National Express coach changes April 2024

[Smethwickian]

National Express is revising a number of services from April 12, with an interesting couple of additions to non-London 'cross country' options.
Gloucester hasn't had a service to Birmingham or Bristol since before the pandemic, I don't think, only London services.
The 161 is curious, as NX did run a once daily Birmingham - Bristol - Bath - Salisbury - Bournemouth for a few months in, I think, summer 2022, but it didn't last.
Details are as follows.

Service 030: Portsmouth - London
Service 032: Southampton - London
Revised daily services to operate more efficiently
Service 100: Bristol - Birmingham
Revised daily service reintroducing Gloucester to the cross country network
Service 160: Bournemouth - Southampton - Oxford - Birmingham
Revised daily service reintroducing Winchester to the cross country network and shortened journey times to improve efficiencies
Service 161: Bournemouth - Southampton - Swindon - Cheltenham - Birmingham
New daily service, increasing direct options between the South Coast & Midlands and reintroducing Swindon to the cross country network
Service 203: Portsmouth - Southampton - Winchester - Heathrow Airport
Revised daily service with improvements for punctuality

 

[Martin1988]

The 100 route is simply being altered to serve Gloucester as opposed to Cheltenham which it currently does.

From memory that short lived Birmingham to Bournemouth service via Bristol ran during Summer 2020 and 2021 so personally I think Covid was the cause of that route failing. I do feel NX need to bring back a service from Bristol to Oxford and the South Coast. A service worked from Bristol in one direction and Bournemouth/Southampton in the other which connected in Bristol with the Birmingham and the South Wales/South West services would be a good idea. At least in my opinion.

 

[route101]

The 100 route is simply being altered to serve Gloucester as opposed to Cheltenham which it currently does.

From memory that short lived Birmingham to Bournemouth service via Bristol ran during Summer 2020 and 2021 so personally I think Covid was the cause of that route failing. I do feel NX need to bring back a service from Bristol to Oxford and the South Coast. A service worked from Bristol in one direction and Bournemouth/Southampton in the other which connected in Bristol with the Birmingham and the South Wales/South West services would be a good idea. At least in my opinion.

I reckon Bristol to Bournemouth would do well in the summer.

 

[Cymroglan]

I reckon Bristol to Bournemouth would do well in the summer.

Having recently endured the railway option for this route (ok to Southampton, then a 2 car dmu packed to the proverbials), I‘m certain that I’m not the only one who would welcome a coach option.