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Bus and coach links

When travelling to towns and villages off the rail network a selection of bus and coach links exist to get you to your destination.  These are operated by quality bus and coach operators, although in a few cases rail companies provide their own services. 

In recent years with the break up of a national network, rail companies have been less interested in promoting these bus links.  Britain by Rail hopes to fill the information gap with a complete list of bus links.  Many of these don't appear even in the National Timetable!  If you know of any that are not listed here, please feel free to let us know.  Contact details are on the 'About' page. 

 

Summary of main British railway bus links

Unless otherwise stated, tickets are purchases onboard the bus / coach. 

Note:  GNER bus links.  The former GNER franchise is now operated by East Coast.  The former GNER bus links are still operating, however National Express do not promote them!  You can still find out about them, including times on the Network Rail National Timetable page.  Download the schematic map to see where the buses run and then the relevant timetable number.  The bus links are named as 'GNER' below since National Express does not recognise them.  Perhaps they view it as competition to their own services!

Type of Link / Name of Bus Link

Rail Company

Route

Notes

Plusbus

 

 

 

UK Towns Plusbus

All

add bus travel around town to your rail ticket

Available for tickets booked at railway stations...more

Airport Links

 

 

 

Tees Valley Airport

East Coast

Darlington Railway Station to Durham Tees Airport

 

Robin Hood Airport

East Coast

Doncaster Railway Station to Robin Hood Airport

 

Heathrow Airport

Virgin Trains

From Birmingham, Coventry, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston Railway Stations to Heathrow Airport

Book at Virgin Trains.co.uk

London Luton Airport

Virgin Trains

From Birmingham, Coventry, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston Railway Stations to Heathrow Airport

Book at Virgin Trains.co.uk

Leisure Routes - West Coast

 

 

 

Lake District

Virgin Trains

Linking southern Lake District destinations such as Keswick and Cockermouth from Penrith Railway Station.  For the northern Lake District travel direct by train to Oxenholme Station

Book at Virgin Trains.co.uk

Cambridge -  University Town

Virgin Trains

From Milton Keynes Railway Station to Cambridge.  Useful for West Coast Railway Passengers not wishing to transfer in London.  There is a Station in Cambridge with services to Kings Lynn and London. 

Book at Virgin Trains.co.uk

Leisure Routes - East Coast

 

 

 

Whitby

East Coast

York Railway Station to Whitby via places not on Rail Network. 

 

Catterick

East Coast

Darlington Railway Station to Catterick via Richmond

 

Dereham

East Coast

Peterborough to Dereham (via Wisbech, Kings Lynn and Swaffham) 

 

Kettering

East Coast

Peterborough to Kettering (via Oundle and Corby)

 

South West Routes

 

 

 

Andover to Tidworth and Bulford

South West Trains (SWT) / Stagecoach

Board near station entrance, Stagecoach Bus routes Activ8 and 80
 

Buy ticket from driver, Railcard and child discounts available. 

Axminster to Lyme Regis

SWT / First Bus

Board outside Axminster station

Buy from driver, no Railcard or child discounts

Bournemouth to Swanage
via Sandbanks Ferry
 

SWT / Wilts & Dorest

Board outside station entrance. Wilts & Dorset route 50

Buy ticket from driver, Railcard and child discounts available. 

Bournemouth to Bournemouth Airport

Bournemouth Airport Shuttle

Board at Travel Interchange outside exit on Platform 3. Bus leaves from Stand B.

Railcard and child discounts available. 

Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol City Centre

First Bus

Departs from station entrace, First Bus routes 8, 8A, 9 and 9A

Railcards and child discounts available. 

Dorchester South to Bridport

First Bus

From outside station entrance First Bus route 31
 

No Railcard or child discounts. 

Exeter St Davids to Okehampton
via Crediton and Sampford Courtney
 

First Bus or Western Greyhound

From outside station entrance
First Bus route X9
Western Greyhound route 510
 

Railcard and child discounts available. 

Farnham or Haslemere to Bordon

SWT/ Stagecoach

From outside station entrance
Stagecoach Bus routes 18 and 19
 

Railcard and child discounts available. 

Honiton to Sidmouth

SWT / Stagecoach

From outside station entrance
Stagecoach Bus route 52B
 

Railcard and child discounts available. 

Poole to Blandford Forum

Wilts and Dorset

Departs from Poole Bus Station (on Kingsland Road, around 800m/10min walk)
Wilts & Dorset route X8
 

Railcard and child discounts available. 

Shanklin to Ventnor

SWT/ WightBus

From outside station entrance
WightBus route 16
 

Railcard and child discounts available.

Petersfield to Waterlooville
via Horndean and Cowplain
 

SWT/ Stagecoach

From outside station entrance
Stagecoach Bus route 37
 

Railcard and child discounts available. 

Scottish Coach Links

 

 

 

Bike Bus

Tim Dearman Coaches

From Inverness and Dingwall Railway Stations to the remote North West

Timetables available on the Tim Dearman Coaches website. 

This coach carries bikes - ideal for exploring. 

Oban / Fort William / Inverness

Citylink

Between Oban / Inverness and Fort William Stations

Timetables available on the Scottish Citylink website.

Scotrail Travelpass valid on these services.

Isle of Skye

Citylink

Kyle of Lochalsh Railway Station to Isle of Skye

Timetables available on the First Scotrail website - see the Far North Timetable. 

Scotrail Travelpass valid on these services.

 

Boarders Bus Links

First Edinburgh

Edinburgh to the Scottish Boarders towns (Kelso - Melrose - Galashiels - Peebles - Edinburgh (No 62); and Carlisle - Langholm - Hawick - Galashiels - Edinburgh (No X95). For full details call 0131 663 9233. 

Scotrail Travelpass valid on these buses. 

Ullapool / Ships to Isle of Lewis

Citylink

Inverness to Ullapool and Ferry Terminal

Timetables available on the First Scotrail website.

Scotrail Travelpass valid on these services.

 

 

Drumbeg-Lochinver

Royal Mail

Connection with Inverness - Thurso Train at Lairg Station

Timetables available on the Royal Mail Postbus website.

Gairloch, Poolewe and Inverewe Gardens

Scotbus

Connects with Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh railway at Achnasheen Station.  Buses from Achnasheen Station are timed to meet trains.

Timetables available on the Scotbus website.

Heritage Routes

 

 

 

Routemasters

London Transport

Two Heritage Routemaster Bus services in the Capital.

Travelcards are valid on these services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Britain By Rail 2010

This page was last updated 19-Nov-2011