Hertfordshire coaches

County advice overview

There are a number of coach operators servicing the region and connecting Hertfordshire to the rest of the UK, such as National Express and Megabus, who offer wheelchair accessible coaches.

National Express provide services linking the county to destinations in the Midlands and the north of England as well as London and beyond.  

Some coach companies operate a holiday / tour service. 

Key tips

Always check the vehicles are accessible in advance of your journey, if you experience mobility difficulties.

Remember, coach toilets are rarely accessible and require using a step or two. 

Regional Operators

There are no coach operators running services exclusively within the Hertfordshire area.

National Operators 

National Express

https://www.nationalexpress.com/en

Operates nationally with many coaches having wheelchair lifts. It is recommended that you check before booking a journey. National Express also offer a discount card for people with disabilities. Contact 0871 781 8181 for further information.

Megabus

https://uk.megabus.com

Megabis provides an extensive bus service from Hertfordshire, connecting with many other destinations countrywide. All coaches are wheelchair accessible and can safely carry one seated wheelchair user subject to size and weight limits (with max weight 300kg, dimensions length 1200mm x width 700mm x height 1350mm including the seated passenger). If you wish to travel with mobility equipment, you should provide 36 hours’ notice. You can contact Megabus directly here.

Masons

https://www.masonscoachhire.co.uk

Offering coach holidays and tours

01296 661604

Help with cost

Check my Bus will help you find the cheapest fares for your journey.

National Express Senior Coachcard

If you’re 60 or over you can apply for a National Express Senior Coachcard. It offers a 1/3 saving on Standard and Fully Flexible fares to hundreds of towns, cities and airports across the UK.

There are no restrictions on peak and off-peak travel times, so you can travel when it suits you and your plans. This includes public holidays, bank holidays and weekends. 

Benefits include:

• Save 1/3 on Standard and Fully Flexible fares, even at peak times.
• £15 day-return on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to anywhere in the UK (excluding airports), just book 3 days in advance of your travel.
• Free journey if your coach is delayed for over an hour

Apply for a card on the National Express website, by phoning 0871 781 8181 or at any National Express ticket outlet.

National Express Disabled Coachcard

If you have a disability, then a National Express Disabled Coachcard offers a great way to save 1/3 on Standard and Fully Flexible fares to hundreds of UK towns, cities and airports.

Special assistance

National Express have created a selection of Journey Assistance Cards for passengers. These explain to staff and drivers any need for assistance or exemptions from requirements. For example, if you have a hearing impediment. 

Journey Assistance Cards can be downloaded here.

Travelling with Mobility Equipment

National Express

National Express have a dedicated Assisted Travel Team who you can contact on 03717 818181 to talk through your needs. (Lines open 9.00am – 5.00pm, 7 days a week.) It is not a requirement to book your assistance in advance but it will help National Express to provide your assistance if you do so.

Coaches are equipped with a wheelchair lift. However, it cannot be deployed at all stops, so it is best to check in advance if your stop is accessible.

Wheelchair users are advised to book travel in advance, although this is not essential. This will allow National Express to carry out the following checks:

• that the wheelchair is compatible with the space on the coach
• that the combined weight of the customer and the wheelchair do not exceed the maximum weight capacity of being lifted by the wheelchair lift
• that the locations at which the customer plans to board and alight the coach from are accessible stops at which the wheelchair lift can be deployed
• that the specific coach on which the customer plans to travel is not already fully booked

It is recommended that you contact National Express 36 hours in advance of travel on the telephone number above. This will ensure they are able to carry out checks. If you book same-day travel, they will make all reasonable efforts to carry out checks on the day. 

Customers cannot travel in their mobility scooters; however, small lightweight mobility scooters that can be dismantled and safely stowed in the luggage hold of the coach are accepted.

In order to check if your scooter will be accepted, you will need to give details of the size, make and model of the mobility scooter you will be travelling with. You will be advised

either at the time of booking or by a return call, about the suitability of your mobility scooter for carriage in the luggage hold.

Megabus

Megabus offers assistance to people with walking difficulties or those who normally use wheelchairs.

They recommend that all wheelchair users contact them before purchasing their tickets (preferably at least 36 hours before an intended journey), to book the wheelchair space.

All Megabus coaches are wheelchair accessible and can carry one seated wheelchair user subject to size and weight limits. (Max weight 300kg, dimensions length 1200mm x width 700mm x height 1350mm including the seated passenger.)

They are unable to accommodate passengers seated in mobility scooters. However, if you use a wheelchair (max weight 20kg) or mobility scooter and are able to climb the few steps into the bus, your mobility device can be stored in the luggage bay and the driver will help you to your seat.

In order to be accepted for transit, your mobility scooter must break down into separate parts each weighing no more than 20kg. You or a companion must be able to dismantle and reassemble the mobility scooter for carriage in the luggage hold.

Assistance Dogs

Are accepted on both Megabus and National Express services.

Routes and Timetables

Traveline

Traveline is a partnership of transport companies, local authorities and passenger groups which have come together to bring routes and times for all travel in Great Britain by bus, rail, coach and ferry. They can help you find the way that best suits you for making your journey using the most up to date information. 

From their homepage, you can plan your journey from door to door, see the different ways you could travel, how long the journey will take and view your route on a map.

Help by phone

If you need help to plan a journey, Traveline’s national call centre can be contacted on 0871 200 2233 between 07.00 and 10.00 seven days a week (more limited hours at Christmas/New Year). Calls cost 12p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.