| Marketing the express coach - lies, damned lies and statistics Posted by grahame at 12:35, 15th November 2026 |     |
National Express Advert
Paying £65 for a train to sit on the floor by a stinky toilet? Absolutely not. Grab a guaranteed seat with direct travel to London from £6.50.
One-way fare. Save £1.50 with MyAccount. T&Cs apply.
One-way fare. Save £1.50 with MyAccount. T&Cs apply.
Hmmm ...
Not sure where that's from, but you are quoting £35 for a return journey on 21st December from my home town of Melksham, versus £47 I would pay on the train, where it would be highly unusual to have to sit on the floor near the toilet. The bus round trip is 8 hours, the train round trip is 3 - so of course value per travelling hour you are better value - just over £4 per hour rather than almost £16 per hour.
Personal preference is train. 5 hours less travel, the freedom to move around and to choose from multiple return times. Leaving home at 06:30 and back at 22:45 is a very long day. Buses and coaches DO have their place, but as a day trip to the centre of London this is not the mode I would choose.
