Flixbus Discussion

[route101]

Yes in extreme weather the A66 at Stanmore can get blocked by Snow but its relatively rare these days.
From the Queensferry Bridge the quickest route to the south is via the M8; it's only 9 miles longer and it's all motorway, whereas after the Edinburgh City Bypass the A702 is all single carriageway roads through several towns and villages.

Yes, the 080 calls at Edinburgh. The national express services quite often go via Biggar.

 

[JonathanH]

The 'service fee' charged on all bookings appears to have increased from £1.00 to £1.49.

 

[johncrossley]

The 'service fee' charged on all bookings appears to have increased from £1.00 to £1.49.

Try paying in a different currency.

 

[Deerfold]

Try paying in a different currency.

To save money?

Amy particular currency?

That'll depend on if your bank charges fees for that.

 

[johncrossley]

To save money?

Amy particular currency?

That'll depend on if your bank charges fees for that.

Probably best not to recommend a particular currency but instead try different currencies and work out which is the cheapest. They might not charge the booking fee in certain currencies but the actual fare might be higher than in GBP. So it might be cheaper to pay in GBP in some circumstances and not in others.

If your bank charges for foreign transactions then change it! Or at least have another account for foreign transactions. There are plenty to choose from.

 

[asb]

All a bit drastic to save 49p

 

[markymark2000]

Where are you seeing that? I am seeing at the top of the website says all transactions incur a £1 fee.
If I click on a service to book, that says £1 as well.

Are you sure you don't mean the £1.49 seat picker fee?

 

[Simon75]

Why do they charge a service fee on top of the fare?

 

[markymark2000]

Why do they charge a service fee on top of the fare?

It's a card fee to cover for the cost that the banks charge for the transaction. It's covered as a service fee though because card fees got banned.

 

[Simon75]

It's a card fee to cover for the cost that the banks charge for the transaction. It's covered as a service fee though because card fees got banned.

Surely they could absorb it in the fare price. Buses don't add a service charge if you pay by card

 

[johncrossley]

Surely they could absorb it in the fare price.

And they do, if you book in certain currencies.

 

[GusB]

I think we can knock the whole idea of paying in different currencies on the head. It's rather niche and not the sort of thing that your average punter is going to think of.

 

[overthewater]

What route does the Aberdeen services take from Dundee? Do these also go via Kingsway?

 

[route101]

What route does the Aberdeen services take from Dundee? Do these also go via Kingsway?

Last time I took 091 from Dundee it went via East Dock St, Broughty Ferry Road and Greendykes Road and then Kingsway East.

 

[overthewater]

Cheers for this, Makes you wonder if the local people of Albert Street got their way for good.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Cheers for this, Makes you wonder if the local people of Albert Street got their way for good.

Except when it's a Parks operated Citylink run where they fly down there regardless.

The 091 I caught on Sunday went via Kingsway East too, so presumably thats now the offical route.

 

[markymark2000]

Fernhill Travel (better known by their sister company, White Bus) started their Flixbus journey yesterday. They have just acquired 4 Yutong GT12s for the services and have a PVR of 3 each day.

Additional services are as follows
004 London - Nottingham
07:00 & 16:00 off London via Finchley Road & Uni of Notts
11:45 & 20:30 off Nottingham via Uni of Notts & Finchley Road

005 London - Leicester St Margarets
08:30 & 16:30 off London via Finchley Road & Fosse Park
12:40 & 20:45 off Leicester via Fosse Park & Finchley Road.

020 London - Birmingham
06:30 & 14:30 off London via Finchley Road
10:45 & 19:15 off Birmingham via Finchley Road.


Other expansion news is that from the 10th October Belle Vue is about to start an additional round trip between Manchester and Newcastle Upon Tyne via Bradford Interchange and Leeds making overall 3 round trips on this corridor.

 

[route101]

Fernhill Travel (better known by their sister company, White Bus) started their Flixbus journey yesterday. They have just acquired 4 Yutong GT12s for the services and have a PVR of 3 each day.

Additional services are as follows
004 London - Nottingham
07:00 & 16:00 off London via Finchley Road & Uni of Notts
11:45 & 20:30 off Nottingham via Uni of Notts & Finchley Road

005 London - Leicester St Margarets
08:30 & 16:30 off London via Finchley Road & Fosse Park
12:40 & 20:45 off Leicester via Fosse Park & Finchley Road.

020 London - Birmingham
06:30 & 14:30 off London via Finchley Road
10:45 & 19:15 off Birmingham via Finchley Road.


Other expansion news is that from the 10th October Belle Vue is about to start an additional round trip between Manchester and Newcastle Upon Tyne via Bradford Interchange and Leeds making overall 3 round trips on this corridor.

Looks like a beefing up of the core or shorter services.

 

[markymark2000]

Looks like a beefing up of the core or shorter services.

Easier ones to cover I suppose. 073 is a 1 bus, 1 driver job so quite easy in terms of rostering and low risk of things going wrong.
The 004, 005 and 020 are 1 bus, 1 AM driver, 1 PM driver so again, much easier to roster than the longer distance runs which require more planning for driver swaps, worrying about driving hours etc etc. Also shorter distance will be cheaper as the longer distance runs tend to mean hotels and vehicles will only do 1 round trip rather than 2 shorter trips.

I do believe that there is going to be a ramp up of services in the new year with Belle Vue management stating 'new lines opening in April' on Linkedin.

 

[MasterSpenny]

Flixbus has dedicated some gates in Victoria Coach Station to their services
https://www.route-one.net/news/flixbuss-green-branding-features-at-victoria-station/

FlixBus’s green branding features at Victoria Station​

FlixBus has decked out several gates at Victoria Station in London in new branded signs to promote its services.
The coach operator, which launched its first UK service from the station in 2021 and has since carried more than two million passengers, is using the green signage to highlight its online and App-based booking, as well as free Wi-Fi and USB charging.
The branding is also being rolled out at other key stations and stops around the country, including London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport, Manchester and Sheffield Meadowhall.
FlixBus UK Managing Director Andreas Schorling says: “This is an exciting development in our growth journey to become the largest coach network in the country, and cements our status as a key player in the UK market.
“London Victoria Coach Station is one of the largest in Europe and we’re proud to have launched our very first UK journey from the iconic building.”
FlixBus, which is a finalist with operating partner McGill’s at the routeone Awards this Wednesday in the “outstanding customer service” category, serves 60 destinations around the UK, having doubled its network capacity in 2023.

 

[JonathanH]

Flixbus has dedicated some gates in Victoria Coach Station to their services

They seem to have gate 2 in their colours so it is relatively prominent.

 

[Bwsbro]

Made me laugh though that from the pictures that Flix put up on Facebook that the next coach to use the stand was the 509 Nat Ex to Cardiff

 

[Blindtraveler]

And after all the horror stories here and on other social media platforms, I'm not quite sure which brainbox put their name and outstanding customer service together in the same equation but I sure as hell hope they don't win it, I should point out I've never used this service but it goes without saying that some of the negative publicity has a lot to do with this

 

[Deerfold]

And after all the horror stories here and on other social media platforms, I'm not quite sure which brainbox put their name and outstanding customer service together in the same equation but I sure as hell hope they don't win it, I should point out I've never used this service but it goes without saying that some of the negative publicity has a lot to do with this

Win what?

 

[Smethwickian]

Win what?

The award mentioned at the end of the quoted article in post 1,310, I assume?

 

[Man of Kent]

The award mentioned at the end of the quoted article in post 1,310, I assume?

They didn't win it: it went to First Bus Exmoor Coaster.

 

[cd harrison]

Its been 4 months since I'd last booked a round trip back home to see family and friends in Northampton. I'm trying to book another, but Northampton is no longer available as a destination. Has it been removed as it was only recently added?

It's very disappointing as the first time I went there were zero problems. It also used to stop in the town centre, which was within walking distance to the family home.

 

[JonathanH]

I'm trying to book another, but Northampton is no longer available as a destination. Has it been removed as it was only recently added?

It's very disappointing as the first time I went there were zero problems. It also used to stop in the town centre, which was within walking distance to the family home.

As a purely commercial operator they can decide to change routes and stops as they wish. Where were you travelling to Northampton from? There are still some Megabus and National Express services serving Northampton.

 

[cd harrison]

As a purely commercial operator they can decide to change routes and stops as they wish. Where were you travelling to Northampton from? There are still some Megabus and National Express services serving Northampton.

Hi Jon, Travelling from Nottingham. Seem so abrupt to pull the plug without proper notice, I typed in Northampton and the only destination available was Northampton, MA, USA. I can still find links to Northampton UK via google though.

Thanks for mentioning Megabus. Stops further away from the town centre so another £2 bus fare home. Better than the more expensive National Express though.

 

[markymark2000]

Its been 4 months since I'd last booked a round trip back home to see family and friends in Northampton. I'm trying to book another, but Northampton is no longer available as a destination. Has it been removed as it was only recently added?

It's very disappointing as the first time I went there were zero problems. It also used to stop in the town centre, which was within walking distance to the family home.

Yes, removed as of the timetable changes last week.

The trips were run by Whippets on the 004 route and Whippets trips on the 004 were removed.