+- North East Buses (https://northeastbuses.co.uk)
+-- Forum: Local Bus Scene (https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Go North East (https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=54)
+--- Thread: GNE NX contracts (/showthread.php?tid=3331)
GNE NX contracts - GNE6312 - 20 Mar 2021
Bustimes.org have the NX times for all the routes scheduled to return up to August and I've noticed none of GNE's contracts up there have GNE dropped out of their NX contracts? If so Why?
RE: GNE NX contracts - MichealAaron - 20 Mar 2021
(20 Mar 2021, 3:55 pm)GNE6312 wrote Bustimes.org have the NX times for all the routes scheduled to return up to August and I've noticed none of GNE's contracts up there have GNE dropped out of their NX contracts? If so Why?Which routes as I can't find any?
RE: GNE NX contracts - Rapidsnap - 20 Mar 2021
Maybe not all routes have been done yet. Plus the times don't usually specify the operator operating the service.
RE: GNE NX contracts - GNE6312 - 20 Mar 2021
(20 Mar 2021, 6:06 pm)MichealAaron wrote Which routes as I can't find any?https://bustimes.org/operators/national-express
Here, there's nothing from the North East which Is wierd.
RE: GNE NX contracts - omnicity4659 - 21 Mar 2021
Would they not just be the services operated by National Express Limited, instead of a contractor?
RE: GNE NX contracts - anvil1984 - 21 Mar 2021
There’s a Network Map at https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/live-service-updates pretty much confirming nothing north of Leeds / Bradford on the 29th March timetables
RE: GNE NX contracts - WHEATSHEAF1 - 21 Mar 2021
There are services listed I’ve just tried Leeds to Sunderland, there’s a service L7 running
RE: GNE NX contracts - GNE6312 - 21 Mar 2021
(21 Mar 2021, 1:18 pm)WHEATSHEAF1 wrote There are services listed I’ve just tried Leeds to Sunderland, there’s a service L7 runningImteresting I'll try doing abit of digging and see if there's anymore services listed.
Just found a network map effective next Monday (29/03) apparently they aren't running North of Leeds. Imagine megsbus will be getting a fair few new passengers travelling from Newcastle and Scotland down south.
RE: GNE NX contracts - Kuyoyo - 21 Mar 2021
(21 Mar 2021, 1:18 pm)WHEATSHEAF1 wrote There are services listed I’ve just tried Leeds to Sunderland, there’s a service L7 running
Which is logged in ready for Leeds Festival in August. At present, there's no National Express services into the North East from Monday 29th March (Megabus does resume the same day - with one daily Newcastle to London M12, a southbound-only M34 to Portsmouth on Fridays Saturdays and Sundays, and 4 southbound and 3 northbound M36 journeys; 1 single trip to and from Cardiff, 2 each way starting and terminating at Bristol Cabot Circus and and a afternoon short working to Leeds) and it's unknown how long until services into the North East resume.
RE: GNE NX contracts - Malarkey - 22 Mar 2021
(21 Mar 2021, 1:22 pm)GNE6312 wrote Imteresting I'll try doing abit of digging and see if there's anymore services listed.
Just found a network map effective next Monday (29/03) apparently they aren't running North of Leeds. Imagine megsbus will be getting a fair few new passengers travelling from Newcastle and Scotland down south.
Once again us Northerners get over looked as though we don't exist which is a shame, maybe Go North East could fill the gap on the "Northern Coaching" side of the business and set up some services to head Southbound to connect to the NatEx Network at Leeds or go the extra mile and have some competition heading down towards London.
You've got Caetano Levante 2's 7131/32/35/36/37 doing nothing but with odd fleet numbers it seems like these maybe disposed of in the near future however you do the Caetano Levante 3's 7138-7149 which could be used on such services as they've not been used in months.
RE: GNE NX contracts - PH - BQA - 22 Mar 2021
(22 Mar 2021, 6:44 pm)Malarkey wrote Once again us Northerners get over looked as though we don't exist which is a shame, maybe Go North East could fill the gap on the "Northern Coaching" side of the business and set up some services to head Southbound to connect to the NatEx Network at Leeds or go the extra mile and have some competition heading down towards London.
You've got Caetano Levante 2's 7131/32/35/36/37 doing nothing but with odd fleet numbers it seems like these maybe disposed of in the near future however you do the Caetano Levante 3's 7138-7149 which could be used on such services as they've not been used in months.
I've not used NatEx for years, so can't comment first hand, but I've noticed in bus stations over the past few years that Megabus coaches on similar routes to NatEx equivalents always seem to be carrying more folk. If I ever (pre-Covid) need to use a coach to get somewhere, I never even think of NatEx as the few times I did look their fares were considerably more expensive than Megabus.
Is there an actual future for NatEx? I find most younger people either book a train or use Megabus, or have access to a car if going places as a group.
RE: GNE NX contracts - Rapidsnap - 22 Mar 2021
My trip last year from North Shields to London and back (a week before the original lockdown) was by NatEx (using GNE 7136 to London on the Sunday morning service 435, and 7140 coming back on the 425 during the Friday afternoon) and that only cost me £3.50 return.
RE: GNE NX contracts - Jimmi - 22 Mar 2021
(22 Mar 2021, 8:01 pm)mb134 wrote I've not used NatEx for years, so can't comment first hand, but I've noticed in bus stations over the past few years that Megabus coaches on similar routes to NatEx equivalents always seem to be carrying more folk. If I ever (pre-Covid) need to use a coach to get somewhere, I never even think of NatEx as the few times I did look their fares were considerably more expensive than Megabus.
Is there an actual future for NatEx? I find most younger people either book a train or use Megabus, or have access to a car if going places as a group.
I did some journeys in 2020 and there was some young-ish passengers on it, uni sort of age.
I must say I only plan on really using National Express again if the fare works out considerably cheaper than the train (or other travel options) as I see train as the preferable option as its more comfortable (found space on Gen 3 Levante's a bit poor) and the journeys are often longer, prices I've often found similar between NX and train but it's often worth the few extra quid for the train I feel.
I certainly don't fancy using it whilst covid is still a thing for multiple reasons: the times got absolutely hacked to bits, they changed my booking for return journey less than 24 hours prior to my outbound journey to 6am the following morning which I couldn't actually make so had to quickly amend it with only one seat left showing at this point with this journey being the originally booked trip/service but had now been diverted via Sheffield. There was also inconsistencies as to whether the toilets were or weren't to be in use, website said no, safety announcement says yes but the reality was it was pot luck as to what was being implemented. Something I was unaware of was the possibility of temperate checks prior to boarding which is a worry for me due to having issues with my sinuses and frequent headaches causing raised temperatures so there was a fair chance of me being left behind at Milton Keynes Coachway at 1am (been a nightmare living with that for the last 12 months as it aligns with some of the covid symptoms).
RE: GNE NX contracts - PH - BQA - 22 Mar 2021
(22 Mar 2021, 8:09 pm)Rapidsnap wrote My trip last year from North Shields to London and back (a week before the original lockdown) was by NatEx (using GNE 7136 to London on the Sunday morning service 435, and 7140 coming back on the 425 during the Friday afternoon) and that only cost me £3.50 return.
Can't really knock that to be fair. I gave up looking about a year into being up here, the price was always more than the (quicker) Megabus, and about that of the train.
(22 Mar 2021, 8:41 pm)Jimmi wrote I did some journeys in 2020 and there was some young-ish passengers on it, uni sort of age.
I must say I only plan on really using National Express again if the fare works out considerably cheaper than the train (or other travel options) as I see train as the preferable option as its more comfortable (found space on Gen 3 Levante's a bit poor) and the journeys are often longer, prices I've often found similar between NX and train but it's often worth the few extra quid for the train I feel.
I think that's it. Every time I looked, I could get a 16-25 ticket on LNER (or Virgin at the time) in 1st for the same, or say £5 more, than what I'd pay for a NatEx from here to Newcastle. Megabus was always cheaper than both. So after a while I just stopped even thinking about it as an option. (I can't remember exactly, but I seem to remember it might have also been routed via Glasgow, which made it even worse.)
I'm sure there is some market for what they do, it's just everytime I've been in Edinburgh Bus Station heading back here I've never seen a huge load on the NatEx - whereas you see decent loads leaving on all the CityLink/Megabus work.
RE: GNE NX contracts - Rapidsnap - 22 Mar 2021
You just have to shop around for the best price. In 2014 I manage to get a return from Newcastle to Antwerp (Belgium) for £11.50.
When I go around the country I tend to drive, means I go at my own pace and have flexibility in my plans. Though when I do go to London I tend to use the coach, usually megabus, but would use NatEx if cheaper. As for roominess, I managed to bag the seat next to the emergency exit both ways meaning plenty of leg room.
RE: GNE NX contracts - Big O - 23 Mar 2021
I certainly hope this isn't the end for NatEx up to Newcastle. In 2019 I decided to take the Meagabus sleeper down to London and it was such a horrible experience and I will never use Megabus again. Way too cramped and the seats are just awful, no space at all. Not worth the £12.50 at all. I don't like the Levante's but it felt luxurious compared to the Interdeck I did on my inbound journey. Having said this, I just cannot stand Stagecoach, I find them awfully dull and unappealing and their attempts at branding are so lack luster you wonder why they bothered.
RE: GNE NX contracts - omnicity4659 - 23 Mar 2021
Pre-covid, I always found the Edinburgh/Ashington/Shields to London overnight coaches to be full. Daytime morning journeys from Newcastle always seemed quiet though.
Couldn't comment about any other times of day.
RE: GNE NX contracts - Andreos1 - 24 Mar 2021
(23 Mar 2021, 11:12 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Pre-covid, I always found the Edinburgh/Ashington/Shields to London overnight coaches to be full. Daytime morning journeys from Newcastle always seemed quiet though.
Couldn't comment about any other times of day.
Wonder if there's an element of 'train factor' here?
No overnight trains = only alternative being car or coach.
RE: GNE NX contracts - streetdeckfan - 24 Mar 2021
(24 Mar 2021, 8:16 am)Andreos1 wrote Wonder if there's an element of 'train factor' here?
No overnight trains = only alternative being car or coach.
Potentially, but I'd suspect it's also got something to do with not wanting to waste a whole day on a coach, if you leave on a night, you'll get there first thing. And if you're one of those weirdos who can sleep on a coach, then I'd imagine it's far more convenient