a different stop.

I assume these updated tickets are issued automatically, and perhaps that system hasn't worked properly for the OP, but with the poor customer service, they don't know if that's the case or not!

Thank you to all who have responded. Flixbus are still selling seats aboard a 2320 Swansea TO Bristol service in September but Markymark2000 has alerted me to the change of destination stop. As others have pointed out, in similar cases a change of stop can easily be addressed in issuing an amended ticket but for some reason I have been denied that option with a 4 hour delay overnight being the result. I have tried daily contacts to Flixbus but they are just ignoring me. Their sole reply, days ago, states:

Please note that due to operational reasons the time of the departure needed to be changed. As states in our T&C we have the option to amend the departure time if this is required or caused by unforeseen circumstances.

but clearly that is untrue since they are still selling tickets for a 2320 Swansea departure, as per my original booking.

So I will be likely be sat waiting in Swansea at 2320 and witness a coach that will depart 2320, only I will be denied travel on it, despite having booked to travel months earlier!

As for "unforeseen circumstances", surely that cannot apply when posters on this forum were previously aware of a change of Bristol stop, so Flixbus must have had to plan this some time ago.

The August Flixbus Bristol stop is just a few minutes walk from the September onwards Bristol Coach Station stop, so would legal restrictions be so severe as to totally cancel a booking? This is so unfair and seems to deny UK Consumers fair and honest treatment.

Thank you all again, for your comments.

 

[MotCO]

What would happen if you pitched up for the 23.20? You have a ticket which says Bristol 23.20 - does it actually state the stop on the ticket? The chances are there will be some no-shows so might be able to have a seat.

 

[Frothy]

I did have an issue on a return Leeds-Utrecht journey where the return journey was cancelled in advance. There was an email advising me of this and a click through to the website to re-book... Whereupon the original journey I had booked, at the same times, was available to rebook on! Sometimes these things don't make sense...

 

[hatt55]

After National Express significantly reduced the number of Bristol - Reading coaches (at this point there may be none at all!) I started to use Flixbus. Bar one disaster where the coach left the Reading stop early so lots of people missed it, it was pretty good and cheaper than anything else I could find.

I'm now frustrated to see that Flixbus have significantly reduced their Bristol - Reading options too. There seems to be 2 a day - one at 3am or so and one at 1945. The 1945 could sometimes work for me but otherwise it isn't great.

Does anyone who follows these things closer than me have a sense of why this might have happened? Did Flixbus do a bit of a reshuffle of their timetables in the past few months? So many coaches must go along the M4 corridor, but so few of them now stop on the route than I use!

 

[markymark2000]

I'm now frustrated to see that Flixbus have significantly reduced their Bristol - Reading options too. There seems to be 2 a day - one at 3am or so and one at 1945. The 1945 could sometimes work for me but otherwise it isn't great.

Does anyone who follows these things closer than me have a sense of why this might have happened? Did Flixbus do a bit of a reshuffle of their timetables in the past few months? So many coaches must go along the M4 corridor, but so few of them now stop on the route than I use!

It is rather strange how the Reading stops work. One thing I will say though is starting the 1st September, you will have a new daily trip at 13:00 from Bristol to Mereoak, arriving 14:40. That will be in addition to the other 2 trips you mention.

(Photo taken from Flixbus site. Not easy to link to because of their booking engine)


Flixbus timetables do keep changing, I am not really aware of a recent change which withdraws any stops at Reading. If anything, Reading has gained a service as 1 trip each way on the Cardiff & Newport, fast to London 042 now stops at Reading.

 

[MotCO]

Flixbus timetables do keep changing, I am not really aware of a recent change which withdraws any stops at Reading. If anything, Reading has gained a service as 1 trip each way on the Cardiff & Newport, fast to London 042 now stops at Reading.

How do the timetable changes work with the contracts Flixbux has with contractors? If journeys are withdrawn, then do the contractors lose out, even if they have bought/leased new coaches?

 

[markymark2000]

I did have an issue on a return Leeds-Utrecht journey where the return journey was cancelled in advance. There was an email advising me of this and a click through to the website to re-book... Whereupon the original journey I had booked, at the same times, was available to rebook on! Sometimes these things don't make sense...

You'd think that a tech firm, they would be pretty good with their website and booking systems. It doesn't give much faith when a tech firm has dodgy tech.

 

[hatt55]

It is rather strange how the Reading stops work. One thing I will say though is starting the 1st September, you will have a new daily trip at 13:00 from Bristol to Mereoak, arriving 14:40. That will be in addition to the other 2 trips you mention.

(Photo taken from Flixbus site. Not easy to link to because of their booking engine)
View attachment 163766

Flixbus timetables do keep changing, I am not really aware of a recent change which withdraws any stops at Reading. If anything, Reading has gained a service as 1 trip each way on the Cardiff & Newport, fast to London 042 now stops at Reading.

Thanks for highlighting this extra service. I'd given up checking on the assumption that it looked as though they just weren't going to be serving Reading much anymore. This could prove very handy!

 

[nick291]

Hi all, just joined and I have two queries about Flixbus in the Bristol area. Any help or guidance will be appreciated.

1) I see that according to Google Maps/Flixbus app/Bustimes.org, Flixbus now serves Bristol Bus and Coach station alongside NatEx. What is the reason for this?

2) When did the timetable for the 080 service change? Used to start in Bristol at 0700 but now appears to be a Liverpool to Edinburgh service instead. Shame as it was rather a useful journey for those looking for a cheap way to get between Bristol and Manchester at a reasonable hour.

 

[markymark2000]

Hi all, just joined and I have two queries about Flixbus in the Bristol area. Any help or guidance will be appreciated.

1) I see that according to Google Maps/Flixbus app/Bustimes.org, Flixbus now serves Bristol Bus and Coach station alongside NatEx. What is the reason for this?

I believe this was led by the council as the existing layby was a mess. Stagecoach kept dumping Falcon coaches in it (to make it harder for Flix to serve), cars kept stopping in it to pick up or drop off people who were getting the coach (but failing to see that them parking there was stopping the coach using the stop) and there were far too many coaches scheduled to use the stop at a time. This often left to buses loading/alighting in the middle of the road, really unsafe.

2) When did the timetable for the 080 service change? Used to start in Bristol at 0700 but now appears to be a Liverpool to Edinburgh service instead. Shame as it was rather a useful journey for those looking for a cheap way to get between Bristol and Manchester at a reasonable hour.

End of April it changed.

There are now 2 express 071 trips from Bristol to Manchester, they are mornings from Manchester and afternoons from Bristol.

 

[route101]

Hi all, just joined and I have two queries about Flixbus in the Bristol area. Any help or guidance will be appreciated.

1) I see that according to Google Maps/Flixbus app/Bustimes.org, Flixbus now serves Bristol Bus and Coach station alongside NatEx. What is the reason for this?

2) When did the timetable for the 080 service change? Used to start in Bristol at 0700 but now appears to be a Liverpool to Edinburgh service instead. Shame as it was rather a useful journey for those looking for a cheap way to get between Bristol and Manchester at a reasonable hour.

The 080 changed back in April or May I believe.

 

[nick291]

I believe this was led by the council as the existing layby was a mess. Stagecoach kept dumping Falcon coaches in it (to make it harder for Flix to serve), cars kept stopping in it to pick up or drop off people who were getting the coach (but failing to see that them parking there was stopping the coach using the stop) and there were far too many coaches scheduled to use the stop at a time. This often left to buses loading/alighting in the middle of the road, really unsafe.


End of April it changed.

There are now 2 express 071 trips from Bristol to Manchester, they are mornings from Manchester and afternoons from Bristol.

Makes sense, thankyou for your help. Wish there was a morning journey from Bristol on the 071

 

[henryb]

Anyone know if the 045 will be running after October… no system update

 

[markymark2000]

Anyone know if the 045 will be running after October… no system update

All Berrys trips (N45/045 and 078) are all down to stop running at the start of November. There hasn't been any confirmation yet on whether this is the route stopping, things are changing for a winter timetable, or whether Flixbus just hasn't set the end dates far ahead.


In other Flixbus news, Tiger European are withdrawing from the Flixbus network from 16th September. They currently operate 1 bus (2 round trips) on the 004 Nottingham to London. This has been reported on the Flixbus UK Enthusiasts Facebook group with the owner saying.

Tiger Dusty
Anonymous member just a change of direct for the company. No issues at all with Flix just decided to try other things

 

[Tartanarmy85]

All Berrys trips (N45/045 and 078) are all down to stop running at the start of November. There hasn't been any confirmation yet on whether this is the route stopping, things are changing for a winter timetable, or whether Flixbus just hasn't set the end dates far ahead.


In other Flixbus news, Tiger European are withdrawing from the Flixbus network from 16th September. They currently operate 1 bus (2 round trips) on the 004 Nottingham to London. This has been reported on the Flixbus UK Enthusiasts Facebook group with the owner saying.

Heard today Flixbus removing the service 090 Glasgow to Edinburgh not enough demand? Anyone get chance to use this?

 

[Volvodart]

Heard today Flixbus removing the service 090 Glasgow to Edinburgh not enough demand? Anyone get chance to use this?

The frequent service is only bookable until 3 November.

 

[markymark2000]

The frequent service is only bookable until 3 November.

Most of the McGills network isn't bookable after 3rd November. Glasgow/Edinburgh to Aberdeen, Glasgow/Edinburgh to Inverness and Edinburgh - Liverpool (080/091/092/093/094 route numbers if that helps anyone) all show nothing after then. Wait and see I guess.

Heard today Flixbus removing the service 090 Glasgow to Edinburgh not enough demand? Anyone get chance to use this?

Not heard anything but the bookings do look low. Not overly surprised though, serves a lot less stops than the 900 but still manages to be slower. It may be cheaper but otherwise, there is no incentive to use Flix over Citylink. Slower, more sitting around at stops, and a worse stop in Edinburgh (albeit I do understand some of the capacity issues). Travel restrictions too because Flixbus/McGills won't register the route (prohibits Livingston - Edinburgh or Livingston - Harthill passengers). Everything is stacked against them. The vehicles would be much better used on other services in my opinion.

 

[gomango]

Flixbus cancelled the 16:20 094 Inverness to Edinburgh today, which I was booked on, I am just wondering if this is a regular occurrence?

 

[embers25]

Really hope 045 continues but with another operator rather than Berrys who are am awful operator with awful coaches. Was full Saturday night and often is and so odd if it gets cancelled then.