Terravision is an Italian coach company that runs shuttle services to and from Stansted Airport and to and from various airports in Italy. The Italian cities it currently runs to are:
Rome Ciampino airport to Rome Rome Fumicino airport to Rome Bergamo airport to Milan Pisa airport to Florence
I should begin by saying that I have only used the coach to Stansted, as Rome airports are accessible more cheaply by public transport, I've not been to Florence, and I travelled from Bergamo town to Milan by train. This review is based therefore only on the Stansted service.
The coach service to Stansted runs to and from Victoria. It departs from the Greenline coach station in the tunnel on Bulleid Way - not the coach station. Coaches leave approximately once an hour, although during the day it is sometimes twice. They do not run a 24 hour service, like National Express - the first bus from Victoria is at 3am and the last bus is 22.30. From Stansted, the first bus from the airport is 7.15am and the last one is at 00:40. However, I've found that these times are sufficient for the earliest and the latest flights, so it probably doesn't matter that they don't run 24 hours.
The run is scheduled to take 1 hour 15 minutes, which is faster than National Express (from Victoria). The coaches are express, and don't make any stops, which is why they are faster than NE. For tourists, the route is a scenic one going past Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Tower of London, Tower Bridge and through Docklands.
The bus stop at Stansted airport is the first one you come to as you exit the airport, which is very convenient when you're running late.
You can book tickets for the Terravision coaches on line - you get given an e-ticket. The booking page is the standard format and very easy to use. You can print out your eticket, and they will email it to you as well. It is also possible to buy tickets from their agent at Victoria. Whilst their website doesn't say so, you can also buy them on the bus.
Tickets are £8.50/£14 return if you book in person or if you pay on the bus. If you book online the return fare is £13.50.
If you book, you can use your ticket on any bus within 24 hours of your booking. What they don't tell you on the website is that if for some reason you can't use your ticket, if you email their customer services department they will let you use it any time in the next 12 months. I had to cancel a trip recently after booking the coach, and I have been told that I just need to email them to let them know when I want to use the ticket and they will make the necessary arrangements.
It is useful to arrive early - at busy times (particularly after the last train) there can be queues and the buses fill up. Here having a booking is obviously very useful. In the small print on the eticket it says that your ticket only reserves you a seat if you arrive 15 minutes early. However, I've found that if there's a queue and the bus looks like filling up, I just need to let the bus driver or person selling tickets know that I have a booking and they have always let me straight on the bus and jump the queue.
I have only used the buses early in the morning and late at night - I find that using the Stansted Express is slightly faster (although it depends on where you live, obviously) and you don't run the risk of heavy traffic. Late and early starts means there is no traffic and the buses are often faster than their 1hour 15 minute scheduled time. The fastest time I've had was 50 minutes. The bus drivers are usually Italian, and I have a theory that they're used to having no speed limit on highways. They seem to keep a very close eye on the speed cameras!
I've used them about 10 times now over the space of around 10 months, and the only time I've had a problem was a couple of weeks ago, when I had booked tickets on the 3.30am bus to catch a 6.30 flight. The bus arrived at 3.30am but wouldn't let people on for 15 minutes. Eventually we found out that it was actually the 4am bus, and that the 3.30am bus had broken down, although they didn't tell us until we asked. That was the journey that took 50 minutes, so I suspect a few speed limits were ignored along the way! Otherwise, the coaches have always left on time and have never taken longer than 1hour 15 minutes.
The coaches are clean and comfortable - one niggle is that without fail the drivers have the radio on quite loud. I've never asked them to turn it down because it's always been an ungodly hour of the day, and my main concern (and theirs hopefully!) is keeping them awake. Occasionally the staff don't speak very good English, although I've noticed an improvement in this respect over time.
l use Terravision because it leaves from Victoria, which is convenient for me, and is non-stop, which is much faster. It is obviously not going to suit those who can't get to Victoria easily. Tickets are slightly cheaper (from Victoria) than National Express, and a fair bit cheaper than the train.
I would thoroughly recommend them for tourists arriving at Stansted and for anyone who can get to Victoria easily.
More details
Staff courtesy/helpfulness
Excellent
Speed
Fast
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