Worst facilities at a coach station?

[feline1]

I'd like to tentatively nomination Brighton's "Pool Valley Coach Station", where the "passenger facilities" currently amount to two seating benches, and an additional "bus shelter" (the "one side and little roof" type).
No toilets.
No timetables.
No displays or readouts.
No shop.
No café.
No telephones.
There is, however, street lighting and, I guess, tarmac and paving slabs, which handily prevent passengers falling into the earth's core. Plus they are only about 100 yards from the sea, so could go do a 'Reggie Perrin' if the surfeit of luxury provided for them gets too much for their conscience.

Can any other city beat this level of (lack of) provision?

 

[Shrimper]

I'm not sure of the current timetable for Lancaster, but it used to be that the bus station was closed after 11pm and there were a few NX departures between then and opening - at the time, the stand they'd depart from hadn't even got a bench or shelter; the only shelter being out of sight of the stand!

 

[feline1]

That's pretty good! At least they had tarmac

I'd also like to nominate Newquay in Cornwall.

Having once suffered engine failure in a car whilst visiting one August, we attempted to leave Truro by rail, but the ticket booth staff informed us that as it was after 2pm on a Saturday, the last train to Newquay had already gone

So, we had to get a bus to Newquay (it was 40 mins late and drove a breakneck speed through those twisty Cornish roads, but let's not get sidetracked).

I shall seldom forget finally arriving at Newquay bus station, to be greeted with about 400 people all milling around or slumped on the pavements, a look of mild despair on their faces. A single harried bus company staff member was trying to explain to everyone that the toilets were shut because it was "after 5". So was the information booth. I found it very touching that the bus company had employed this guy to stand there and explain to the hundreds of holiday makers that everything was shut. Cornwall there, marvellous

 

[johnnychips]

Do NX coaches in Cambridge depart from a field (Parker's Piece), or are they just parked up there waiting for the bus station?

 

[jopsuk]

That's where they depart from, and the Stagecoach X5 too.

 

[Deerfold]

Do NX coaches in Cambridge depart from a field (Parker's Piece), or are they just parked up there waiting for the bus station?

Well there are 3 or 4 shelters there, but yes.

No fun waiting for an 0300 departure in winter.

They do at least have up-to-date timetables on display.

 

[ValleyLines142]

For a city the size it is, Cardiff's coach station is absolutely horrendous. Admittedly there is a shelter and the National Express travel shop is just across the road, however there are no toilets or cafe. Just a row of bright yellow benches in its minging stands.

The Megabus stop by the Kingsway isn't much better either, currently just consisting of a typical public bus shelter.

 

[feline1]

Well that sounds only fitting for Wales' capital city! #goodGrief

 

[extendedpaul]

Cardiff doesn't really have a coach station, but rather a very busy city centre bus station in which National Express uses a couple of bays.

Within a one minute walk across the road there are all the facilities a traveller could need including a Boots, a convenience store, a fruit and veg stall open well into the evening, a food-serving pub and several fast food outlets at least one of which has a public WC. Cardiff Central Station is also adjacent.

The Megabus departure point is indeed just a double bus stop and a bit cosy when it's pouring hard but again within a couple of minutes walk you've got a Poundland, McDonalds, Subway etc and best of all a "free coffee" Waitrose !

Pretty good IMHO

 

[radamfi]

Arguably, the Cardiff situation is better than places that have dedicated, modern coach stations like Birmingham or Liverpool. Yes, those coach stations may be nice places to wait, but they aren't in the most convenient locations and don't have a huge amount of shops, restaurants etc. in the immediate vicinity.