Flixbus Discussion

[JonathanH]

There's no space for 3 express operators across England and Flixbus and National Express will be here for a long time.

Why? They do have slightly different offerings, and indeed customer bases. How do you place a limit of 2 on the number of operations?

Megabus is still the predominant operator on some routes, notably for Anglo-Scottish travel.

Flixbus certainly haven't currently gone for Megabus's market on that route.

 

[bristol1996]

I have used two operators in the UK who run for Flixbus. McGills and Turners. The standard of bus was higher on McGills


That's why I have booked Flixbus in the past, you can book the seat next to you. On a turners service there wasn't any reservations but the Scottish services are more strictly enforced. I noticed on McGills coaches they have seat numbers on every second row. The Scottish overnight services can be pretty expensive last minute though, nearly £50.

The Turners concern within Flixbus is 1x Van Hool and 1x Irizar. They aren't anything special but are far from standard. What you must understand is that McGill's is one of the biggest privately owned coach & bus companies within the country, so they have scope to buy the best of the best whereas Turners only have about 40 coaches; McGill's has over 200

 

[markymark2000]

The turners concern within flix is 1x vanhool and 1x irizar they aren't anything special but are far from standard, what you must understand is mcgills is one of the biggest privately owned coach & bus companies within the country, so they have scope to buy the best of the best where as turners only have about 40 coaches, where as mcgills over 200

Turners have more than that out now. They have up to 4 buses on Bristol to London 041 and they have 1 duty on the 070 Bristol to Leeds so up to 5 buses at a time on the network.

According to the Flixbus UK Enthusiasts group on Facebook, Turners have 4 Van Hools and 3 Scania Irizars in regular Flixbus use.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/283389253009085/permalink/764176334930372 (closed group, can't see the post unless you join)

 

[Parebunks]

Why? They do have slightly different offerings, and indeed customer bases. How do you place a limit of 2 on the number of operations?

Megabus is still the predominant operator on some routes, notably for Anglo-Scottish travel.

Flixbus certainly haven't currently gone for Megabus's market on that route

Flixbus don't stop in Oxford at all! IMO, there's definitely still room for 3 coach operations in the UK, especially with train punctuality down and fares up. I almost exclusively use Megabus for intercity travel to the North, as even National Express's local offering doesn't go up past Birmingham. Personally never had any problems with Megabus, though coaches weren't packed, and would be open to trying out Flixbus if they ran an equivilant route.

 

[johncrossley]

In several other countries, Flixbus started to build their own network and then take over one of the other firms.

 

[Wolfie]

In several other countries, Flixbus started to build their own network and then take over one of the other firms.

Financially weaken them then look to get a good deal....

 

[Martin1988]

Last year when there was all that talk of National Express potentially being sold to Stagecoach I half expected Flixbus would poach the NX operators who had been displaced (eg Edwards) and bring them into the Flixbus fold but obviously that didn't happen.

Save for the 'reserved seat issue I've not really had any quibbles with Flixbus on the whole. I do wish though that they'd up their offering on the Bristol to Birmingham corridor a bit more. Particularly given that the latest Megabus timetable is an absolute disgrace at times, especially mid week.

Even if they ran an extra 070 journey on Fridays and Sundays then that would be a welcome improvement and probably capture a lot more weekend travellers that Megabus no longer seem to want to cater for.

 

[markymark2000]

I do wish though that they'd up their offering on the Bristol to Birmingham corridor a bit more. Particularly given that the latest Megabus timetable is an absolute disgrace at times, especially mid week.

It's going up slowly. Currently 1 Thurs-Mon trip on the 070 and a daily 078. From Thursday next week you gain the daily Dundee - Bristol 080 as well.

 

[GusB]

Another operator, Stanley Travel, has been added:

FlixBus adds Stanley Travel as partner operator - routeone

FlixBus has announced its latest operator partnership, teaming up with Stanley Travel to provide services on the rapidly expanding network from 25 May.

www.route-one.net

FlixBus has announced its latest operator partnership, teaming up with County Durham-based Stanley Travel to provide services on the rapidly expanding network from 25 May onwards.

Stanley Travel, which offers daily service between Newcastle, Leeds, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Manchester, is the first DVSA Earned Recognition operator on the FlixBus network. It is also part of the Guild of British Coach Operators.

The operator was established in 1961 as a taxi firm and is now managed by its third generation of the Scott family. The company has focused on private hire and schools, colleges and sports teams contract work in recent years, having diversified during the pandemic.

Transport Manager Gavin Scott says: “We know the value of spreading risk, particularly after the COVID years. That’s what initially attracted us to FlixBus express work, offering another string to our bow in terms of revenue. The team at FlixBus truly listened to us and did everything to make this work for Stanley Travel as well as themselves.”

Helped by multiple operator partnerships, FlixBus recently announced a 190% increase in passenger volume in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year.

 

[bristol1996]

Turners have more than that out now. They have up to 4 buses on Bristol to London 041 and they have 1 duty on the 070 Bristol to Leeds so up to 5 buses at a time on the network.

According to the Flixbus UK Enthusiasts group on Facebook, Turners have 4 Van Hools and 3 Scania Irizars in regular Flixbus use.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/283389253009085/permalink/764176334930372 (closed group, can't see the post unless you join)

I was working at Turners until recently and they most definitely have no more than 2 coaches within the Flixbus livery; an Irizar and a Van Hool, both tri-axles.

 

[markymark2000]

I was working at Turners until recently and they most definitely have no more than 2 coaches within the Flixbus livery; an Irizar and a Van Hool, both tri-axles.

They have 3 vehicles in livery but their PVR (peak vehicle requirement) is higher than that. They have some in white with a Flixbus logo on the side, others run as Turners buses just on Flixbus routes.

Certainly these buses are in livery.
YJ67 CZX
YJ67 CZY
BB18 WEB

 

[danielhogg2005]

Does anyone know which Flixbus services are operated by the McGill's group, I have been studying the McGill's group and trying to create a rough diagram showing all the areas they serve so help with the Flixbus services would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Stan Drews]

Does anyone know which Flixbus services are operated by the McGill's group, I have been studying the McGill's group and trying to create a rough diagram showing all the areas they serve so help with the Flixbus services would be appreciated, thanks.

Everything that starts or finishes in Scotland.

 

[danielhogg2005]

Everything that starts or finishes in Scotland.

Would that be the 010, 030, 091, 092, N10 & the N30 to be accurate?

 

[Stan Drews]

Would that be the 010, 030, 091, 092, N10 & the N30 to be accurate?

Yes, and from tomorrow the 080, 093 & 094.
Then the N11 & N31 from 22nd June.

 

[danielhogg2005]

Yes, and from tomorrow the 080, 093 & 094.
Then the N11 & N31 from 22nd June.

Where will these services operate?

 

[Stan Drews]

Where will these services operate?

080 Dundee - Bristol
093 Glasgow - Perth
094 Edinburgh - Perth
N11 Aberdeen - London
N31 Glasgow - London

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

094 Edinburgh - Perth

Does anyone know if it is McGill’s Livingston depot that are running this new 094?

 

[ADB125]

080 Dundee - Bristol
093 Glasgow - Perth
094 Edinburgh - Perth
N11 Aberdeen - London
N31 Glasgow - London

Do you know which of these will serve Carlisle? It is showing on the route map (so is Penrith) but it's hard to work out what the routes are.

 

[danielhogg2005]

Do you know which of these will serve Carlisle? It is showing on the route map (so is Penrith) but it's hard to work out what the routes are.

The 080 stops off in Carlisle but I can't seem to find a return journey to Dundee, why is this?

Also out of all the Flixbus partners in the UK is McGill's the only partner that operates the services in Scotland?

 

[markymark2000]

Do you know which of these will serve Carlisle? It is showing on the route map (so is Penrith) but it's hard to work out what the routes are.

080 serves Carlisle both ways (and tickets are bookable from tomorrow (26th May) for that journey).

Penrith will be served by the N31 which is Glasgow - Carlisle - Penrith - Leeds - Sheffield Meadowhall - London

 

[Stan Drews]

Does anyone know if it is McGill’s Livingston depot that are running this new 094?

It is operated by both Livingston and Dundee.

Also out of all the Flixbus partners in the UK is McGill's the only partner that operates the services in Scotland?

Yes.

 

[danielhogg2005]

Penrith will be served by the N31 which is Glasgow - Carlisle - Penrith - Leeds - Sheffield Meadowhall - London

What stops will the N11 serve between Aberdeen and London?

 

[route101]

080 serves Carlisle both ways (and tickets are bookable from tomorrow (26th May) for that journey).

Penrith will be served by the N31 which is Glasgow - Carlisle - Penrith - Leeds - Sheffield Meadowhall - London

Will be interesting to see what route the N31 takes between Penrith and Leeds.

 

[overthewater]

I still wonder if Flixbus will be able to get a proper foot hold north of the border, I'm glad they are trying. Scottish Citylink are finally having to make some improvements to overall network. The Perth - Edinburgh route has been crying out for more streamlined freq service especially when you see how bad Scotrail service.

 

[markymark2000]

What stops will the N11 serve between Aberdeen and London?

N11 is Aberdeen - Dundee - Perth - Dunfermline - Edinburgh - Newcastle - Leeds - Sheffield - Nottingham - Leicester - London

 

[Stan Drews]

N11 is Aberdeen (Northbound only) - Dundee - Perth - Dunfermline - Edinburgh - Newcastle - Leeds - Sheffield - Nottingham - Leicester - London

It starts from Aberdeen on the southbound trip too.

 

[markymark2000]

It starts from Aberdeen on the southbound trip too.

Oops, I was thinking about the 080 which is Aberdeen northbound only. Sorry.

 

[johncrossley]

The Perth - Edinburgh route has been crying out for more streamlined freq service especially when you see how bad Scotrail service.

Citylink operate hourly, there is the slower Stagecoach service, plus the Ember service from the outskirts of Perth. What more do you want!?

 

[overthewater]

I may have worded it badly, its only recently Citylink has made proper improvements. I still remember 2-4 gaps hours all over the place on certain parts of the network.