National Express Coaches query 13 November 2022 at 9:37AM in Public transport & cycling 12 replies 556 views

Timalay

I'll be going down to Wimbledon on the 25th of this month, and returning back on the 27th.  Now on the 26th, there will be the National Rail strike action.  If the trains are affected on Sunday, if the national express isn't booked, can I turn up and pay on the day?  Sorry if this a stupid question, but I've never traveled on national express before.

martindow

In my experience the day following strikes, GWR trains have sometimes started a little later and there have been occasional cancellations during the day, but travel has been perfectly possible.

If you can say where you are travelling from others may have experience of joureys on that particular route.

Timalay

Sorry, I should have included that.  Basically, I'm travelling down from Sudbury, Suffolk to Wimbledon on a Friday afternoon, and then travelling back on Sunday.  Even if can get to somewhere like say Marks Tey, Colchester, or even Ipswich.  It should be easier for me to be picked up from there.

tofu-eater_3

Hello.To answer your question. No. I have never seen anybody turn up and 'pay on the day' on a National Express coach ,and I've done a fair bit of travelling on their coaches.If there was something like a bus station with a ticket office that was open near to where you are boarding I expect you could buy a ticket from them to use straight away ,but not from the driver. You can buy tickets online right up to the last minute, so, in theory you could take a smart phone with you and buy a ticket just before and then you could show your ticket to the driver, but I appreciate that not every body uses a smartphone and some people of the older generation perhaps might not be able to do that.

Timalay

Thanks.  I've never used national express coaches before.  So I have no idea how it works, to be honest.  I have already installed the National Express app on my phone.  I'll only look at using the national express as a last measure. 
Looking into it the trains whilst running late, it shouldn't be too bad.

macman

Obviously if the trains are not running, the coaches are likely to be booked up heavily.
Presumably the coach will take you to Victoria Coach station, then it's an easy tube journey onwards to Wimbledon.

Timalay

No, you misunderstand.  I was worried about any cancelled trains on Sunday as an effect on the tube strikes on Saturday.

macman

There is no tube strike on Saturday

McKneff

We were on a NX coach Manchester to Leeds,The coach pulled up to a young couple at an NX stop about a mile out of Manchester and they paid the driver in cash. 
Ring them and ask 

iMarkeh

You can pay onboard but it is significantly more expensive, especially on strike days. To the extent that you can book an hour before departure and get it much cheaper than paying onboard. It is a risk though to leave it that late as many coaches get fully booked and so won't take walk up passengers.

If you don't like the idea of the mobile tickets and stuff, tickets can be purchased at a number of agents (for a variable booking fee) or at any Post Office for a £1 booking fee.

Timalay

iMarkeh said:

You can pay onboard but it is significantly more expensive, especially on strike days. To the extent that you can book an hour before departure and get it much cheaper than paying onboard. It is a risk though to leave it that late as many coaches get fully booked and so won't take walk up passengers.

If you don't like the idea of the mobile tickets and stuff, tickets can be purchased at a number of agents (for a variable booking fee) or at any Post Office for a £1 booking fee.

Seeing as the 27th of November has been and gone.  Maybe I made it back ok.