EasyBus

EasyBus

Parent EasyGroup
Founded 2003
Service type Coach
Routes 8
Website www.easybus.com

EasyBus is a British express coach operator connecting the city centres of London and Manchester with their respective main airports as well providing services from Geneva Airport (where EasyJet Switzerland is based) to nearby communities.[1] It was founded by entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou in 2003, and is part of the EasyGroup. It initially also offered intercity services within the UK in addition to airport services.

History

EasyGroup first announced its intention to operate no frills express services in 2003, initially in competition with National Express along the London ro Birmingham corridor.[2] Operations began in August 2004, with a service between London and Milton Keynes introduced.[3] To keep costs down EasyBus originally used Hendon Central station in north London as its terminal point, with a journey time of 65 minutes and a single fare of £5.[3] The threat of competition forced National Express to offer its own discounted fares to and from London, culminating in the introduction of a £1 single fare between Milton Keynes and London which Stelios claimed was intended to make his service non-profitable and force its withdrawal.[4]

Shortly after this EasyBus launched a second route to Luton Airport in competition with National Express' Jetlink subsidiary. In Spring 2005 EasyBus changed its London terminus from Hendon to a more central location in Baker Street. The Milton Keynes service was withdrawn in February 2006, with services to Luton increased in frequency and the operational contract transferred to Arriva Shires & Essex.[5]

The dedicated service to Luton was withdrawn in May 2007, with services combined with the existing Green Line service 757. A new service to London Stansted Airport began operation at the same time.[6] In July 2008 further expansion was announced with the launch of a half-hourly service between Gatwick Airport and Fulham Broadway station.[7]

On 28 July 2010 an EasyBus Optare Soroco minibus overturned on the M25 motorway near the junction with the M23 in Surrey. A black car had lost control and had collided with the minibus, while it was carrying four passengers on a service from Gatwick Airport to London. One person became trapped in the vehicle and was cut free by fire crews.[8][9] Four people were injured in the accident, including three passengers and the driver of the car. One woman was taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting with serious leg injuries. The other three were treated for less severe injuries at East Surrey Hospital, Redhill.[10] The clockwise carriageway of the road between junctions 6 and 8 was closed for six hours following the crash, as was the slip road to the M23.[11]

On 15 May 2015, EasyBus opened its second continental route in partnership with SARL Chamexpress and its Paris shuttle service from Paris city centre (Louvre) to Charles de Gaulle Airport.[12]

In November 2015 EasyBus withdrew the Stansted to Old Street route, and stopped operating the Stansted to Victoria/Baker Street route using its own vehicles. Instead it acts as a re-seller for National Express services.[13]

On 30 September 2016, the aforementioned route between Paris-CDG and Paris city centre has been terminated.[14] Two new EasyBus services commenced on 21 October 2016 serving Manchester Airport. The first service will operate via Manchester Airport with the University of Manchester and Manchester city centre. The second service operates via Telford, Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Wrexham and Chester.[15][16]

Operations

A Van Hool coach operated jointly with Arriva Shires & Essex on Green Line route 757
EasyBus ticket office at London Stansted Airport

Service description

EasyBus is a no frills airport express minibus operator, using 19-seat Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or Optare air-conditioned luxury mini-coaches on services from central London to various airports, including Gatwick and Stansted. Tickets are predominantly sold over the internet, although EasyBus has sales desks in all its airports, though ticket prices are usually higher if booked on the day of travel. Passengers joining in London can purchase tickets direct from the driver. EasyBus baggage policy allows for one medium-sized bag, plus 'hand-baggage', though an extra seat has to be purchased for larger items.

Current routes

As of October 2016, easyBus branded services are operated on the following routes in the United Kingdom and Switzerland.[1]

Route number From To Operator Other notes
EB2 London Stansted Airport Baker Street National Express Coaches Operated using National Express coaches
EB4 Gatwick Airport Earl's Court, West Brompton, Waterloo, London Victoria New Enterprise Coaches Operated using EasyBus minibuses
Heathrow Airport Waterloo, Shepherds Bush New Enterprise Coaches Operated using EasyBus minibuses
757 Luton Airport Baker Street, Liverpool Street National Express Coaches Operated using National Express coaches
EB5 Manchester Airport Telford, Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Wrexham, Chester TSL Operated using EasyBus minibuses
EB56 Manchester Airport Manchester city centre, University of Manchester TSL Operated using EasyBus minibuses
EBGV1 Geneva Airport Chamonix SARL Chamexpress.com Operated using EasyBus minibuses
EBGV2 Geneva Airport Les Gets Morzine Avoriaz SARL Chamexpress.com Operated using EasyBus minibuses

Additionally, easyBus sells tickets between Milan and its three airports Linate, Malpensa and Bergamo as well as between Pisa Airport and Florence. However, these routes are operated by Airport Bus Express and not branded as easyBus.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 easybus.com retrieved 9 October 2016
  2. ↑ Still no date for first EasyBus service Bus & Coach Professional 5 December 2003
  3. 1 2 EasyBus confirm Milton Keynes start date Bus & Coach Professional 5 August 2004
  4. ↑ Reece, Damian (19 August 2004). "Stelios and National Express clash over EasyBus". The Independent. London.
  5. ↑ "Arriva to operate Stelios' EasyBus links". Bus & Coach Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012.
  6. ↑ "EasyBus out of Luton, in to Stansted". Bus & Coach Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012.
  7. ↑ "Fulham expansion for EasyBus". Bus & Coach Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012.
  8. ↑ "Two freed from EasyBus following M25 crash". getsurrey.
  9. ↑ "Overturned minibus shuts M25 and leaves thousands stuck in their cars". Daily Mail. London. 29 July 2010.
  10. ↑ "Major delays as M25 is closed for hours". Metro Radio.
  11. ↑ "Four injured as minibus overturns on M25 in Surrey". BBC News. 28 July 2010.
  12. ↑ "Bye bye RER B – EasyBus Paris Service begins on the 15th May – 4€ return from Louvre to CDG Airport". Expatriates Magazine (Paris). EM. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  13. ↑ "Chaos at Stansted". EasyBus.
  14. ↑ Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport transfers from easyBus
  15. ↑ Travelling from Wrexham to Manchester Airport North Wales Daily Post 5 September 2016
  16. ↑ EasyBus cheapest ever airport travel Bus & Coach Buyer 15 September 2016

Media related to EasyBus at Wikimedia Commons

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