Trivia: National Express routes that use mostly A roads

[Pat1105]

Not NX but in Feb , my megabus went M6 Toll then M40 to London. They used to go M1

How unusual! Never heard of a scheduled coach service using the toll. It’s about £10-12 for a coach, so quite expensive! I always avoid the toll if I can, instead using the A5.

 

[Taunton]

Looking online supposedly there is (or was) the 315 service from Helston to Eastbourne. The only bits of motorway I can think of would be the possibly the M5 although as it goes into Exeter it might miss it, the M27 and M271 into Southampton and M27 again to Portsmouth.
I would guess the approximate route looking at maps (from Plymouth at least) would be,

A38->A30 (Exeter)->A35 (Honiton)->A354 (Dorchester)->A353 (Weymouth)->A352 (Owermoigne)->A35 (Poole)->A338 (Bournemouth)->A31 (Ferndown/Ringwood) ->M27 (Cadnam)->M271 (Nursling)->A3025 (Southampton)->M27 (Bursledon)->M275 (Portsmouth)->A27 (Drayton)->A293 (Brighton)->A270 (Brighton)/A259 (Brighton)->A270 (Brighton)->A27 (Brighton)->A2270 (Eastbourne)->A259 (Eastbourne)

https://www.nationalexpress.com/media/1239/r315.pdf

I've sometimes seen that one in the afternoon by the clock in Weymouth, loading for Plymouth. There are still a number of naval families who live around the old base at Portland with connections or ships in Plymouth. for whom this is a useful direct journey. Often seems to have a few naval-age lads boarding.

 

[cnjb8]

Sorry if already mentioned, but surely services from London to Essex and Hertfordshire on the A10/A12/A13 count?

 

[JonathanH]

How unusual! Never heard of a scheduled coach service using the toll. It’s about £10-12 for a coach, so quite expensive! I always avoid the toll if I can, instead using the A5.

Doesn't it depend on the cost of fuel and disruption on the M6?

I don't think it is uncommon for direct coaches from Manchester to London to use the toll road. I have certainly been that way aboard a Megabus coach.

 

[Pat1105]

Doesn't it depend on the cost of fuel and disruption on the M6?

I don't think it is uncommon for direct coaches from Manchester to London to use the toll road. I have certainly been that way aboard a Megabus coach.

I suppose it makes sense to, if there’s disruption on the M6. However, in normal circumstances, it’s just an extra cost that the company doesn’t need. There are plenty services that go down the M6 as I see them all the time. Not sure how driver’s would pay for the toll either, unless they have some sort of pass or chargecard.

 

[Simon75]

How unusual! Never heard of a scheduled coach service using the toll. It’s about £10-12 for a coach, so quite expensive! I always avoid the toll if I can, instead using the A5.

When I catch one that run Stoke-on-trent to London non stop, it goes M6, M6 Toll , stops off at Norton Canes services, then either M6, M1 or M42, M40, A40

 

[philthetube]

Any coach stopping at Norton Canes services gets to use the toll free of charge.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Looking online supposedly there is (or was) the 315 service from Helston to Eastbourne. The only bits of motorway I can think of would be the possibly the M5 although as it goes into Exeter it might miss it, the M27 and M271 into Southampton and M27 again to Portsmouth.
I would guess the approximate route looking at maps (from Plymouth at least) would be,

A38->A30 (Exeter)->A35 (Honiton)->A354 (Dorchester)->A353 (Weymouth)->A352 (Owermoigne)->A35 (Poole)->A338 (Bournemouth)->A31 (Ferndown/Ringwood) ->M27 (Cadnam)->M271 (Nursling)->A3025 (Southampton)->M27 (Bursledon)->M275 (Portsmouth)->A27 (Drayton)->A293 (Brighton)->A270 (Brighton)/A259 (Brighton)->A270 (Brighton)->A27 (Brighton)->A2270 (Eastbourne)->A259 (Eastbourne)

https://www.nationalexpress.com/media/1239/r315.pdf

As I said in post #4...

 

[dgl]

As I said in post #4...

Sorry, it's me being a blind as a bat

Though you did only mention M27, it would go on two other motorways however short they are

Of course a lot of the journey won't even be on dual carriageways, yes the A38 and the A30 will all be on dual carriageway sections (the A30 dueling ending around Honiton) but very little of the A35 it uses is duelled (we are talking probably less than 5 miles) so that really only leaves the Upton Bypass, the small section on the A352 (a dual carriage way on a minor A road!, though only about a mile) and the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road in Dorset.

 

[Westcountryman]

Sorry, it's me being a blind as a bat

Though you did only mention M27, it would go on two other motorways however short they are

Of course a lot of the journey won't even be on dual carriageways, yes the A38 and the A30 will all be on dual carriageway sections (the A30 dueling ending around Honiton) but very little of the A35 it uses is duelled (we are talking probably less than 5 miles) so that really only leaves the Upton Bypass, the small section on the A352 (a dual carriage way on a minor A road!, though only about a mile) and the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road in Dorset.

There is also Holes bay Road in Poole, and the A31 from Ringwood over the New Forest to the M27 at Cadnam..

 

[RT4038]

I suppose it makes sense to, if there’s disruption on the M6. However, in normal circumstances, it’s just an extra cost that the company doesn’t need. There are plenty services that go down the M6 as I see them all the time. Not sure how driver’s would pay for the toll either, unless they have some sort of pass or chargecard.

The M11 (Glasgow-Manchester-London) megabus service always uses the tollroad [other than those that stop in Birmingham, obviously!]. The toll is recorded by an electronic toll-tag, with a bill sent to the company. The erstwhile Severn Bridge toll used the same technology.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Sorry, it's me being a blind as a bat

Though you did only mention M27, it would go on two other motorways however short they are

Of course a lot of the journey won't even be on dual carriageways, yes the A38 and the A30 will all be on dual carriageway sections (the A30 dueling ending around Honiton) but very little of the A35 it uses is duelled (we are talking probably less than 5 miles) so that really only leaves the Upton Bypass, the small section on the A352 (a dual carriage way on a minor A road!, though only about a mile) and the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road in Dorset.

Indeed - the thread is mostly A roads and whilst it hits a few comedy motorways, the M27 is the only one used for any distance.

 

[route101]

The M11 (Glasgow-Manchester-London) megabus service always uses the tollroad [other than those that stop in Birmingham, obviously!]. The toll is recorded by an electronic toll-tag, with a bill sent to the company. The erstwhile Severn Bridge toll used the same technology.

Yes last Megabus i was on went this way, then down the M42/M40 to London.

Overnight that stopped in Brum , went via A45 from M42 to Brum city Centre , then towards M5 then up to M6. Maybe there was road works on M6.

Quite often you are diverted off the M6 between Stoke and Stafford on the A34.

 

[route101]

Sorry if already mentioned, but surely services from London to Essex and Hertfordshire on the A10/A12/A13 count?

Is there any up the A10?

 

[Mwanesh]

The 777 between Birmingham and Stansted uses A roads between Birmingham Coventry to the M1 and between Luton and Stansted its all A roads. One direct one goes from Stansted up the M11 then A14 to Birmingham

 

[Pat1105]

Yes last Megabus i was on went this way, then down the M42/M40 to London.

Overnight that stopped in Brum , went via A45 from M42 to Brum city Centre , then towards M5 then up to M6. Maybe there was road works on M6.

Quite often you are diverted off the M6 between Stoke and Stafford on the A34.

My 409 goes up to the M6 & then uses the expressway into Digbeth.

 

[randyrippley]

I didn't realise until I just checked their map just how sparse their route network now is.
For instance no stops shown between Manchester and Glasgow. Nothing west or northwest of Birmingham. Nothing on the A30 axis - southwest traffic all goes up the M5/M4, leaving a void covering most of Somerset, Dorset and much of Devon. Complete areas of the country now unserviced
For most people NX looks quite irrelevant

 

[Pat1105]

I didn't realise until I just checked their map just how sparse their route network now is.
For instance no stops shown between Manchester and Glasgow. Nothing west or northwest of Birmingham. Nothing on the A30 axis - southwest traffic all goes up the M5/M4, leaving a void covering most of Somerset, Dorset and much of Devon. Complete areas of the country now unserviced
For most people NX looks quite irrelevant

You have to zoom in to see more stops. There are stops between Manchester and Glasgow at Preston, Blackpool, Carlisle to name but a few. West of Birmingham, there are stops at Dudley, Wolverhampton, Telford, Shrewsbury and all through Mid Wales to Aberystwyth.
It is evident that the NX network is decreasing, possibly due to the ever increasing popularity of the train. I think most people would use NX to get to an airport, as they drop you right at the door and go direct. I always use NX when travelling to an airport. I’m lucky in that I can get to Manchester, Birmingham, Heathrow & Gatwick airports from Wolverhampton. I can get there direct on the coach whereas I would have to change if I took the train (excluding Birmingham which is a direct train for me). It’s much better than driving and leaving your car in an airport car park!

 

[cnjb8]

Is there any up the A10?

I'm not sure, I thought maybe to Ware/Hertford but probably don't need a NatEx service.

 

[route101]

I'm not sure, I thought maybe to Ware/Hertford but probably don't need a NatEx service.

Maybe old Greenline serviced the A10.

 

[route101]

You have to zoom in to see more stops. There are stops between Manchester and Glasgow at Preston, Blackpool, Carlisle to name but a few. West of Birmingham, there are stops at Dudley, Wolverhampton, Telford, Shrewsbury and all through Mid Wales to Aberystwyth.
It is evident that the NX network is decreasing, possibly due to the ever increasing popularity of the train. I think most people would use NX to get to an airport, as they drop you right at the door and go direct. I always use NX when travelling to an airport. I’m lucky in that I can get to Manchester, Birmingham, Heathrow & Gatwick airports from Wolverhampton. I can get there direct on the coach whereas I would have to change if I took the train (excluding Birmingham which is a direct train for me). It’s much better than driving and leaving your car in an airport car park!

Penrith and Lockerbie too , not served very often mind.

 

[Eyersey468]

How unusual! Never heard of a scheduled coach service using the toll. It’s about £10-12 for a coach, so quite expensive! I always avoid the toll if I can, instead using the A5.

We have the 540 that uses the M6 toll though that is mainly because a driver stops at Norton Canes services overnight.

 

[route101]

We have the 540 that uses the M6 toll though that is mainly because a driver stops at Norton Canes services overnight.

Im sure i took 592 Glasgow to London, that stopped at Norton Cane.

 

[341o2]

There is also Holes bay Road in Poole, and the A31 from Ringwood over the New Forest to the M27 at Cadnam..

Dorset doesn't have any motorways either

 

[buslad1988]

I see , i was wondering if there is any or was NX services from say the Midlandsto Ispwich?

There is/was a service from Liverpool to Ipswich which ran via the Midlands so must of hit the A14 at some point.

 

[Geordie driver]

I am not familiar with National Express routes, but any service that runs through Northumberland will be on an A road as there is no motorway in the county. If it's on the A1 this is only one lane in each direction not that far north of Newcastle.

 

[route101]

There is/was a service from Liverpool to Ipswich which ran via the Midlands so must of hit the A14 at some point.

Interesting. Is there anywhere that lists old routes?

 

[route101]

I am not familiar with National Express routes, but any service that runs through Northumberland will be on an A road as there is no motorway in the county. If it's on the A1 this is only one lane in each direction not that far north of Newcastle.

I once took the 591 from London to Edinburgh. A1 with a stop for fuel just outside Alnwick. The 591 has been extended to Glasgow. There used to be 534 Glasgow to Hull , that went via the A7 and A68.

 

[Pat1105]

Interesting. Is there anywhere that lists old routes?

There is the NX agents website that did list withdrawn routes along with the existing ones, but it isn’t showing anything until services resume. They may have updated it when it goes live again so these routes may not appear.
It is a very good website. You can find timetables and driver fare charts on there.

 

[Robertj21a]

There is/was a service from Liverpool to Ipswich which ran via the Midlands so must of hit the A14 at some point.

Isn't this the one now truncated to just Liverpool/Manchester to Stansted Airport via A14 - I mentioned it much earlier, possibly 350 or 349 ?