London to Penzance with National Express - The Long Road West!
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- čas přidán 12. 06. 2024
- In this weeks video, I'm taking you on the longest scheduled coach journey from London to a final destination in England - Penzance. I've been wanting to do this trip for ages and, for the price I paid, it was a comparative bargain.
I'll be showing you the route, the scenery, the stops, the coach interior and of course I'll tell you how much it cost in comparison to the obvious choice for most people - the train! I think you'll be surprised.
Thanks as always guys for taking the time to watch my videos. All likes, comments, subs are massively appreciated and it really encourages me to make more content for you all to enjoy.
Cheers for now.
Mark
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📖Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
02:20 - London to Heathrow Airport
06:50 - Heathrow Airport to Sedgemoor Services
10:16 - Sedgemoor Services to Newquay
16:56 - Newquay to Penzance
20:28 - Summary
As a NX Coach Driver myself its always nice to get thanks for the work we do, sometimes we get caught in traffic (or behind a tractor) and we have to remain professional at all times and sometimes this can be hard for us knowing that our passengers have got places to be, connecting trains, planes or family meeting them. I usually do the A1/A2 Service to Luton Airport or the later 565 to Bradford (Departing at 19:30). Keep up the good work and cant wait for next video
Well said Nathan and thanks for the comment. Always appreciate the professionalism of you guys and the skill involved. Cheers mate 😊👍
I love both coach and train journeys.
So do I Ellen. Most of the time!😂
Thank you. What a great trip... and thank you for the excellent commentary as usual. 😊
Driven most of that route several times but it's nice to see the scenery along the road for a change. Coach looked really good and clean.
This was really good to see, as I have looked into doing this journey with NE. I've been saying for years and years that I must go back down there one day. Thanks
Funny information in Polish @ Victoria bus station: "Odloty", which is exclusively for planes. Buses don't fly, so it should be "Odjazdy".😀
Got caught out on that one my self, made a passing comment to a lady on the Lizard that it was England's most southerly point. Was told quite abruptly that it was Cornwall's most southerly point not England's but hey!
Good video Mark, and glad your trip was a good one with no major hold ups along the way :)
Heyman, Just wanted to say how much I love your videos. They make my days brighter.
Hi Mike, thanks for the comment mate and I’m glad you enjoy them. Appreciate the support 😊
i really enjoy that trip. Have been many times over the years both by National Coach and Train. I have to get to Victoria from Dover to start with so it usually takes me from 8am to 6.30pm to get to Paignton by coach. Or alight at St David's or Exeter. I actually haven't gone right through to Penzance though. It was nice for you not to have too many passengers. Thank you yet again for the lovely video. HAPPY EASTER to you and your family.
Thanks Mark! And what lovely drivers.
They were excellent yes 👍
45 mins to Heathrow is very good going from Victoria. I used to live a couple of streets down from the coach station and if I did Heathrow in under an hour I thought I was doing well.
In the 90s we had 35mins from VCS to LHR during the daytime departures and only 25mins on the 2330 departure from VCS to LHR on the night cars to Penzance. Certainly a lot quieter then
Excellent report as always Mark, nice quiet comfortable journey, very little traffic or hold ups, almost on time, big plus, look forward to your next one bud 👍
Cheers mate, yep I can definitely recommend this one and for £20 (ish) can’t go wrong really 👍
I have to admit it's been many years since I boarded any coach or bus, as I usually drive, or occasionally go by train.[having been a BR Signalman for years], But I have enjoyed watching this video; thanks for posting. I once did Blackpool - London Vic overnight; during the 1970s.
I'll certainly watch more and subscribe.
Another great video, always enjoy your coach trips, thank you. I usually use the sleeper train going down and the daytime coming back into London, but I think I would maybe consider it one time to see.
It’s worth a go from a money point of view but I honestly believe it’s a comfortable option, albeit a long one.
Great video mark. It’s funny you released this now whilst I’m on a national express bus to Glasgow from Birmingham
Thanks, I hope the trips going/gone well for you 😊👍
Every time you say "double USB sockets" all I hear is "WSB sockets"! Great video as always. :)
Haha, cheers. It has been mentioned before so I thought I’d keep saying it (increase my engagement 😉) but also hold two fingers up to the camera to illustrate.
Long journey but looked like a good one and with excellent, friendly drivers.
The drivers can make the journey in my experience 😊
I haven't thought about Leigh de lamare or Membury since I was a kid. It was a regular part of our journey to visit family. In my experience, national express drivers are generally a very nice bunch of folks.
another excellent video.many thanks
Cheers Kevin and thanks for watching 😊
Used to drive this route when I was a national express coach driver in the 1990s.
We were based in Truro and later Camborne and our coaches used to refuel in Plymouth depot on the way up to London and then again on the way back, Personally I would say the fuel stop was a top up for the return journey.
I'm sure the coaches the Bruce's ( Scottish company) use are spec'd with larger non-standard fuel tanks, which allows them to do Glasgow to London and return without refuelling.
Sounds farfetched, but when I was driving in the 90s, we had 3 coaches that could easily do Penzance to Edinburgh back to Plymouth without refuelling.
They are yes
Yes afaik it was filled up. The drivers stay over at Penzance so I guess it’s pretty-much full for someone else to take it back overnight.
Thanks Mark…great watch and reminds me of Lincoln to Penzance via 🚌
Cheers. Doing it from Lincoln seems like a long run that (assuming you’re changing in London).
What a bargain and seeing Cornwall from a coach looks lovely thank you for sharing 🙏
Cheers Louise and thanks for taking the time to comment. 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip Pleasure 🙏
I went from Birmingham to Exeter last year in the National Express and one of the stops was at Bridgewater in Somerset. We got stuck in loads of traffic to get to Bridgewater only for no-one getting off or on in Bridgewater. It made us over an hour late. It brought the memory back to me when I saw Exeter coach station on your video.
What's worse is that you unnecessarily visited the services regularly voted as the worst in the country.
That is a bit frustrating yes. Maybe Bridgewater is designated as a ‘must stop’ stop if that is such a thing and the driver had no option?
❤What a great channel.. Presented well.. And thoroughly enjoyed watching this episode... Right.. Now let's watch some more 😊
Cheers mate and thanks for the kind words. Onwards to the Isles of Scilly this week!
Loved this trip!
Cheers Paul, thanks as always for the comment 😊👍
That was another good video interesting journey I travelled from Hereford to Exeter 2 changes ok if not long waits at each bus station but your journey went smoothly plenty of comfort breaks 👍
Hey mate, perfect timing for a national express video, anyways today I'm planning a trip to Bournemouth with national express because i had nothing else to do but yeah in my opinion I'm excited! But as always cheers mate 👍
Cheers, hope you enjoy the trip to Bournemouth - somewhere I haven’t been so I might do it myself at some point 👍
I have look at one of your comments say that Bridgwater in Somerset is bad because of the traffic you are right I am from Bridgwater.
The National Express you where on I used 10 years a go in 2014 there two services one you where on and one that I used both started from London Victoria both Coaches went to Heathrow Airport to change drivers then to Bridgwater then Taunton, Exeter, Dawlish ,Newton Abbot ,Torquay
Paignton, Ivybridge Plymouth change drives at National Express Depot which Stagecoach own now then in to Plymouth Bus Station then to Liskeard, St Austell , Falmouth and the last stop Penzance.
Great video, the coaches are pretty comfortable and great value with certain journeys not being too different from the train. If you're travelling between central London and Heathrow at night you have the added option on the N9 for the price of a single bus fare.
That looked a great trip tbh - I've got a friend moving to Cornwall and think I'll take the bus now to visit her rather than the train - the buses have come on a bit since I last used them and time and price wise, they make a good option - thanks for another very professional review!
Great video as always!! I travelled on the coach journey from Victoria to Dungarvan Ireland a few times which was 16.5hrs including nearly 4 hours on the ferry. Hope all is well, take care
That’s a long one Peter! I did the London - Dublin overnight last year and that was a bit of a slog! Good fun looking back though 😂
Use to enjoy Penzance area years ago. Hotel was terrible, family went via train and i drove the car down. Last coach trip was sheerings from Kent to Penzance. Since then my son drives for Kings Ferry owned by National express. He has a VIP coach with onboard cinema and kitchen where a chef is employed some times. He enjoys it. Lives and breathes it. Good services they are. I am now in MerthyrTydfil, no longer a Kent man.. Frightened of going back to these places as i hear many are rundown. I will be in Somerset in two weeks , so may take a trip to Penzance and check it out.
6:20 "Overpriced heathrow express" - have you seen the price for first class on the heathrow express? it's crazy. Normal pricing is also mad for what is just a 15 minute journey. I'd take the elizabeth line if i had to use LHR. Gatwick is closer for me these days.
Love your travel vlogs
Cheers Dave 😊
Welcome to Cornwall mark! I recommend you do the st erth to st Ives branch line (I think you have done this before) also a visit to the isles of Scilly by plane one way and ferry the other to experience both...good luck I hope you enjoy your time here all the best for the weather aswell!
Cheers Mark. The Isles of Scilly vids will be coming soon and yes, ferry out, flight back 👍
That will chear me up after my surgery. Excited.
I hope it went well mate.
Hi Mark, yep have to agree with you Victoria coach station looking good. Lovely iconic building very impressive your style of presentation very food long journey….👍🏻
Cheers Michael. Victoria Coach Station doesn’t get a lot of love but from the outside I think it’s fantastic!
Nice video mark, awful long way to go , look forward to seeing your upcoming videos
Cheers Sean. It was worth it for the next few videos. A great place 👍
Very good video again Mark.
Prices for trains are always more but I managed to get a bargain on Penzance to Chippenham £24.75 with a changeover at Bristol. The coach in comparison was £19.90 but only as far as Bristol then use local services runs back to Chippenham.
That's booked about 2 months in advance.
Enjoy Penzance, can't wait to see what else you got coming up
well done mark many years ago i did the overnight coach 504 to penzance via chippenham Bristol airport bridgewater paighton plymouth it was a great ride
well done paul in kent
Cheers Paul and well done to you for taking the overnight option!
nice trip report again mark
Cheers Caleb, thanks for leaving a comment mate 😊👍
Wow - £22 seems excellent value..
I'm the same as you regarding Newquay!
An epic road trip - these trips really are very good - both in composition and delivery Mark ! - Did the trip from the North West to the South West - the feeling of being very far from home does overcome you- particularly when you have started at 04.00......
Cheers mate. That’s certainly an early start yep! I would just hope for two seats to myself, get on the coach and go to sleep if I could!
Mrs R and myself found this helpful,informative and given us food for thought. The price and time comparison between bus and train was an eye opener. We've been thinking about taking a coach holiday but not to keen on being tied to a set itinerary and length of holiday. We are now thinking of touring by bus, two or three days in a place before moving on to another place.
Cheers both. Well actual coach holidays, I’m not so sure they’re for me because of this set itinerary thing you mentioned. Having said that, try anything once. There may be some kind of interest in it on here? I might ask the question 🤔
As you said best bit of Newquay is the road out, having been there!!!
Thanks for another brilliant video. Respect to you for doing this trip the whole way.
My preference for seats is either the very front seats or the very back row depending on the journey. I remember a few years ago reserving a front seat for a trip from Bristol to Birmingham but upon boarding the driver told me the front seats were unavailable and I had been moved to Seats 2A and 2B. He then swapped me again to the whechair seat at the front.
I’ve seen people move to that front seat and the driver didn’t seem to mind. Only problem with the rear is it being near the toilet which could pong a bit after a while and you’ve got people in and out all the time. There is an exit row, I think it’s something like row 16 which has better leg room. That’s a good seat.
A nice chilled vid there Mark. I have not been further than Plymouth so one day I will make it all the way. In the summer the coaches are rammed with tourists even the overnight one based on videos I have seen so as usual a much more pleasant experience in the low seasons. Agree the price is excellent for such a distance with limited competition. Sad news about the FlixBus crash in Germany but given hardly anyone wears a seatbelt, even the second driver, deaths were much more likely. I used them last month to travel from Krakow to Prague and will again in October for travel from Tallinn to Riga and Warsaw. Looking forward to the next few vids of your journey.
Cheers mate. Yes it was very relaxed really, certainly wasn’t overly tired at the end. I don’t see many people wearing seatbelts unfortunately, despite it being a legal requirement. Enjoy your trips in Europe mate 👍
Very good presentation…
Thanks Michael 😊
Those Levante 3's are lovely coaches....i used to dupe the Birmingham to Glasgow over night service in the 90's now and again
I thought so - really comfortable so a good fit for this long trip 👍
Several years ago I did the trip..Victoria Coch station to St Kew Highway...(Between Bodmin and Padstow.)
Looked a comfortable journey, Mark😊. Love Cornwall but it is a bit of a trek from Scotland. We visited Perranporth a few years ago but we flew down to Exeter then hired a car!
I was going to say, flying and self-drive is probably the best option - maybe even to Newquay. Don’t think I’ve been to Perranporth but plenty of time for that. 😊👍
Use to get tea coffee sarnies served on board once
Used to.make a few coach journeys in the 1980s when I was a student. Don't remember waiting tooms at Victoria, we just waited at the stands. I can still recall the smell of diesel fumes. Longest journey was to Glasgow, overnight, with Stagecoach.
Out of interest, it would be less miles going via the M3 and A303. But the A303 is mostly single carriageway, so it might be more stopping and starting which would use more fuel.
Edwards coaches are. great had Kerry drive us Bristol last week good video mark
Cheers Pete. I love their posh seats on the 040 London to Bristol run though I understand thoses coaches are being phased out sadly.
Thank You.
.
My pleasure 😊
Just got off today's 11:00 departure at Exeter. And just like you it was a good coach with excellent drivers!
...and you, sir, are turning me into a coach passenger...
Great video as always 👍
Great stuff mate. Overnight coach trips for you next then!
14:27 I took the national express to Launceston (it’s where I grew up) at Christmas to visit my parents for the Christmas and new year and I’ve got to say the seats are very very cramped
I used to work for NX and often travelled on the Levantes. Always found the seats slippery so i would slide down them.
I agree that VCS was the pits. Looks like its been improved over the years. Wait until NX have to move out as the whole area is destined for redevelopment as its owned by the Duchy of Westminster.
What a lovely coach station London Victoria is said nobody ever!
I like it from the outside!
@@LetsMakeaTrip 100% the outide is classic 1930's Art Deco, one of the finest. No wonder it's Grade 2 listed.
It's a brilliant place. Considerably modernised in recent years, although that does mean they now frown on you wandering about noting coach registrations, which is a slight disappointment. They're all Caetano Levantes now though anyway
However, in comparison to 10, 20 or more years ago, when I travelled through regularly, then it was a real mess of a Coach Station and utterly unfit for purpose.
@@LetsMakeaTrip The best way of seeing it. Visit it at 2300 onwards for the wait for the night coaches. I always use to wait outside until 20 mins before.😁
I take the coach, and really think it's good value.
Cornwall is overcrowded, difficult to park. St Ives was like Oxford st in london. Shoulder to shoulder, was hell. We got out quicker than planned. Lands end was always disappointing in the complex. Over rated tourist trap. Best bit is the coastal walk.
Thank you.
You're welcome!thanks for watching 😊
Thanks to your National Express videos and unfortunate rail strikes we have decided to take a NX coach next time! We are looking forward to our Manchester to Newcastle trip!
Brilliant! I’ve done it the other way (see previous vid) and found it an interesting route - especially M62 over the Pennines. Enjoy 😊👍
@@LetsMakeaTrip That video was key in our decision and we are looking forward to it. If it goes well who knows maybe we will be regular coach travellers... 🤷♂️
Well done Mark I'm tempted to do this considering the train fare in advance isn't what I call cheap 😊
Good luck if you do. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
What a great vid
Thanks mate 😊👍
13mpg for a coach is pretty decent! Our 2 axle coaches will average 11.5/12 mpg. So 13 for a triaxle coach is decent, given the drag of the third axle too. As always Mark, brilliant. Cheers for now
Cheers mate. Yep, quite a few comments saying 13 mpg is decent. Obviously I haven’t got a clue when it comes to stuff like this(!) So I’m glad I asked in the vid as it’s always useful to know. And I’ve learnt something about tri-axle drag aswell! Nice one 😊👍
It's got to be the steady cruise mode, no stop start,I found the speed made a big difference too, plus it's mostly southwards, so downhill all the way!😅
Great video as always Mark. I much prefer train travel but I think I would choose the coach.
8 hours on a National Express coach sounds more appealing than 5 and half hours on those awful GWR class 800s and 802s.
Cheers Stephen and yes if you use South Western Railway and GWR it can take you longer on the train!
I did that bus once overnight but not quite as far as it was only to Truro.19:15 doesn't need a PM!The 24 hour clock is the most sensible clock for public transportation but try telling the Americans and Trent Barton in the English East Midlands!
When I listened to that back I thought ‘I bet someone tells me I don’t need to use the pm on a 24 hour clock’! 😂 Truro’s not a bad effort though Kevan. Looks a nice place whenever I’ve been through there.
Great video Mark National Express excellent service are you going to Isles of Scilly next?
Take care .
Tony& Jean.
Hi both, I must just have headed over there next yes 😊👍
You must be exhausted after that long trip on the coach to go to penzance the place I still go to for my holidays in Cornwall
I'd like to have done that when it was operated by Trathens with Neoplan Skyliners. They were cool
They certainly looked cool those. I wonder if any still exist doing ‘heritage’ tour stuff?
I would recommend you spend more time in Newquay at some stage Mark. the Fistral end of Newquay (south) is stunning
Yep, I mean I don’t mind the place but prefer the quieter areas of Cornwall tbh (like anywhere I guess). The Isles of Scilly for example, well, that was just an AMAZING place!
@@LetsMakeaTrip Newquay is fine outside of the Busy summer. Even in Summer then all the "Party dudes"😁 are either asleep or on the beach during the day. You can also make it across Newquay from one end to the other without going near the main High St & avoiding everybody if you know what roads to take. Once you are past the Rail Station then its quiet anyway.
Nice one mate 👍 interesting to hear the driver called control to ask if he could bypass a stop. Once I had a booked ticket from an intermediate stop (Newmarket) and the coach was running an hour late - it just bypassed the stop, meaning i ended up on the next one, so 3 hours late rather than one. I wasn't happy! Looking forward to seeing what you get up to in Cornwall 👀
Interesting, because they surely would’ve known that a ticket had been purchased? Like at Oakhampton if that’d been the case or if 1 person needed to get off, we would’ve had to stop. Compensation due there surely. Couple of ferry vids, a flight and a bus coming up so you can probably work out where I went after Penzance!
@@LetsMakeaTrip yes, after complaining I received double the original ticket cost in vouchers £18 I think it was. This was back in about 2006 so I'm not sure how joined up systems were then!
I went into Merthyr Tydfil train station to buy ticket for Paddington. It was over £180 each return.. Quickly walked out.. So plan in advance, buy on line where you can get fantastic cheaper deals. Cannot just suddenly say let's go to London on the train. Well you can, at a high price.
For Zone 1 to Heathrow the Piccadilly line is £5.60 taking ~35mins, Elizabeth line is £13.30 taking ~30mins. As the Piccadilly line is getting brand new air conditioned trains this year and it's only about 5mins slower to zone 1 it's definitely the best option.
There's also the frequency problem with the Elizabeth line to Heathrow with some terminals only served a few times an hour. Honestly not showing the additional Elizabeth line charge to Heathrow on the tube map is close to a scam by TFL as it rarely makes sense to take as even the Heathrow express booked early can be cheaper.
I guess it depends where in Central London you are starting from, and which Terminal you are going to. Personally I would take the tube every time unless your hotel was literally outside Vic Coach Station and you were going to T2 or T3. And even then you'd have to prebook it rather than just turn up and wait a few minutes for the tube
@@dazzlingdaz187 Oh yer the coach never makes sense, the Piccadilly is faster, cheaper and far far more frequent.
I might consider using the new Birmingham to Penzance overnight route that NX do someday.
Another really interesting coach journey. I thought your point about taking the coach from London to Heathrow was interesting. I'd never considered it as an option. I reckon it'd be well worth it in terms of the time taken.
Cheers Tim. It’s worth a look. I’m still undecided tbh but if you’re in no rush it’s definitely an option.
Madness. I couldn’t spend that long cramped up on a bus. Train or drive…..
‘madness’? I’ve done one or two coach trips that have been cramped yes but you must’ve seen the amount of space I had on this one. An empty seat next to me, plenty of leg room, comfortable, lovely views, no stress, on-time (pretty-much). OK, train is an option but there’s no chance I’d drive it these days. How much do you reckon you’d have spent in fuel?
There was two that you where to stop at Newquay and one went to Penzance
Brilliant video, I think as long as the weather is dry it helps with travel, this trip would have been truly epic if the sun was shining and you had blue skies all the way, but it was still pretty good, nice coach, good fellow passengers and a couple of excellent drivers, 13 mpg for a coach is excellent, trucks only manage between 8 and 10 mpg, big plus was the coach not being rammed, I was on one of these Victoria to Lhr coaches on a connection from Telford/Victoria change and hop to Lhr, only problem was it left Victoria in the thick of afternoon/ Eve rush hour, but surprisingly it got to Lhr in around an hour and a bit, good going considering how busy it was coming out of London,. Dropped me at Lhr at 6.30 pm, so ideal for a 21.30 departure,.
Cheers Mike. Yes I think the weather would’ve been better in the Summer and obviously the day is longer. Possible trade-off the coach would be busier. Mad those mpg figures for trucks. Must be big tanks!
@@LetsMakeaTrip 450 litres is the norm, some have dual tanks 8/900 litres +.
I've done the tube to get from seven sisters to heathrow after a football game. It was an hour and ten minutes and it fell under the travel card rules at the time. (I was flying back home to aberdeen)
Looks a decent service, and coach, to be honest. Having used NX over 15 years we didn't rate NX or their staff, especially in Devon and the Midlands. Until NX changed hands the national route network, travel times and frequencies were good though. If NX has actually improved in the last couple of years it might be worth trying them again. If they haven't improved their services and attitudes, then no.
Great video as always! I’m not a huge fan of bus travel for longer distances vs. train. The mere thought you have to sit hours and hours tight unless there is a service break (or go and see the bathroom should one be there and not permanently locked by the driver) makes me chuckle. In a train you can get up any time, and walk around and no driver will moan at you for walking up and down the aisle.
I agree! Just knowing I couldn't get up and walk around would make me restless!
Its NOT a Bus.. Its a Coach.. 😁Calling it a Bus makes you sound American. If you are watching a CZcams Video like this then you should know the difference between a Bus & a Coach🤣
When you done your trip to thurso, an idea could of been taking transport from there all the way to penzance
nice video, as you come towards the border on the A30 between Devon and Cornwall you would of passed the nearly home trees always a welcome sight on the way home.
exactly 6.25 miles from my house , i work up north alot ,, and love to see these after working away ,,
@@leeslog555 probably about the same seeing them after a long drive home makes me really happy.
Great video as always my friend 👍👍
Cheers mate, thanks for watching and leaving a comment 😊👍
I did Sunderland to Penzance with the change at London Victoria lets just say it wasnt too much fun.
A long run that. I would do it but overnight in London and then of course, it’s costing a whole load more money!
Great video, Mark. You must have travelled with all of the main coach companies by now and, from what I've seen, National Express look like one of the best. I just have to try them one day but I haven't so far because I can never seem to find a departure or arrival time that suits me. Getting to my destination far too late in the day isn't an attractive deal. In the meantime, CrossCountry and Avanti West Coast will continue to rob the pants off me!
Just returned to the US, after a trip to see "Doc Martin's village. LHR to Paddington, then the next morning, PAD to Bodmin on the Great Western Railway. My return to LHR was on National Express. I would not hesitate to recommend either of those companies for their great service. Very enjoyable trip. Seeing Port Isaac was a dream come true!
That’s a big issue isn’t it Ian - frequency but, depending on where you live I guess, you may only have one service each way a day (like here in Shrewsbury). It’s better than nothing tbh but I guess the demand is just not there yet.
Sounds great Mark and I’m glad you enjoyed it 👍
I think the gate numbering at Victoria is a hangover from pre National Express days and regional sectors after NE was born. When I was there a lot in the early 1980s the rule of thumb was southeast lowest then working up through southwest, Wales etc to Midlands and North up around 17 upwards for the likes of Liverpool Manchester etc. Scottish services had the very highest plus along the far wall.
Hope this helps.
Cheers Simon, yes I thought it might be something like that. Like I said, every time I head north I seem to be at the highest numbered gates.
1st time seeing one of your video's. Used NX lots between 1998-end 2019 & done that Newquay Journey a fair few times but last time I was in Newquay was Jan 2018..
Im sure people will know but its the law (like in a car) that you have to wear a seatbelt while on the coach.. In reality.. Its the only thing that will stop you being thrown around like a rag doll if their is an accident & worse case scenario the coach flips over.. But moving on from that 😁
They use to run 3/4 times a day down to Penzance. 0800/1100/1300/1600 from what I remember. The timings are still the same though. 45 mins to Heathrow, 3h15 to Sedgemoor Services. I think it was the 504 that then use to visit Plymouth 7 then do the Bodmin, Launceston run to Newquay.
Been to Penzance 2/3 times. Once on the train (when I got a cheap ticket) & the other on the coach.
Once was 90 mins late so turned into 0800-1930 & once was on time. It also use to drop oof at ST.Ives & if you have seen St.Ives "Bus Stop" just after the Tesco before you go into the main town that you have to reverse into then Im not surprised it doesn't go there any longer.
Back around 2015-2016 the Coach would leave Plymouth on time & then proceed to Plymouth Depot to be "refueled" & for the toilet to be dropped. This would then make you around 30 mins late every time.
SO long as you arent stuck in traffic for hours then the way to get through these journeys I found was 3 hrs to Sedgemoor,2 hrs to Plymouth, 2 hrs to Newquay with a 30 min comfort break. Travelling on a near empty coach can be lovely. Travelling on a busy noisy coach is a completely different thing especially for 8 hrs.
Once did Victoria to Edinburgh once. It was 90 mins late leaving Victoria.. Then Driver "ran out of hours" so had to wait 30 mins for "2 other drivers". They then ran out of hours at 1600 so had to have an unplanned 45 min break at services & then was 3 hr15 mins late in the end & instead of arriving into Edinburgh at 1815 then it was 2130.. Luckily it was the summer & although it was dark then it wasn't cold by then. Never done Glasgow/Edinburgh direct back to London again. Luckily Ive got family in Yorkshire 7 friends in Dumfries so when I use to do it then I would break the journey up abit.
Would be interesting to make a head-to-head comparison with GWR's IETs, particularly regarding comfort
IET’s quicker, but worse comfort-wise imo.
Hey I did a "Mark eye roll" when you mentioned the tractor...and then we got a one from you 2 secs later.
Haha, cheers John. Yep, bloody tractors! 😂
I used to live 5 minutes if I was travelling from Victoria it was cheaper and lot less hassle changing tubes the coach is direct especially if you going on another city you can't get from Heathrow. Its some times dearer from Heathrow play around to see what to go
That was a really good price. The coach is quicker than the tube to LHR, hadnt thought of that before.
I’m the same. For me though, I’m normally coming into London on the train and it’s east just to jump on the tube from Euston rather than the hassle of getting to the coach station.
Only some coaches go to Heathrow though . You might have to wait over 30 mins for a departure & then there's the 10 min walk from Victoria Tube to Victoria Coach Station. Granted if you are arriving by Coach into Victoria then fair enough but once you add the waiting time then its only 45 mins on the tube from Victoria. So if you both left at the same time then it would be a tight run through thing but if you get a Piccadilly line Train straight away then would be close. The Coach usually hits traffic until it gets past Earls Court & onto the M4 at Hammersmith.
Thats a good point Rob but really that tube journey from Victoria is laborious and to just sit on the coach without changes sounds ideal, of course you have to work your timings out and wouldnt comptemplate it in rush hour
Absolutely, vallue for money; comfort little compromise to make ! What you see is a lot more of Cornwall , Devon than on rail, something different thand Dawlish and Plymouth, Cornwall rural some seaside resorts make it more enjoyable, New Quai !
The Dawlish area is great on the train I have to admit but the coach was a little different yes.
Just came back from Cornwall 5 hours by Car to Brum!
I believe the roads were quite busy yesterday!
I've only been on one coach journey from London Victoria to Glasgow in 1985.
£22.10 seems very good value for money, I'd need a good book I think if I did this journey.
Yes Cathy, take a book and think about the money you’re saving 😊👍
13 mpg?
That's actually pretty good.
Mine do more like 9 or 10mpg, but that might be lower because our services are only 2.5 hours each way so London traffic is a higher % of our trip milage.