Cost of coaches increases as rail workers strike
LOWER PRICED TICKETS SOLD OUT ON THE DAYS OF ACTION
THE cost of travelling from Leicester to London by coach appears to have shot up ahead of the rail strike set to start today.
Industrial action is due today, Thursday and Saturday, but will have knock-on effects on following days.
On Saturday, the Mercury checked National Express coach prices from Leicester to London.
For a journey yesterday, a ticket from Leicester city centre to Victoria Coach Station in London was £8.90.
Today, the same journey cost £33.60.
By June 28, coach journeys from Leicester to London return to £8.90.
One customer, who did not want to be named, said: “There is really no justification for increasing the prices so much on a week when companies are probably going to be busier anyway. Especially now, in the middle of a cost of living crisis.”
National Express said lowerpriced tickets had sold out quicker and earlier due to increased demand, adding that customers are advised to “buy in advance to get the best deals”.
The strikes, announced on June 7, following a ballot, are part of an ongoing dispute between the RMT and railway companies over job losses, pay and working conditions.
More than 50,000 railway workers were expected to walk out today, with up to 40,000 striking on Thursday and Saturday.
A spokeswoman for National Express said: “We always recommend buying in advance to get the best deals, with fares starting as low as £5.
“When demand is unusually high our lowest price tickets sell out quicker and earlier.
“This is what we have seen for travel during the rail strikes when we forecast to be over 85 per cent sold across our UK-wide network.
“The lowest fare options for travel on and around these dates have now mostly sold out, leaving only our higher-priced tickets available.”
Leicestershire and the rest of the Midlands are set for mass cancellations. East Midlands Railway (EMR) expected services to be cut between Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Matlock, Sheffield and London.
Will Rogers, managing director of East Midlands Railway, said: “There will be changes to our normal timetable and some parts of our network will have no train services on strike days and other lines will have a reduced level of service.
“I would urge all customers to think carefully about their journeys – and make alternative arrangements if possible.”
The company said it expected to provide one train an hour between Nottingham and London and one an hour between Sheffield and London. There will also be one stopping train each hour between Leicester and Nottingham. The final train to depart from Nottingham back to Leicester leaves at 5.28pm and gets in at 6.15pm. Weekend services may be different.
Passengers with tickets may be able to get refunds or travel on a different day.
When demand is unusually high our lowest price tickets sell out quicker
National Express spokeswoman