Travelled London to Cardiff and back with Flixbus.
Yesterday there were six other passengers on the 14.30 to Swansea, three travelling together left at Bristol UWE where we arrived about 17.00 - Hammersmith pick up stop wasn't needed so bypassed, which would have gained some time. Passengers were invited to leave the coach at UWE while awaiting a new driver. Departed 17.15 and arrived Cardiff 20 minutes early at 18.05. I think the other three passengers also alighted there. Operated by Turners Coaches. Uneventful journey, well driven, very clean interior, good legroom. Allocated seats spread throughout coach. No safety/COVID message, driver just announced Bristol and Cardiff arrivals
Today the 17.45 back to London arrived from Swansea at 17.47 and I was the only passenger booked from Cardiff. Five people were already on board. Driver greeted me by my first name and did not ask to see my ticket. There were some issues with the vehicle. mainly that it soon felt uncomfortably warm. The heat was becoming unbearable and the air vents were blowing literally hot air. I approached the driver who said he could not change it himself but invited me to open the compartment with the control and reduce the temperature from 23 to 21 degrees. I did that but it made no difference and it was still way above 23. Eventually after about an hour of this the heating switched itself off completely and the temperature was then comfortable. As we approached London it became quite chilly but the heating remained off so maybe the system overheated. The other minor irritations were a loud vibrating sound from where a hammer for emergency use was fixed to a side panel, and the toilet which kept flushing by itself ! There was a driver change at a Transdev depot just off the M4 towards Uxbridge. I heard the first driver advise the second about the heating, saying it was so bad he was aware of it himself. The other passengers all alighted at Hammersmith and I was the only one for Victoria. Arrival there was 21.10, again 20 minutes earlier than the scheduled 21.30. I advised the second driver about the noise issue and also the toilet and he commented that explained why the tank was showing as full ! He thanked me and said he was returning to the depot and would report all three issues. I assume this was a Whippet coach. Both vehicles were in smart Flixbus livery.
The Cardiff departure point does not yet have any Flixbus information and is not otherwise currently in use . It's close to the Megabus stop, across the road from a grassy area with flower beds and seating. Much more central than Sophia Gardens. I already have two more £2.98 return journeys booked but would happily pay more realistic fares as long as competitive with National Express and Megabus.