(11 Mar 2021, 1:26 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I personally would take a direct bus instead of taking two trains, even if it takes a bit longer. In fact, even if it was two buses, I'd probably still take the bus
I find changing trains so stressful, the platforms are never where you expect and the signage is always terrible.
If I can just get on a bus, and get off where I need to be, that's worth the extra time, and I can imagine it'd probably be the same for people with kids
I'm not sure people with kids would prefer buses mind.
Trains are better for families as you get tables which easily fit 4 people around, you've got food / drinks on board, the atmosphere is generally nicer than a bus more spacious and most importantly there's a toilet.
Imagine being on a the X11 with a Omnidekka and you just leave Middlesbrough and your kid needs the toilet or is even younger and shits it's nappy. Your going to have a very amused bus load of passengers and a very embarrasing journey. It's definitely something I'd be thinking about if I had kids and I'd pay a premium to avoid that.
Plus if you have a 30 minute wait at York it's time to quickly get a Burger King or whatever to eat on the second train and shuts them up for a bit, eating food on buses is banned on the other hand even known it's rarely enforced.
Swapping trains and buses are probably about equal in confusingness tbf, depends which you use more really; personally I find swapping trains piss easy but could understand how others wouldn't.