As a national representative of a charity I knew I would have to travel a lot so needed to find the most cost efficient way of doing so. I had received an NZ2 card when I opened my student account with Barclays but never thought of using it. I popped into my local office and decided to find out more about the benefits of this small card.
At that particular time National Express had an offer on their journeys and suggested that I take them up on the offer. I knew that a party was approaching near Heathrow so went ahead and booked. Unfortunately they failed to explain that the ‘ANY DESTINATION ONLY 5 POUND’ offer did not include travel to airports and obviously Europe. Still with the 30% off with his little card I proceeded with the transaction.
As this was the first journey of many I have decided to set out my review with these headings.
Booking
Price
The Coach
The driver
The journey
Punctuality
***BOOKING*** Booking was relatively easy although the office is shared with First Devon and Cornwall Bus Company so it can get very busy at times. The staff are friendly and couldn’t do enough to help but I have found its best to know the exact bus you intend to catch. For example I often go to London via the 501 but they added a 500 service also and this was confusing when trying to deal with a transfer to Luton airport.
The staff can also be very helpful when trying to go abroad. A few years ago I had to get to Slovenia for a week long event. The year before I had been taken seriously ill on the plane and had to be treated for DVT. I was very nervous about flying again and saw that National Express operated a Europe service. The staff were very understanding to my requirements but explained that as the service was weekly we may have to go out a week before the event and come back a week after. I found them very supportive in dealing with an almost impossible request. Still they spent over 30 minutes on the phone. On return she explained that they could accommodate my friend and I, but it would cost over 300 pounds each and would take 3 days to get there. We politely declined but were amazed at the effort they all went to. We were even offered a drink while we were waiting.
***PRICE*** Traveling by coach is a fraction of the price compared to traveling by train. If you are fortunate enough to be traveling at a time when they have the ANYWHERE FOR A FIVER or ANYWHERE FOR A TENNER deal then you are quite lucky. My cousin has a phobia of airplanes unfortunately his partner lives in Glasgow and as all would agree a flight from Cornwall to Glasgow would be the easiest way to travel. My cousin is very lucky with his travel arrangements and seems to get up to Glasgow and back for under 20 pounds whilst his other half forks out for an expensive flight. My partner has driven me to Birmingham on a few occasions for meetings and conferences. To take a return journey to Birmingham by car it is easy to spend 70 pounds on petrol alone. I have found that on the National Express website (www.nationalexpress.co.uk) they have a clever tariff called ‘fun fares’, ideally we could get a return journey to Birmingham for little under 20 pounds. Sometimes shopping via the website can help you save more money.
I once decided it would be a good idea to the 350 (I think) to Eastbourne for a convention I had been invited to. I do not drive so coach seemed like the best idea. Not being that well traveled I didn’t want to get on a coach which meant changing to another. So I decided that the 350 (although taking over 10 hours) would be sufficient. Driving through the south west it’s quite easy to see why it takes 10 hours. We seemed to stop at every minor bus stop on the route and I for one was getting rather fed up of people brushing past every 5 minutes. As we left the South West we rarely stopped. We got up to Bournemouth and as told that there would be an hour long wait. I wasn’t too happy as when I asked the lady at the booking office she explained that the stops would be short and to take food/drink on the coach as we would not be stopping for any. Anyway when I spotted the large supermarket and MacDonald’s I cheered up as I was feeling a bit hungry.
*** THE COACH*** I can’t recall a time I ever traveled on a coach that was unclean or untidy. The coaches are comfortable with plenty of legroom. There is little ‘arm room’ space and with a piece of hand luggage between your legs it can get a bit cramped, still I believe there is more room on a coach than on a plane or train. As National Express are popular it can get a little busy at times on a fully booked bus it can become a little cramped.
Most coaches have a toilet (mainly the coaches that go long distance) some coaches have on board entertainment or drinks facilities. National Express sometimes book too many seats and pay and outside company to take their customers. I have been on a Trathens coach to Birmingham and drinks were served on board and well as regular breaks.
I have had a few entertaining and embarrassing times on my coach journeys. I decided it would be a good idea to take the 8 hour long night coach to London. Half asleep I decided I needed the toilet. Pulling the door closed I sat on the toilet, I could feel myself drifting off to sleep. The bus must have turned a corner as before I knew it I was on the floor with my trousers down my ankles fortunately enough most people were asleep and no one was near the door when it happened although a did get a few laughs and cheers.
So a word of warning: Make sure the door is closed properly!
***THE DRIVER*** I always seem to get the jolly, happy coach drivers. As a teacher I found one particularly happy. Ran onto the bus and shouted “right boys and girls before we set off I need to do a head count…are you all going to London? Are you all on the right bus? Great pop your hands up if your happy” he then broke into the song ‘If You’re Happy and you know it shout we are and wave your hands” amazingly enough have the coach joined in. the then proceeded to count heads then skipped down the front into the drivers seat. With a bit of kangaroo petrol we were on our way. OK so I found it funny but I was kind of worried about who or what was driving!
Another time on the way back from holiday we ended up with a rather crazy driver who seemed like a ‘new driver’. He was rather giggly, got onto the microphone and explained that this was his first journey and he was rather nervous. Luckily everyone seemed really nice to him and gave him words of support. Just past Reading his windscreen wiper blew off (not his fault but sadistically funny!) he stopped at the nearest services and contacted his line manager who told him he could not go on without getting it fixed and they were sending an engineer (who was stuck in traffic in London) two hours later the engineer had been and gone. The driver tried to reverse out of the tight spot he had placed himself in and crashed into a bollard a huge crunch followed by a woman claiming that the crash had caused her to have an accident. We waited again for the engineer to check the back of the coach whilst the woman went to sort herself out. Back on the road all was well until the coach started to slow down. The driver pulled in and had to call for help again. Luckily 7 hours later we arrived home but had never enjoyed and feared a coach trip so much. On the more average journeys drivers have been ‘normal’ but never grumpy or unhelpful.
*** THE JOURNEY*** I once decided it would be a good idea to the 350 (I think) to Eastbourne for a convention I had been invited to. Not being that well traveled I didn’t want to get on a coach which meant changing to another. So I decided that the 350 (although taking over 10 hours) would be sufficient. Driving through the south west it’s quite easy to see why it takes 10 hours. We seemed to stop at every minor bus stop on the route and I for one was getting rather fed up of people brushing past every 5 minutes. As we left the South West we rarely stopped. We got up to Bournemouth and as told that there would be an hour long wait. I was a little annoyed as I was told when booking to take a magazine, food and drink as we would not be stopping during the whole 10 hours. On this particular journey however we stopped 3 times already and an hour long wait was just an insult!
On the other hand however the Plymouth to London journey is a bit of a dull one as we do not stop off for food or drink, they used to stop off to change drivers and many passengers jumped off for a quick fag. Most would argue that with a toilet on board there is no need to stop of however it is sometimes nice to stretch and to shake off that num bottom!
The genral rule of thumb is that a journey lasting more than 4 hours usually includes a break of 20minutes to over an hour. I would still advise packing a drink and sandwich as one driver stopped in a coach park with…absolutely nothing but a rickety shed containing a leaky toilet. National express operate to many destinations and although you cannot find your destination in the leaflet it doesn’t necessarily mean that the coach doe not go there. I have found that Plymouth operates services to most UK cities but I may need to transfer at a larger city to get to other places.
*** PUNCTUALITY *** Apart from the catastrophe mentioned above I have never been on a bus that has arrived back later than half and hour. Unlike trains and planes the only main factor holding a coach up is the traffic on the roads and usually the timings take this into account.
The latest I have ever left a coach station is 20-40 minutes and whilst this may sound like a long time to be waiting I have never been left waiting in the cold or rain. I am usually allowed to get on the coach and wait whilst the driver has a drink/food/toilet break.
For me coach is the best option as it is cheap and reliable. I have never had a cancelled journey. My friends say that Megabus is cheaper (which sometimes it is) but they have also suffered from cancelled journeys or ‘non attendance’ from the bus. I know that when I book my ticket for National Express I am guaranteed a seat and that I will get to my destination on or close to the proposed arrival time.
Fluffy69
More details
Staff courtesy/helpfulness
Excellent
Speed
Average
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