National Express timing complaint - from LHR

[venuss]

Hi Everyone

It is not in my nature to complain, however ....

This morning I was going to book my National Express Glastonbury ticket from London Heathrow, as usual I looked for the earliest possible departure

London Heathrow depart 08:00 Wed arrive 11:30 Wed, all five previous trips have arrived later than 11:30

London Victoria depart 04:30 Wed arrive 08:00 Wed

Glasgow/ Edinbrg depart 21:30 Tues arrive 08:00 Wed

I did not look at the other start points around the country

If Victoria can have departures 04:30, 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30 and Scotland can have buses leaving on Tues .... why can't they put on an earlier departure from Heathrow????

No, it is not reasonable for me, living in Berkshire, to go across the city to take an earlier departure from Victoria, it would take two hours to get to Victoria

the train is anything but direct and I drive a car with low profile tires which would easily get stuck in the parking fields

No wonder he place is packed by the time I get there

VENUS

[Chrisbristol]

Why not drive and park nearby, then get a taxi five minutes to the gate. It is rubbish to be leaving so late in the day, you will be in the queues for hours when you get there. Makes it a long day

[pie_and_a_pint]

It's not great, is it? The one from Oxford arrives at 1415 on Wednesday, and they want £40 per person for it. And they wonder why people take the car...

[venuss]

Now then, Chris

Why did I never think of that before????

I have a friend, lives on a farm, went to school with Emily, they arrive by tractor on the Friday .... brilliant!!

I'll ask if I can park up at the farm and cab it in for doors open on Wednes

Thanks for the idea .... VENUS

Why not drive and park nearby, then get a taxi five minutes to the gate. It is rubbish to be leaving so late in the day, you will be in the queues for hours when you get there. Makes it a long day

[venuss]

Yes, that is bad

I don't want to drive, i have a three liter car so it will cost more and pollute the air

But, Chris' suggestion was a good one

It's not great, is it? The one from Oxford arrives at 1415 on Wednesday, and they want £40 per person for it. And they wonder why people take the car...

[Guest]

Depending on where in Berkshire you live, it only takes 30 minutes or so to get from Reading to Paddington by train, then a short trip on the tube to Victoria.

[venuss]

Well, if i was to do that I'd get the NX from Reading

I can't do your suggestion because I live in a tiny village on the London side on Windsor and your very helpful suggestion won't work

Thanks ... VENUS

Depending on where in Berkshire you live, it only takes 30 minutes or so to get from Reading to Paddington by train, then a short trip on the tube to Victoria.

[Mr. Cowbell]

Last year we booked a mini-bus to take us from down from Liverpool. We got picked up at 3am and after a bit of confusion from the driver around Glastonbury itself (not pilton) we arrived about 10am and by that time the queues were an absolute nightmare. I'm going to suggest leaving a hell of a lot earlier next year hopefully getting to the gate for about 5am.

[Staberinde]

Now then, Chris

Why did I never think of that before????

I have a friend, lives on a farm, went to school with Emily, they arrive by tractor on the Friday .... brilliant!!

I'll ask if I can park up at the farm and cab it in for doors open on Wednes

Thanks for the idea .... VENUS

Edited October 20, 2012 by Staberinde

[AnnaGrant]

I've heard low profile tyres are pants in mud, but as ours is a company car I'm prepared to risk it in the mud-sorry sun baked fields.

I need a car as I am incapable of travelling light, and need complete flexibility on outward and homeward journey times.

[sjhopewell]

Yes, that is bad

I don't want to drive, i have a three liter car so it will cost more and pollute the air

But, Chris' suggestion was a good one

[davidd]

How unreasonable of them. Have you tried complaing and asking if they can change the timetables to something a little more to your liking ?

[Samhodson95]

Completely agree with this post,I'm coming from Manchester on a 8am departure to arrive around lunchish, or a little earlier, I'd pay more to leave around 5am to get there for 10, suppose national express don't see this! Not good.

[AnnaGrant]

You might imagine that most transport companies would be aware that approximately 140,000 people would be on the move to Glastonbury that weekend and would plan their services accordingly. It's a chance to make more money!

[gooner1990]

Train from Windsor to Reading then direct to Castle Cary from there?

[Becoming a veteran]

I'd imagine coaches to festivals aren't purely about customers convenience, limiting cars onsite and helping the environment, they are also an effective way of controlling the amount of people arriving on the site at the same time.

As well as logistical issues with having enough coaches for Glastonbury and normal services and will have to fit timetables, it just might not be physically possible to have so many coaches getting to Glastonbury early. See tickets contract various companies for their combination packages but I'd guess if you book National Express it will be a National Express coach, there's only so many.

[timmy tugboat]

Train from Windsor to Reading then direct to Castle Cary from there?

Edited October 21, 2012 by timmy tugboat