Chalfont still do National Express work as well
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Flixbus Discussion
- Thread starter darloscott
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R
RailUK Forums
Oh do they? Not seen them on it for a long time!
Still seem to have limited work on the 040 to Bristol as an example - https://bustimes.org/vehicles/natx-bv67-jzn?date=2026-08-08 - and on the 460 to Coventry - https://bustimes.org/vehicles/natx-bv67-jzn?date=2026-08-08 - among others (A31, 403, 509) but only have around eight coaches showing on bustimes for National Express by the looks of things.
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j_walker1804
Member
Chalfont split up as a company a few years back with the dad running Southall and the daughter running their Northampton NX ops.
Skip forward to about 2 years ago and one of the Northampton vehicles had a wheel come off (when that happens your ops licence gets absolutely shredded).
The daughter went to Flix to get work presuming NX would strip their contract (which they didn’t although when NX found out they were getting into bed with Flix they took their contract) and that’s how Chalfont are on Flixbus and NX!
Skip forward to about 2 years ago and one of the Northampton vehicles had a wheel come off (when that happens your ops licence gets absolutely shredded).
The daughter went to Flix to get work presuming NX would strip their contract (which they didn’t although when NX found out they were getting into bed with Flix they took their contract) and that’s how Chalfont are on Flixbus and NX!
Saw one Chalfont coach on the 400 the other day. Thought it unsual since they went to Flix
Ballyheigue
Member
Well that tells us a lot, Flix either don't do their homework on Chalfont or couldn't care less about wheels coming off, and National Express are just as bad if they didn't get super tough on Chalfont and strip them of the contract for that reason rather than the other reason!
Statto
Established Member
Out of interest, following the Southbound N21 route on bustimes.org & that had an interesting route from Chester to Birmingham where it goes non stop, it went via A41, M54, M6 then deviated from the M6 going via A4148 & A34 then back on to the M6 at Great Barr, arrived at Birmingham 15 minutes early.
markymark2000
On Moderation
Chester to Birmingham non stop via A41, M54 and M6 is a logical route and one that National Express used to take quite regularly.
It seems to depend on how a driver feels with lots of A road and the twists, turns and challenges that brings. Motorway is most high speed running and more autopilot but also is a longer journey. I think it's probably 6 of one, half a dozen of another.
I do like the A41 though as I think the motorway always feels like you aren't getting anywhere and the scenery isn't as nice.
I think the deviation through Walsall was probably for a closure rather than because it brings any benefits.
Statto
Established Member
The standard route from Chester to Birmingham tends to be, A51, A500 & M6 which the Northbound service took until that got held up by a crash around junction 16 which closed the M6.
Chester to Birmingham is interesting as they're multiple routes they can use, another one used sometimes used is M53, M56 & M6
Chester to Birmingham is interesting as they're multiple routes they can use, another one used sometimes used is M53, M56 & M6
I took NX from Liverpool to Birmingham and went via Nantwich and Hanley. Nice to take an Intercity on an A road. I always thought they tried to keep to Motorways if possible.
I took Flixbus from Leeds to Manchester Airport and was hoping it would go down the Eastern side of the M60 but no, it went via the North and West side of the ring road.
markymark2000
On Moderation
Purely as I got bored, here's my findings for the N21 using tracking from bustimes.org.
| Northbound | Southbound | |
| Monday | M6/M56 | A41/M54 |
| Tuesday | M54/A5/A483 (Maybe diversion or got lost as A483 is not a normal route) | A41/M54 |
| Wednesday | M6/M56 | M56/M6 |
| Thursday | M6/M56 | A41/M54 |
| Friday | M6/M56 | M56/M6 |
| Saturday | Didn't track | A41/M54 |
| Sunday | M6 then tracking stopped after it diverted around Stoke | A41/M54 |
I can't say I've heard of many buses doing A51/A500/M6 very often. It's in the right direction but I think it's normally slower than M56/M6 or A41/M54, and is only really beneficial if there is an accident on the M56 or north M6 and you happen to be able to divert in time. It's not a route someone picks as first choice normally. I'd certainly not call it the 'standard route' ever.
There was an accident on the M6. The A500 from before Talke to Junction 16 was blocked aswell
I think that sometimes if its an optional section of the journey, then drivers might use it as an oppprtunity to do the equivalent of route learning. I have in the past, it helps if your on say a daytime journey and the M6 is closed, divert via the route you've taught yourself. Looks professional when you can divert without any drama.
Interesting, they mostly take the A41 Southbound and M56 northbound.
Brighton & Hove’s Spirit of Sussex operation are finally introducing Flixbus liveried coaches on their route between Brighton and Milton Keynes via the airports, but what’s unusual is that they are the tri axle version of the standard Yutong coach
I think this is a rare if not one of the first uses of this model.
Prospect Coaches also use tri-axle vehicles on their airport services but theirs are Irizars.
I think this is a rare if not one of the first uses of this model.
Prospect Coaches also use tri-axle vehicles on their airport services but theirs are Irizars.
markymark2000
On Moderation
The GT14s are also used by Transport Made Simple (Central Connect) on their Flixbus routes and were introduced a few weeks ago. YG26 VML, YG26 VMM & YG26 VMO. GoAhead Spirit of Sussex were due to be the inaugural operator of the GT14s on Flixbus it seems that TMS got there first.
I thought Go-ahead had signed a agreement with Irizar for them to supply all(?) of their coaching needs?
Statto
Established Member
Whilst Flixbus don't have a bus station in Birmingham to stop at they have 2 stops in the City Centre, one stop Great Charles Street Queensway near Newhall Street, the other being the otherside of the City Centre at Aston University which makes it not great if you need to connect with Flixbus services in Birmingham, & annoying as to what stops where.
Find it odd there is a distance between those stops. That puts people off. At least NX you are in the same place. I nearl missed my coach the other week i wentvto the usual stop. I should have been at the Aston stop
markymark2000
On Moderation
Most Flixbuses are now over at the Aston Uni stop as of the other day. All that seems to remain at Queensway now is the 030/N30, 070, 078, 087 and 920s.
The joys of the Flixbus website though is that it doesn't offer connections where the stops are different (even where the connecting stops are seconds walk from eachother. London Victoria and Greenline being a good example). So unless you are booking tickets separately, connecting between Flixbuses is a non issue really.
Statto
Established Member
Following todays overnight N21 route on bustimes.org & the Northbound service has stayed on the M6 then M56 between Birmingham & Chester, but had a wild diversion in Birmingham as it went via A38 & M6 Toll, until i read the M6 around Walsall is closed overnight for roadworks.
I think going down the A500 & A51 is quicker than staying on the M6 then M56 between J16 of the M6 & Chester though
I think going down the A500 & A51 is quicker than staying on the M6 then M56 between J16 of the M6 & Chester though