Conditions of Carriage

In these Conditions, the following words shall have the following meanings:

“Brexit” means the UK leaving the European Union;

“Child Ticket” means a ticket for travel on a Service for a child aged between 3 and 15 (inclusive) who qualifies for a discounted fare in accordance with Condition 4.3;

“Circumstances Beyond Our Reasonable Control” means any circumstances which have an impact on our (or any Partner Operator’s) ability to provide the Services in accordance with these Conditions or any applicable Special Conditions, which are beyond our reasonable control, which shall include (without limit): war or threat of war, terrorism or threats of terrorism, riot or local disturbance or unrest, accidents or other incidents on or affecting roads, adverse weather conditions, fire and/or damage at a Station, unplanned fire alarm or other evacuation of a Station, actions by or compliance with the requests or recommendations of the Police, HM Customs or any other Governmental or Law Enforcement authority, vandalism, cyber-attack, unforeseen traffic delays or congestion, road works, strike/industrial action, problems or delays caused by other customers or passengers, breakdown or technical problems with a Coach (where not caused by our fault or negligence), pandemic or epidemic viruses or illnesses of any description, bankruptcy, insolvency or cessation of trade of any Partner Operator or other supplier used by us and any circumstances that we reasonably consider could affect passenger safety;

“Coach” means the coach, bus or other passenger carrying vehicle or other means of passenger transport provided by us, or any other carrier, on which you are travelling in respect of a Service;

“Contract” means the contract between us and you for the supply of the Service, which shall be in accordance with these Conditions and any Special Conditions which apply to your Ticket;

“E-Ticket” means a Ticket which can be purchased online, on our mobile app, over the telephone from our contact centre, or through one of our authorised ticket agents and which will be sent to you by e-mail. You can print off a copy of the E-Ticket to show to our driver or you can show the driver the E-Ticket from a smart device;

“European Service” means any network service provided or arranged by us, or on our behalf, for the purpose of carrying persons and their Luggage by Coach where the network service travels outside of the UK and is set out in a timetable published by us;

“Event Services” means any services provided or arranged by us, or on our behalf, for the purpose of providing travel by Coach direct to and/or from various concerts, sporting events and music festivals which are offered from time to time in addition to our scheduled network;

“Journey” means each journey you are entitled to make on a Service as set out in your Ticket;

“Luggage” means any suitcase or other bag which you leave in the luggage hold of the Coach, bring onto a Coach, or bring into a Station;

“M-Ticket” means a Ticket which can be purchased online or over the telephone from our contact centre and which will be sent to you by SMS, an M-Ticket may also be referred to as an “SMS Ticket”. M-Tickets are not available on European Services;

“National Express Representative” means any of our officers, employees or other persons authorised by us to represent us, which may include the officers and employees of any company which is the same group of companies as us and the officers and employees of our Partner Operators where and to the extent so authorised to represent us;

“Partner Operator” means a third party operator who performs the Services as a subcontractor for and on behalf of us;

“Service” means any network services provided or arranged by us, or on our behalf, for the purpose of carrying persons and their Luggage by Coach, set out in a timetable published by us (and, unless otherwise stated in these Conditions, includes European Services) and/or Event Services;

“Special Conditions” means any additional or special conditions relating to a particular Service or the way a Service is performed or relating to a Ticket or the method of delivery of a Ticket (including any restrictions as to the dates, days of the week, and times of day on which travel is permitted and conditions for advance reservations of seats) which appear on our website and/or are set out in any notices, offers or publications published by us, or otherwise notified to you in writing (including by email). For example, Special Conditions apply to Discount Coachcards, holiday package deals, reduced and discounted fare tickets, promotional tickets, ‘add-on’ and special offers;

“Station” means any coach or railway station or air or sea port or stop where a Service may be joined or left or through which a Service may pass;

“Third Party Provider” means: (a) a third party operator who performs services on its own account in respect of which we are a ticket sales agent in accordance with Condition 2.3(a); or (b) any third party provider of a transport service in respect of which we operate that service as a subcontractor for that third party but under our own name and branding in accordance with Condition 2.3(b) (e.g. where a certain proportion of the seats on a service are allocated to the third party’s customers)) (and, for the avoidance of doubt, National Express Bus & Coach Services Limited (trading as Dublin Express) is not a Third Party Provider in respect of our European Services travelling between Dublin and Belfast or between other stops between those places as we, or a Partner Operator on our behalf, provides those European Services, albeit we may do so using the Dublin Express brand which we are licensed to use and National Express Bus & Coach Services Limited may act as our sales agent in selling you a Ticket for those European Services);

“Ticket” means any ticket, including E-Tickets and M-Tickets, issued by us, or on our behalf, which evidences our agreement to carry or arrange for the carriage of any person on a Service;

“Ticket Machine” means a ticket machine which is located at one of our National Express Stations or outlets which can be used to purchase a Ticket or print off a Ticket that has already been purchased;

“we”, “us” and “our” refers to National Express Limited, a company registered in England and Wales, with registered number 00232767, and whose registered office is at National Express House, Birmingham Coach Station, Mill Lane, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6DD, trading under the name: National Express;

“Working Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday, on which the clearing banks in England and Wales are open to the public for the transaction of ordinary business;

“you” means the person purchasing a Ticket or for whom a Ticket was purchased, or any person who travels on a Service with or without a Ticket.

In these Conditions:

(a) a reference to the singular shall include the plural and vice versa;

(b) a reference to a statute or statutory provision is a reference to it as amended, replaced or re-enacted from time to time. A reference to a statute or statutory provision includes all subordinate legislation made under that statute or statutory provision;

(c) any words following the terms “including”, “include”, “in particular”, “for example” or any similar expression, shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words, description, definition, phrase or term preceding those terms; and

(d) a reference to writing or written includes email.

If these Conditions are inconsistent with any provisions of The Rights of Passengers in Bus & Coach Transport (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the “UK Passenger Rights Regulations”) (in respect of Services provided within the UK or any constituent country or countries comprised therein) or with any provisions of Regulation (EU) No 181/2011 concerning the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport (the “EU Passenger Rights Regulations”) (in respect of European Services), in either case which apply to your Contract with us, the relevant provision of the UK Passenger Rights Regulations or the EU Passenger Rights Regulations will apply in respect of the Services or European Services so specified and we shall meet our obligations in the relevant provision of the UK Passenger Rights Regulations or the EU Passenger Rights Regulations in respect of the Services or European Services so specified.

Except where Condition 2.3 provides otherwise, these Conditions and any Special Conditions applicable to your Ticket will apply to all Services operated by us.

We agree to carry you and your Luggage on the Journey permitted by your Ticket, on and subject to these Conditions and any Special Conditions applicable to your Ticket. In the event of any conflict between the two sets of terms, the applicable Special Conditions shall take precedence over these Conditions.

By purchasing a ticket, and/or by travelling on our Services, you accept these Conditions and any Special Conditions applicable to your Ticket and agree to comply with them. If you are purchasing a ticket for another person, then it is your duty to make sure that they are aware of these Conditions and any applicable Special Conditions and agree to comply with them when they use the Ticket to travel on our Service. If you are an adult accompanying a child it is your responsibility to ensure that that the child complies with these Conditions and any Special Conditions applicable to their Ticket.

These Conditions will not apply where you are purchasing a ticket to travel on one of the following services:

(a) a service supplied by a Third Party Provider where we are acting as a ticket sales agent for the Third Party Provider. In such circumstances, the contract will be between you and the relevant Third Party Provider, and will be subject to the Third Party Provider’s terms and conditions of carriage. We are not a party to any such contractual relationship.

(b) a service operated by us as a subcontractor for a Third Party Provider but under our name and branding, where a certain proportion of the seats on that service are allocated to the Third Party Provider’s customers. If you are such a customer of that Third Party Provider, the contract will be between you and the relevant Third Party Provider, and will be subject to the Third Party Provider’s terms and conditions of carriage. We are not a party to any such contractual relationship.

(c) a service that is subject to its own, separate, terms and conditions of carriage (other than Special Conditions) which shall be made available to you on the website or at the place that you, or another person on your behalf, purchases a ticket for travel on such service.

For the avoidance of doubt, these Conditions do apply to the European Services we, or a Partner Operator on our behalf, provides between Dublin and Belfast, even when those European Services have been made available to you by National Express Bus & Coach Services Limited (trading as Dublin Express) on its website or otherwise in their capacity as (one of) our sales agents for such European Services.

Your Ticket is a record of our agreement to carry you or to arrange for your carriage on a Service. Your Ticket is our property and shall be returned to us on request. If your Ticket was purchased by someone else, you agree that such person purchased the Ticket as your agent. A Ticket may only be used by the person(s) named in it or for whom it has been purchased and may not be transferred to or used by anyone else. 

(a) Travel permitted by your Ticket: Your Ticket permits you to make the Journeys and travel on the Services stated on the Ticket, subject to any restrictions or conditions (such as dates, days of the week, and times within a day on which you may travel) set out on the Ticket or in any Special Conditions applicable to the Ticket.

(b) Period for which your Ticket is valid: Your Ticket is valid for travel:

• at the time(s) as is/are stated on the Ticket or in the Special Conditions which apply to the Ticket; or
• if it is an open return Ticket (i.e. with no other time(s) specified thereon) three months from the date of outward travel. You will need to make a reservation for a specific Service in accordance with Condition 5 if you want to ensure that there is a seat available on the return Service on which you want to travel.

(c) Expiry of your Ticket: When your Ticket expires in accordance with Condition 3.2(b), it is no longer valid for travel. You will need to ensure that your Ticket is valid for the entirety of your Journey(s).

Your Ticket remains our property at all times. If a Ticket is defaced, damaged or tampered with, or lost, it may not be valid for travel. We may at our discretion replace your Ticket in such circumstances; provided that we can confirm that it is still valid and subject to Condition 6.3.

You must check your Ticket for errors as soon as you receive it or, if you or someone on your behalf is purchasing it by electronic means, before it is purchased (and, in this section, “you” includes you and any person acting on your behalf) and to contact us if you consider that there are any errors, as explained below.

(a) If your Ticket was issued to you in person or by post, then you should check your Ticket as soon as you receive it and bring any errors immediately to the attention of the person who issued the Ticket to you.

(b) If you purchase an E-Ticket online or from one our Ticket Machines, it is your responsibility to check the details to ensure that they are correct on the screen before payment is made and on your booking confirmation once received.

(c) If you purchase an M-Ticket, it is your responsibility to check the details to ensure that they are correct on the screen before payment is made and it is your responsibility to check at the time of receipt that the text message on your mobile phone screen shows the correct date and time for your Journey.

(d) If you believe that the Ticket we have sent or issued does not meet the information you provided at the time of booking, please contact us immediately and, at least, within the timeframes set out in paragraph (e) below. We will not be obliged to make any amendments to an E-Ticket or M-Ticket after booking, except where you can provide evidence (which we consider to be satisfactory in the circumstances) in order to demonstrate that an error was due to our fault or technical error. In all other circumstances, any amendment to an E-Ticket or M-Ticket will be made in accordance with Condition 3.5.

(e) If you fail to inform us of any errors in respect of any Ticket within the earlier of: (i) the date 2 Working Days after your receipt or purchase of the Ticket; and (ii) the departure time of the Service, then your Ticket will be assumed to be correct.

You must check the departure location and times shown on the Ticket as it is your responsibility to arrive at the correct departure point by no later than required under Condition 6.6. It is also your responsibility to check if your Ticket shows that carriage is by a Third Party Provider as this will inform you that your contract is with that Third Party Provider.  

You may only make amendments to your Ticket if such amendments are permitted by the Special Conditions which apply to your Ticket and only then if you follow the process specified in those Special Conditions, including complying with any time limits and/or paying any additional fee payable. If you are allowed to make an amendment to your Ticket and you do so, then this shall constitute an amendment to our contract with you.

If you have purchased your Ticket in conjunction with a discount card, you must take the discount card with you whenever you travel on a Service, and you must produce it with your Ticket for inspection when asked. If you fail to produce the discount card you will be required to pay the applicable fare payable for the Journey(s) permitted by your Ticket without the discount.

Coachcards are not valid on European Services.

If you have purchased a Ticket using any of our concessionary discount Coachcards (currently marketed as ‘Senior Coachcard’ and ‘Disabled Coachcard’) you. must produce it with your Ticket for inspection when asked. If you fail to produce the discount Coachcard you will be required to pay the applicable fare payable for the Journey(s) permitted by your Ticket without the discount.

Coachcards are not valid on European Services.

(a) Infants under the age of three: Infants who are under the age of three may travel for free, provided that they are accompanied by a full fare paying young person aged 16 or 17 or adult aged 18 or over, they do not require an additional seat and subject as set out in the next sentence. If one young person aged 16 or 17 or adult aged 18 or over is travelling with two or more infants under the age of three, then only one infant will be entitled to travel for free and the other infant(s) will need to travel on (a) Child Ticket(s).ket.

(b) Children between the age of three and 15 inclusive: Children between the age of three and 15 shall qualify for a Child Ticket.

(c) Unaccompanied children: We will not be obliged to carry any infant under the age of three or any child under the age of 14 on any Service unless that infant or child is accompanied by a responsible person aged 16 or over. Unaccompanied infants and children under the age of 14 will be refused travel. If travelling unaccompanied using a Child Ticket, you may be asked to present valid proof of age at the point of boarding or at any point during your Journey(s).

(d) Young persons aged 16 and 17: Young persons aged 16 or 17 do not qualify for a Child Ticket and will be required to purchase an adult Ticket (unless they qualify for any other discounted or concessionary travel).

(e) Proof of age: Evidence of the age of an infant or child who is due to travel or is travelling may need to be produced at the time of purchase of a Child Ticket or at the point of boarding or at any point during the Journey(s). Failure to produce such evidence could result in the person travelling for free as an infant or on the Child Ticket, or the person accompanying that person, being required to pay the full Child Ticket fare or adult fare for the Journey(s) permitted by the Ticket (unless that person qualifies for any other discounted or concessionary travel).

(a) Making a reservation for a particular Service: Where your Ticket or part of your Ticket is not for a specified Service (for example, where you have purchased an open return) you may make a reservation for a particular Service for the return Journey. To do so, you must reserve a place on the particular Service at least 10 minutes in advance of that Service’s departure time through our website at My Account, at a coach station or through our Customer Service Centre. All such reservations are subject to availability of seats on the Service for which you request a reservation and you will not be able to make a reservation on a particular Service if no seats are available on your selected Service. A reservation on a particular Service does not guarantee you a particular seat on a Coach and we may alter any seat which is assigned to you at any time.

(b) Cancelling or changing reservations for a particular Service: Where permitted by any Special Conditions which apply to your Ticket, you may cancel or change your reservation for a particular Service by giving notice to us at a coach station or through our customer Service Centre within the time specified in the Special Conditions applicable to your Ticket. However, any cancellation or requests for changes to Service reservations after the departure of the applicable Service shall be considered to be a cancellation of the Ticket and, in such event, you shall only be entitled to a refund of your Ticket where a refund is expressly permitted under Condition 10 of these Conditions or otherwise under any Special Conditions which apply to the Ticket. Certain types of Ticket have Special Conditions attached to them which do not permit changes to or cancellation of Service reservations after the time of the original Ticket booking.

(c) Administration Charge: We will be entitled to charge a reasonable administration fee plus an excess fee (if applicable) for making, changing, or amending a reservation for a particular Service. Please see the “Ask” section of our website at www.nationalexpress.com for further information.

(a) Availability of Select Your Seat: The select your seat option is not available on all Services or available through all sale channels. Where the select your seat option is available for: (i) the particular Service on which you wish to travel; and (ii) through the sales channel that you are using to make your booking, you may, subject to availability, select a particular seat on that Service.

(b) Selecting a seat: If the select your seat option is available to you, you will be given the option to pre-select a seat on your Service as part of the booking process at the time of your original booking, if you have booked a direct journey, you will also have the opportunity to pre-select a seat through our website at www.nationalexpress.com/myaccount up to 15 hours before the departure time of the applicable Service, in each case subject to availability and only where you had the option to pre-select a seat during your original booking. If you cannot see the select your seat option as part of your booking process that means that this option either is not available on the Service you are booking to travel on or is not available on the sales channel you are using. To be able to pre-select a seat on a Service for which the select your seat option is available, you must have a valid Ticket for the Journey(s) you wish to pre-select a seat on and you may only pre-select a seat between the origin and destination points shown on your Ticket. If you have booked an indirect journey, you can pre-select a seat per leg through the Contact Centre, where available.

(c) No seat selection: If you do not pre-select a seat on a Service prior to departure, you may sit in any available and unreserved seat when you board the Coach provided that you move to another seat from the point at which such seat is reserved by another passenger and provided that you comply with any request from any driver of a Coach or National Express Representative to move to another seat at any time during your Journey(s).

(d) Fee for selecting a seat: There may be a fee for pre-selecting a seat. This fee shall vary depending on the seat selected and the applicable Service, but you will be told what the fee is for your pre-selected seat prior to completing your purchase and therefore you can change your mind at any time prior to completing your purchase. The seat selection fee (if applicable) is not refundable, unless you are legally entitled to a refund.

(e) Cancelling or changing your pre-selected seat:

• If you cancel your Ticket for your Journey(s) where you have pre-selected a seat or if you cancel your pre-selected seat, the seat reservation fee shall not be refunded, unless you have purchased a ‘Fully Flexible’ Ticket and cancel your booking more than 24 hours prior to your scheduled departure time.
• If you amend the times or dates of for the Journey(s) permitted by your Ticket as permitted under these Conditions or any Special Conditions applicable to your Ticket, you shall not be entitled to any refund of the seat reservation fee but you may, subject to availability and online only at www.nationalexpress.com/myticket, be able to amend your pre-selected seat to apply to your amended Journey(s) for no additional fee provided that the select your seat option is also available on the Service(s) performing that/those Journey(s). If you choose to change your seat reservation to a more expensive seat reservation than purchased in your original booking, you will need to pay the difference between the two seat reservation prices.

(f) Our right to change your pre-selected seat:

• We reserve the right to change your pre-selected seat for operational, safety or security reasons (which may include, without limit, to enable us to accommodate any disabled passengers or if you have a seatbelt exemption) at any time, including before or after boarding a Service or during your Journey.
• If we change your Service after you booked your Ticket and pre-selected your seat, you will have the opportunity to select a seat on the new Service provided that the select your seat option is available on the new Service. If the select your seat option is not available on the new Service you will be entitled to a refund of your seat reservation fee in accordance with Conditions 9 and 10.

(g) Special assistance passengers: We will endeavour to provide a seat that is appropriate to the needs of any passengers requiring special assistance at no additional charge to the Ticket fare. We recommend that passengers requiring special assistance contact our Assisted Travel helpline at least 36 hours prior to departure of the applicable Service to give us time to arrange assistance for you. However, if you wish to book travel on the day or otherwise within 36 hours of travel we will make reasonable efforts to arrange assistance on the day or within any advance notice period provided.

You must travel with a valid Ticket and if you have been given a reservation number to quote to the driver of the Coach for your Service, your reservation number. You must make Your Ticket and any such reservation number available for inspection by the driver of your Coach or any National Express Representative at any time they request.

(a) Travel without a valid Ticket: You will be considered not to be travelling with a valid Ticket if you:

• fail to produce your Ticket for inspection when asked at any point during your Journey;
• do not have sufficient battery or signal on your mobile phone or other electronic device to display your E-Ticket (if you have not printed this) or M-Ticket when asked at any point during your Journey. We therefore recommend that you travel with a paper copy of your E-Ticket as it may not always be possible to display your E-Ticket on your mobile phone or other electronic device;
• travel with a Ticket which you are not entitled to;
• travel on any Service on which your Ticket does not permit travel;
• travel in breach of these Conditions or any Special Conditions applicable to your Ticket;
• travel before the valid from date or after the expiry date of your Ticket;
• travel further than your Ticket permits;
• travel with a Ticket which is invalidated or fraudulent in accordance with these Conditions or any applicable Special Conditions.

For the avoidance of doubt, this is a non-exhaustive list of circumstances in which you will be considered to have travelled without a valid Ticket as other circumstances may also show this to be the case.

(b) Effect of travelling without a valid Ticket: We will not allow you to board a Service if you do not have a valid Ticket, or if you fail to purchase one from the driver of the Coach (subject to availability of a seat for your entire Journey).

If you do travel on any Service without a valid Ticket, you must leave the Service when asked, and we will be entitled to remove you from the Coach if you refuse, unless you immediately purchase a valid Ticket for your entire Journey (subject to availability of a seat for your entire Journey) and you pay:

(i) the applicable fare as specified by the driver of the Coach or any National Express Representative for the Journey which you are making; plus

(ii) a £20 penalty charge (or, for European Services, either £20 or €20, whichever we specify).

If you are using a discount Ticket which is not valid for that Service because you are using it on the wrong day or at the wrong time, or you are unable to evidence your entitlement to use the relevant discount (for example you do not have your Coachcard or the card is not in your name) you must pay:

(i) an excess fare up to the amount of the full standard fare for the Journey you are making; plus

(ii) a £20 penalty charge (or, for European Services, either £20 or €20, whichever we specify).

(c) Fraudulent Tickets: If we have reasonable grounds to believe that a Ticket has been fraudulently obtained or used, we reserve the right to invalidate the Ticket and prevent you from travelling on all or any of our Services. You shall not be entitled to a refund in respect of any Ticket invalidated in accordance with this Condition, and we shall have no further obligations or liability to you. If you are found travelling with a Ticket that we have reasonable grounds to believe has been fraudulently obtained or used, you will be treated as not having a valid Ticket and Condition 6.1(b) above will apply.

(d) Other action: The actions we may take in respect of persons travelling without a valid Ticket set out in this Condition 6 are not exclusive and we reserve the right to take any other action we consider appropriate, including prosecuting any person travelling without a valid Ticket or reporting the incident to the police for investigation or prosecution.

If you have paid a penalty charge and wish to appeal against the charge, please send your original Ticket, receipt for the penalty charge and a covering letter clearly explaining your grounds for appeal and any supporting evidence to: Customer Relations, National Express House, Mill Lane, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6DD. We will determine whether your appeal will be upheld or not.

You must take care of your Ticket, including by not losing, tampering with or spoiling your Ticket and by ensuring that your mobile phone or other electronic device is sufficiently charged so that a Ticket texted to your phone (an M-Ticket) or accessed via your email (an E-Ticket) can be displayed when boarding your Service and at all times during your Journey.

(a) Lost and Stolen Tickets: We will not be obliged to replace your Ticket if it is lost or stolen. You will be required to purchase a new Ticket at the published fare for the Journey(s) you wish to make to enable you to travel.

(b) Tampered with Tickets: We will not be obliged to replace your Ticket if it is tampered with (including by any information on it being altered or obscured in a way we consider is, or is likely to be, deliberate). You will be required to purchase a new Ticket at the published fare for the Journey(s) you wish to make to enable you to travel. If you travel with a Ticket that has been tampered with, it will be treated as invalid and you will be considered to have travelled without a valid Ticket.

(c) Spoiled, Damaged or Corrupted Tickets: If your Ticket has been spoiled, damaged or corrupted in any way (including by it or any information on it being obscured in a way we consider is, or is likely to be, accidental) then we may, at our entire discretion, replace your Ticket if you ask for a replacement Ticket a reasonable time before your scheduled departure and you provide us with proof of your purchase of the Ticket, your identity and a reasonable explanation for why your Ticket has been spoiled, damaged or corrupted. If we do agree to replace your Ticket, we may charge you a reasonable administration fee for doing so. If you travel with a Ticket that has been spoiled, damaged or corrupted in any way, it will be treated as invalid and you will be considered to have travelled without a valid Ticket.

(d) No refunds: Subject to any Special Conditions that apply to your Ticket, we will not give refunds in respect of any lost, tampered with or spoiled, damaged or corrupted Tickets. 

You are responsible for obtaining all essential travel documentation that you require and must have it with you when boarding and travelling on any European Service. This documentation may include:

(a) proof of identity,

(b) authorisations and permits which you are required to have to enter, remain in and leave the countries from, through or to which you are travelling, including a valid passport and any required visas, and

(c) any other documents required by the law of the countries concerned. You are responsible for complying with all laws of any countries from, to or through which you are travelling.

You are responsible for making sure that you travel on the Service for which you have a valid Ticket and that you board that Service at the correct boarding point and you alight that Service at the correct destination. 

(a) Arrival prior to scheduled departure time: You should arrive at the boarding point for your Service at least 10 minutes prior to the timetabled departure time for that Service to ensure your place (and any reserved seat) on the Service. We will normally release any seats (including those reserved, but unoccupied) within 10 minutes prior to the published departure time.

(b) Effect of late arrival: We may give your place (including any reserved seat) to another passenger if you arrive later than stated in Condition 6.6(a) or you attempt to board your Service at a different location to that booked as your departure point, in which case you will be considered to have missed the Service. We shall not be liable to you if you miss any Service as a result of your late arrival or your boarding at a different location, and we shall not be obliged to hold up any Service to wait for you, or to provide a place (or any reserved seat) on any other Service, if you miss a Service.

You must allow plenty of time for a Service to arrive in time to connect with any of our other Services or services provided by third parties.

(a) Connections with other National Express Services: We recommend that, when you book Tickets on more than one National Express Service, you allow at least the minimum connection time between those Services as specified in our timetable (as published from time to time). If you fail to do so we cannot guarantee that you will make any connections and will not be responsible for any additional costs or losses you incur as a result (e.g. you having to buy a Ticket for another Service if you miss your connection), unless caused by our failure to provide the Service with reasonable skill and care. For the avoidance of doubt, we will not be responsible for such additional costs or losses where caused by Circumstances Beyond our Reasonable Control or any reason as a result of or in contemplation of Brexit.

(b) Connections with transport provided by third parties and by our associated companies: You must allow plenty of time for a Service to arrive in time to connect with transport provided by third parties, or by our associated companies, on which you are planning to travel. Where such transport involves coach travel provided by third parties or our associated companies we recommend that you allow at least 90 minutes between the Service scheduled arrival time and the scheduled departure time of the third party or associated company coach. Where such transport involves air travel we recommend you allow at least 180 minutes between the Service scheduled arrival time and your flight departure time or such longer period as may be recommended by your airline or the airport from which you are travelling and you should contact the airline you are flying with and the airport you are flying from to confirm if a longer period is recommended. Passengers who do not allow the recommended time between Service arrival and third-party or associated company service departure times do so at their own risk and we shall not be liable for any additional costs or losses you incur as a result unless caused by our failure to provide the Service with reasonable skill and care. For the avoidance of doubt, we will not be responsible for such additional costs or losses where caused by Circumstances Beyond Our Reasonable Control or any reason as a result of Brexit.

If you have to change from one Coach to another you will be responsible for transferring yourself and your Luggage and other items of property between Coaches, unless other arrangements have been made in advance including those made by passengers who have pre-booked assistance.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you comply with the following seat belt requirements.

(a) You must wear the seatbelt provided at all times whilst seated on the Coach during a Journey (as this is required by law and for your own and others’ safety). This also applies to passengers travelling in wheelchairs. You may still use the toilet facilities onboard the Coach but must refit your seatbelt immediately upon returning to your seat.

(b) If you are travelling with a valid seat belt exemption certificate, you do not have to wear a seatbelt but you will not be permitted to be seated in any of the front seats of the Coach for your own, our employees and other –passengers’ safety. This also applies even if you have reserved one of the front seats and you will not be entitled to a refund of any fee paid for reserving such seat.

If short stops are made by a Service for toilet or refreshment breaks, you must return to the Coach punctually within the time allowed for the stop. We shall not be obliged to hold up the Coach to wait for you, and we shall not be liable to you if you miss the Coach because you return later than the specified time for departure. We will not be liable for any additional costs or losses you may incur as a result of you missing the departure of the Coach.

(a) You may not board or leave a Service except at the start, or finish, point of your Journey, save for any mid Journey breaks and ill health breaks permitted under Conditions 6.10 above or Condition 6.12 below, or unless permitted by Condition 6.11(c) below.

(b) If you wish to join your Service at a different location than your start point and you have not amended your Ticket in accordance with these Conditions you will be required to purchase a new Ticket for the Service, subject to space being available on the Service from the different start point to the finish point.

(c) You may leave the Service at an earlier stop where you: (a) tell the driver when you board the Service that you wish to do so (so that your Luggage can be placed in an appropriate location in the luggage hold) unless that earlier stop is one at which unloading of Luggage is restricted if you are travelling with Luggage in the hold; and (b) you pay the driver or other National Express Representative any additional fare payable as a result of you leaving the Service at an airport stop rather than the booked finish point of your Journey.

If, after you commence a Journey, you are prevented from travelling further by reason of illness, we will at our discretion permit you to break your Journey at the next available and safe stop, and to resume your Journey on the next Service which has available seats after you become fit to travel again.

In emergencies, we recommend that you call the helpline telephone number displayed on your Ticket.

(a) Immigration checks: Where a Coach is required to stop at any immigration, passport or customs check-point, the Coach will wait for a reasonable period to enable all normal checks to be carried out. However, the Coach will not be obliged to wait for any passengers who are detained or delayed for any reason and will be entitled to depart after that reasonable period leaving any detained or delayed passengers behind. Condition 11 will apply to any Luggage or other property left by the detained or delayed passengers.

(b) Luggage checks: where your Luggage is removed from a Coach for customs checks, you will be responsible for getting your Luggage back from those checks or any carousel to the Luggage compartment of the Coach.

(c) Other border checks: Where we or you are required under any applicable law to provide details of your full name, address and other information concerning your identity and your journey and its purposes you shall, as a condition of your travel with us, promptly comply with all such law and cooperate with us in complying with such law.

(d) Other border requirements: You are advised that when crossing any borders or check-points, further requirements may be applied by the countries you are leaving or entering. We accept no responsibility or liability for such requirements or any delays or other problems caused by such requirements and you expressly agree that this is a risk you freely assume as a condition of travelling on our Service.

For safety reasons, neither infants under the age of three nor children under the age of 14 are permitted to sit in the seat located directly in front of the Emergency Exit door.

We will carry you and your permitted Luggage on the Service permitted by your Ticket, on and subject to these Conditions and any Special Conditions applicable to your Ticket and, except where your Ticket permits travel on a specific Service, subject to availability of a seat on the Service on which you wish to travel. We will use reasonable care and skill in providing the Services, but we cannot guarantee that there will be an available seat on any Service unless your Ticket permits travel on a specific Service. If your Ticket does not permit travel on a specific Service (for example it’s an open return) you will need to make a reservation on a particular Service in accordance with Condition 5 if you want to ensure that there is a seat available on the Service on which you want to travel.

Carriage and assistance of wheelchair users & users of mobility scooters is provided in accordance with our published code of conduct, titled ‘Disabled Code of Practice’ which is available upon request from our Assisted Travel Helpline or at www.nationalexpress.com.

(a) Travel in wheelchairs: The majority of our Services are now performed by fully wheelchair-accessible coaches which can convey a passenger in their wheelchair in the designated wheelchair space. For those passengers seeking to travel in a wheelchair, we need to carry out the checks listed in our Wheelchair User Guidelines (available from our Assisted Travel Helpline or at https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/wheelchair-user-guidelines) to ensure that we are able to provide travel (the “Requirements”) and we also need to check that the wheelchair is powered by dry cell, or gel-type or lithium batteries only. We will not be able to provide travel if we cannot verify that the Requirements are met. We therefore recommend that a passenger wishing to travel in their wheelchair makes a booking at least 36 hours in advance of when they wish to travel through our Assisted Travel Helpline on +44 (0)3717 81 81 81 (lines open 8am - 10pm 7 days a week) or using another contact method listed in our Disabled Code of Practice, to give us time to carry out these checks. However, if you are a passenger wishing to travel in your wheelchair and you wish to book travel on the day or otherwise within 36 hours of travel, we will make reasonable efforts to carry out these checks on the day or within any advance notice period provided.

(b) Travel in a Coach seat: For passengers who can transfer from their wheelchair to the Coach seat, we can transport lightweight manual wheelchairs where they can be safely stowed in the luggage hold of the Coach, which will be the case where they can be folded down and weigh less than 20kgs. This means we may not be able to transport wheelchairs, even if they can be folded, where assistance equipment or auxiliary aids mean they cannot be safely stored in the luggage hold or where their weight means they cannot safely be lifted into and out of the luggage hold. If you want to use the wheelchair lift, we also need to check that the stops at which you wish to board and alight the Coach are accessible stops at which the wheelchair lift can be deployed and that the combined weight of you and your wheelchair is capable of being lifted by the wheelchair lift. We therefore recommend that a passenger wishing to transfer from their wheelchair to a Coach seat makes a booking at least 36 hours in advance of travel, through our Assisted Travel Helpline on +44 (0)3717 81 81 81 (lines open 8am - 10pm 7 days a week) or using another contact method listed in our Disabled Code of Practice, to allow us to check that your wheelchair (and ancillary equipment if applicable) is safe for stowage in the luggage hold and, if you want to use the wheelchair lift, that the stops that you wish to use are accessible stops at which the wheelchair lift can be deployed and that you can be lifted by the wheelchair lift while in your wheelchair. However, if you wish to book travel on the day or otherwise within 36 hours of travel, we will make reasonable efforts to carry out these checks on the day or within any advance notice period provided.

(c) Mobility Scooters: For passengers who use mobility scooters, while such scooters cannot be transported in wheelchair space in the Coach, we may be able to provide travel if the passenger can transfer to a Coach seat and the mobility scooter can be safely stowed in the luggage hold of the Coach, which will be the case where they are capable of being dismantled and reassembled by you or your companion, the heaviest part does not exceed 20kgs in weight and the mobility scooter is operated by dry cell, gel-type or lithium batteries only and no spare batteries are stored in the hold.

Our drivers and staff are unable to dismantle or reassemble mobility scooters. We therefore recommend that booking is made at least 36 hours in advance of travel, through our Assisted Travel Helpline on +44 (0)3717 81 81 81 (lines open 8am - 10pm 7 days a week) or using another contact method listed in our Disabled Code of Practice, so that we can check that your mobility scooter is safe for stowage in the luggage hold. However, if you wish to book travel on the day or otherwise within 36 hours of travel, we will make reasonable efforts to carry out these checks on the day or within any advance notice period provided.

We welcome highly trained assistance dogs and assistance animals on our coaches. We do recommend that customers pre-book as this will help us ensure that you and your assistance dog/animal get a seat and that your assistance dog/animal has enough space for the duration of the journey.

You will be asked to provide information that your assistance dog/animal is highly trained, such as a certificate, correspondence from the training organisation, ID book, owner training logs, or a written or a verbal confirmation from the owner about what training has taken place. Customers can contact us to discuss, please get in touch with our Assisted Travel Team on +44 (0)3717 81 81 81, lines open 7 days a week, 8am - 8pm or email us using our assisted travel form.

We request that assistance dogs or animals wear a safety harness or are placed in a pet carrier that can fit on a seat when on board the Coach which shall be attached to the seatbelt of a spare seat. The safety harness or pet carrier is something that you will be required to provide.

(a) Whether you can cancel or amend the time and date of your Ticket will depend on the type of Ticket that you have purchased.

(b) If you wish to amend your Ticket: Please refer to Condition 3.5.

(c) If you wish to cancel your Ticket: Please check the Special Conditions which apply to your Ticket for the circumstances in which you are permitted to cancel your Ticket and are entitled to a refund. Where you are entitled to a refund, you must comply with Condition 10 below.

(d) Please note that we sell some Tickets which may be partly or completely non-refundable. You should choose the Ticket and fare which best suits your needs and consider taking insurance to cover instances where you might have to cancel your Ticket.

(e) Tickets are non-transferable.

(a) Changes to and/or Cancellations of Services: We will run our Services using reasonable care and skill. However, occasionally we may need to alter, delay or withdraw our Services, or terminate a Service once it has commenced, with or without notice and whether before or after you have booked a space (or reserved a seat) on the Service, and to substitute an alternative Service, due to operational reasons or Circumstances Beyond Our Reasonable Control and/or, in the case of European Services, due to any reason as a result of Brexit. In such circumstances, we will endeavour to notify you of the alteration, delay, withdrawal or termination of the Service, and of any substitute or alternative Service, as soon as reasonably practicable.

(b) Cancellation of your Ticket: We also reserve the right to cancel your Ticket, and/or refuse to carry you on any of our Services, if you fail to comply with these Conditions and/or any Special Conditions that apply to your Ticket.

Except as provided in these Conditions, we shall not be liable to you or any third party for any loss, damage, liability, cost or expense suffered by you or any third party as a result of any alteration, cancellation or withdrawal of any Service by us, or any delay to any Service, or termination of any Service.

If we cancel your Ticket, and/or refuse to carry you on any of our Services, due to your breach of any of these Conditions and/or any Special Conditions that apply to your Ticket, we will have no obligation to refund the fare nor will we have any other liability to you.

In this case, our liability depends on other factors explained below.

(a) No liability if you have no reservation: If we cancel or withdraw a Service before it has commenced, and you do not have a place reserved on it, we shall have no liability to you or any third party.

(b) Cancellation before Service has begun: If we cancel or withdraw a Service before it has commenced, and you do have a place reserved on it, our liability will be at our option to:-

(i) make suitable alternative arrangements to carry you to your destination on another Coach, or other mode of transport as we consider appropriate and if you have reserved a seat and the reserve a seat option is not available on the alternative transport refund your seat reservation fee; or

(ii) cancel the Ticket, and allow you to claim a refund of the full amount of the fare and any seat reservation fee if no portion of the Ticket has been used, or, if the outward part of a return Ticket has been used, 50% of the fare and any seat reservation fee for the return Journey. To obtain a refund you must comply with Condition 10 below.

(c) Cancellation after Service has begun: If a Service on which you are travelling commences and is terminated before reaching your destination, our liability will be at our option to:-

(i) make suitable alternative arrangements to carry you to your destination on another Coach, which may not have all of the advertised facilities and if you have reserved a seat and the reserve a seat option is not available on the alternative transport refund your seat reservation fee; or

(ii) make suitable alternative arrangements to carry you to your destination by another mode of transport as we consider appropriate and if you have reserved a seat and the reserve a seat option is not available on the alternative transport refund your seat reservation fee.

The remedies listed above shall be your sole remedies in circumstances outlined in this Condition 9.2 and, except as provided in this Condition 9.2, we shall not be liable for any loss, damage, liability, cost or expense suffered or incurred by you or any third party as a result of any alteration, cancellation or withdrawal of any Service by us.

Subject to Conditions 9.5 and 9.6 our maximum liability to you for any loss, damage, liability, cost and expense, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), for breach of statutory duty or otherwise, arising under or in connection with the contract for your carriage on our Services shall not exceed:

(a) where either the UK Passenger Rights Regulations or the EU Passenger Rights Regulations apply and we cause loss of or damage to any wheelchair, other mobility equipment or assistive device, the cost of replacement or repair of the equipment or devices lost or damaged;

(b) £500 in relation to all and any loss or damage to Luggage or other items of property which is not covered by Condition 9.4(a);

(c) the greater of (i) the cost of your Ticket received by us or (ii) £1,000, in relation to all other losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses not covered by Condition 9.4(a) or Condition 9.4(b).

Nothing in these Conditions is intended to, or shall, exclude or limit in any way our liability to you where it would be unlawful to do so. This includes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation. Nothing in these Conditions shall affect your statutory rights which apply to the Services or European Services to which your contract relates, as appropriate.

We shall not be liable to you for any loss of revenue, loss of profit, loss of business or opportunity or business interruption, or any indirect or consequential loss.

We accept no responsibility or liability whatsoever and howsoever caused for the actions or omissions of such Third Party Provider or any of their employees, agents or contractors (including if that Third Party Provider fails or delays in carrying you on their services) and you shall make your claim for any loss or damage you suffer or incur direct against that Third Party Provider as your contract is with them for your carriage on their service. Without prejudice to the foregoing, to the extent that we are found by any competent court to have any liability to you for any act, omission, negligence, or default of any Third Party Provider then our liability to you shall be as if we had carried you on and subject to these Conditions and that Third Party Provider were our sub-contractor.

You will be entitled to a refund either where:

(i) you have cancelled your Ticket and you are entitled to a refund under the Special Conditions which are applicable to your Ticket; or

(ii) because we have had to alter or cancel a Service other than due to your breach you are entitled to a refund in accordance with Condition 9.3 above.

(a) Making the claim: If you wish to cancel your Ticket earlier than 24 hours prior to the departure time shown on your Ticket you may claim a refund from the office or agent who issued the Ticket. If you wish to cancel your Ticket and claim a refund later than 24 hours prior to the departure time shown on your Ticket or after the departure time shown on your Ticket or you are unable to contact the original issuing office you should write to the Refunds Department, National Express House, Mill Lane, Digbeth, Birmingham, B5 6DD, enclosing your Ticket (or in the case of M-Tickets and E-Tickets, the Ticket Number and type) and an explanation as to why you could not use it. If you have a Ticket which covers more than one person, the claim for a refund must be made by all of those persons at the same time. Refunds can only be provided on refundable tickets or products.

(b) Proof of matters: When making your claim for a refund, you must provide reasonable proof of your identity and proof of purchase of the Ticket.

(c) Paid Tickets: You are only entitled to a refund if you have paid for the Ticket which is being refunded.

(d) Time limit for refunds: You must make your claim for a refund of a Ticket no later than 28 days after the date on which your Ticket is valid for travel.

(e) Return of your Ticket: When making your claim for a refund, you must return your unused Ticket (or the portion of your unused Ticket) to us. We will not be obliged to give you a refund until we have received your unused Ticket. This does not apply to E-Tickets or M-Tickets. You will be responsible for the cost of returning any Tickets to us.

(f) Refund charge: We will make an administrative charge of £5 per passenger (or such other charge, whether in Pounds Sterling or another currency, as we may specify from time to time) for giving a refund and cancelling your Ticket except if the refund is made because of a cancellation or withdrawal of a Service as detailed in Condition 9.2 or if covered free of charge by the Special Conditions.

(g) Effect of refund: If we give you a refund, your Ticket will be cancelled and we shall have no further obligation to carry you on any Service with that Ticket.

(h) Partial refunds: Unless stated otherwise in the Special Conditions applicable to your Ticket, if you have used the outward part of a return Ticket but not the return part, we will only refund the price paid for the return part of the Ticket.

(i) Non-refundable items: In addition to certain non-refundable Tickets, there are other charges which are non-refundable (including, without limitation, booking fees).

(j) Fraudulent refund claims: We shall not be obliged to process a refund where we have reason to believe that the claim for the refund is made fraudulently.

For the avoidance of doubt, making a claim for a refund does not guarantee that we will issue a refund, as refunds are only payable in the circumstances described in Condition 10.1 above.

We will carry your Luggage on and subject to these Conditions and any applicable Special Conditions.

(a) Permitted Luggage:

(i) You may store luggage in the hold of the coach, free of charge, 1 large suitcase or rucksack each measuring no more than 75cm x50cm x32cm and weighing no more than 20 kg.

(ii) You are also allowed to take onto a Service, free of charge, one small piece of soft hand Luggage measuring no more than 45cm x 35cm x 20cm. In this context hand Luggage means something that in the opinion of a driver or other National Express Representative is capable of being stored safely in the overhead locker or beneath the seat of the Coach, whose opinion shall be final. With the exception of briefcases no hard-shelled cases, wheeled bags or hard framed rucksacks/backpacks are permitted on board for safety reasons and must be stowed in the luggage hold of the Coach. Such item of Luggage will be stowed free of charge in the hold provided that: (a) it measures no more than 45cm x 35cm x 20cm and you do not take on board any hand Luggage, or (b) it is within your hold Luggage allowance referred to under Condition 11.1(a)(i) above. 

(iii) Subject to availability only - 2 medium suitcases may be carried each measuring no more than 70cm x 45cm x 30cm and weighing no more than 20kg, free of charge, instead of 1 large suitcase. 

(b) Excess or Outsized Luggage: We shall have no obligation to carry Luggage in excess of the permitted amount or size or which doesn’t fit into a standard luggage shape (including for example only, sports equipment such as surfboards, skis and fold-up bikes, tents and musical instruments) but we may, at our entire discretion, agree to carry additional pieces of hold Luggage, or ‘outsized’ items, subject always to space being available and on payment of a charge for each extra or ‘outsized’ piece. The charges will be confirmed during the booking process. An absolute maximum of three chargeable items of Luggage may be taken in the hold (maximum 5 overall) subject always to space being available and the charges having been paid and our agreement to carry the same. Priority will be given to customers travelling with Luggage within the free limits. Customers will be permitted to ‘pool’ their individual allowances if they are travelling in a group or as a family, but they must be travelling on the same Ticket. If you pre-purchase excess Luggage or ‘outsized’ items and there is insufficient space to take the Luggage or ‘outsized’ items, you will have to wait for the next Service with available seats where priority to board will be given to you over customers without reservations.

(c) Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and pushchairs: Folding wheelchairs, dismantled mobility scooters and folding pushchairs/buggies will be carried free of charge in the hold where these comply with Condition 7.2 or, in the case of buggies/pushchairs, they do not exceed 20kg in weight.

(d) Fragile items: We only agree to carry fragile items if they are of reasonable size and securely packaged in order to not become damaged in the luggage hold, subject to space being available and any charges being paid if the items are excess or outsized items.

(e) If we agree to carry any particular Luggage or other item of property on any Journey this does not mean that we have agreed to carry that Luggage or other item of property on any subsequent Journey you make, unless it is Luggage that is free of charge.

(f) Customers must travel with their Luggage: We will never carry unaccompanied Luggage or other item of property (including parcels) in any circumstances.

(g) Customers should insure their Luggage: You should fully insure your Luggage and other items of property with reputable insurers for an adequate amount against all usual and normal risks of loss or damage especially if you are carrying valuable items.

(a) What are prohibited items? We are not obliged to carry any of the following items, and you may not bring them onto any Coach or into any Station without our permission:

(i) weapons (other than recognised articles of faith which must be sheathed, secured and worn underneath clothing at all times).

(ii) explosives;

(iii) drugs (other than medicines for which you have a prescription or were obtained over the counter);

(iv) caustic substances or solvents;

(v) non-folding pushchairs/prams;

(vi) oversized sports equipment (other than where we agree to do so under Condition 11.1);

(vii) non-folding bicycles (other than where we agree to do under Condition 11.1);

(viii) wheelchairs and/or mobility scooters (except in accordance with Condition 7.2 and Condition 11.1);

(ix) electric scooters and/or electric unicycles ;

(x) any other items which we are not permitted to carry under the law of any country which any European Service may enter or through which it may pass; and

(xi) any items which, in our opinion or in the opinion of any driver of a Coach or National Express Representative, are or may be unsafe, or may cause injury, offence or damage to any persons or property, including items with sharp or protruding edges, any item over 20kg in weight or any item which cannot be folded down or packaged to comply with Condition 11.1, or items which are otherwise considered by us to be unsuitable for carriage by reason of their weight, size, shape or character, or which are fragile (and not securely packed) or perishable or in liquid form (and not securely sealed).

(xii) any items which, in our opinion or in the opinion of any driver of a Coach or National Express Representative, emits an offensive odour regardless of packing or preservation methods. Items may include but not limited to; liquids, perishable foods and animal remains and or vegetation.

If you have any doubts about whether we will carry any particular item, you should obtain our written confirmation before purchasing your Ticket and bring this with you when you travel.

(b) What happens if you take prohibited items: If you take any prohibited item onto any Coach, we will advise you that they are prohibited, we will remove them from the Coach and the driver will give you a reasonable amount of time, based on timetable of service, to either dispose of the item or make alternative arrangements for the item's transportation. We may also refuse you travel.

(c) We will not be liable to you in respect of prohibited items: If you take any prohibited items of property onto any Coach or into any Station, we shall not be liable for any loss or damage occurring to such items for any reason whatsoever, including our removal of such items. If you are refused travel due to bringing any prohibited items onto any Coach or into any Station, we will not be obliged to refund your Ticket and we will not be liable for any loss, damage, inconvenience or cost or expense you suffer or incur as a result.

(a) Packing of Luggage: You must pack all of your Luggage safely and securely, and lock and fasten it, with a view to protecting your Luggage from loss, damage or interference, and to protect any persons or other property on a Coach from being damaged by your Luggage. We will not be obliged to carry any Luggage which has not been properly packed.

(b) Labelling of Luggage: All Luggage should be clearly and appropriately labelled with your name or other contact details. We will not be obliged to carry any Luggage which has not been properly labelled.

(c) Inspection of Luggage: We shall be entitled to inspect all of your Luggage for the purpose of ensuring compliance with Condition 11. We shall not be obliged to carry you or your Luggage, and shall be entitled to remove you and/or your Luggage from any Coach, if you refuse to submit your Luggage to a search or if the results of the search reveal any non-compliance with Condition 11 or cause for concern as explained in Condition 11.

(d) Storage of Luggage: All Luggage, other than hand Luggage, must be stored in the hold or other storage compartment on the Coach and not in the passenger compartment of the Coach.

(e) Care of Luggage: Except for any Luggage stored in the hold of a Coach, you must also look after your Luggage and other items of property at all times during your Journey. You must also make sure you do not leave any of your Luggage or other items of property unattended at any time, including at any Station and including your hand Luggage whilst on a Coach.

(f) Getting the Luggage onto and off of a Service: On Services (excluding European Services) Drivers will load and unload your Luggage which is placed in the hold on to and off of Coaches but may request your assistance in loading any oversized or heavy or fragile items of Luggage. You should comply with any such request where you are reasonably able to do so. Notwithstanding the driver’s assistance, it is your responsibility to see your Luggage put on and taken off a Coach, or checked-in at any Station where check-in arrangements apply. On European Services it is your responsibility to load any Luggage which you want to place in the hold on to and off the Coach.

(g) No Luggage Stored for Restricted stops: There are some stops where, for safety reasons, we are unable, and are unable to permit you, to load and unload Luggage from the hold of Coaches. Such stops are shown on our published timetables. If you are boarding or alighting a Coach at any of these stops, you will only be permitted to bring hand Luggage onto the Coach.

(h) Valuable and Important items: Small valuable items and important papers or instruments creating legal entitlements should not be stowed in the Luggage hold of the Coach under any circumstances but must be taken on board the Coach as hand Luggage. Small valuable items include bank cards, money, medication, jewellery, precious metals, laptop computers, hard drives, personal electronic devices and mobile phones, and important papers and instruments creating legal entitlements include negotiable documents, securities, business documents, passports, visas, tickets and identification documents. Small valuable items and important papers or instruments creating legal entitlements will be carried on the Coach at your own risk and must not be left unattended by you. Where possible, small valuable items should be carried on your person and important papers and instruments should be kept in a bag, fitted with a lock as you see fit.

We strongly advise that you do not bring large valuable items onto the Coach as hold Luggage. If you choose to carry any large valuable items onto the Coach, provided that they otherwise comply with this Condition 11 they will be stored in the hold of the Coach at your own risk. We shall have no liability for any loss or damage occurring to any valuable item placed in the hold of the Coach for any reason whatsoever.

(a) Left Luggage: If you leave behind any of your Luggage or other items of property on a Coach, you should notify us as soon as possible and in any event within 24 hours of the end of your journey by calling us on +44 (0)3717 818181. Lines open 8am-10pm 7 days a week. Alternatively, you can write to us at Customer Relations, National Express House, Mill Lane, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6DD, England or via any other address we advertise for the purpose. If you notice that you have left behind any of your Luggage or other items of property on a Coach and we locate it, we will use reasonable efforts to store it in accordance with Condition 11.4(c), subject to our rights to dispose of it as specified in that Condition, and to make it available for collection by you at a place we specify during our normal working hours.

(b) Lost Luggage or other items of property: If, without being notified, we find any lost Luggage or other items of property on a Coach or at a Station, we may store it in accordance with Condition 11.2(c), subject to our rights to dispose of it as specified in that Condition, but any such storage will be at your risk and you will be responsible for contacting us about it.

(c) Storage of left and lost Luggage or other items of property: We shall be entitled to open and examine any left or lost Luggage or other items of property to seek to ascertain who it belongs to and/or for health and safety and/ or security reasons. If there are any items in left Luggage or other items of property which we consider are unlawful, dangerous or perishable or otherwise unsuitable for storage, we shall be entitled to hand them over to the relevant authorities or dispose of such items at any time. As our storage facilities are limited we may only hold on to left or lost Luggage or other items of property for 28 days, after which time we reserve the right to dispose of it in any manner we consider appropriate.

(d) Fee for left or lost Luggage or other items of property: We may charge you a reasonable administration and/or repatriation fee for the storage and return of your left or lost Luggage or other items of property.

(e) Our liability for left or lost Luggage or other items of property: We will not be liable to you, or any third party, for any loss of or damage to left or lost Luggage or other items of property as a result of any action taken by us in accordance with this Condition 11.4, unless we fail to use reasonable care in respect of left Luggage or other items of property that you notify us about accordance with Condition 11.4(a), in which case Condition 11.6 applies.

(f) You must hand over lost Luggage or other items of property of other people: If you find any property of any other person on any Coach or at any Station that we own or manage, you must hand it over to us immediately.

You should check all your Luggage or other items of property at the time of disembarking a Service for any damage and notify the driver or a National Express Representative at the time of discovering such damage or, in any event, within 24 hours of the end of your Journey by calling us on +44 (0)3717 818181. Lines open 8am-10pm 7 days a week. Alternatively, you can write to us at Customer Relations, National Express House, Mill Lane, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6DD, England or via any other address we advertise for the purpose. Any claims in respect of damaged Luggage or other items of property must be received by us as soon as possible after the date you discover the damage to the Luggage or other items of property and, in any case, within 28 days of the date of your Journey. You must provide suitable evidence of the damage to the Luggage or other items of property with your claim (for example, photographic evidence and receipts for items included in your Luggage or other items of property).

We will take reasonable care of your Luggage while you are travelling with it on any Journey and if you notify us that you have left it behind and we locate it in accordance with Condition 11.4(a). We will only be liable for any loss of or damage to your Luggage or other items of property caused by our failure to use such reasonable care and such liability will be subject to Condition 9.4.

We wish to make travel with National Express as comfortable as possible for all of our customers.

(a) Required behaviour: You must ensure that you:

(i) Behave in a reasonable, sensible and lawful manner on a Coach and at any Station;

(ii) Comply with any request or instruction from any driver of a Coach or any National Express Representative; and

(iii) Use mobile phones and other electronic devices considerately on all Coaches and in any Station.

(b) Prohibited behaviour: You must ensure that you do not:

(i) Behave in a way that is, or is perceived to be, abusive or threatening to any person or otherwise in a disorderly way;

(ii) Conduct yourself in a way which does or may endanger yourself or any other person;

(iii) Obstruct or interfere with any driver or other crew on a Coach, or any National Express Representative, in the performance of their duties or fail to comply with their instructions;

(iv) Behave in a manner which causes discomfort, inconvenience, danger, damage or injury to any other person or to property on board any Coach or at any Station or to any Coach or Station;

(v) Obstruct or allow any of your Luggage to obstruct any aisle or emergency exit on any Coach;

(vi) Play any music players, musical instruments or electronic devices that are audible and distracting or annoying to any person on any Coach, or which interfere with, or render less audible, any public address system or other equipment;

(vii) Take onto any Coach, or into any Station, any alcoholic drinks or drugs (other than medicines) for the purpose of consuming them, or consume them on any Coach or in any Station;

(viii) Board any Coach whilst under the influence of alcoholic drinks or drugs (other than medicines);

(ix) Smoke (including substitute smoking materials such as electronic cigarettes) onboard any Coach or at any Station;

(x) Board any Coach whilst you are seriously ill or suffering from any serious contagious illness; or

(xi) Commit a criminal offence.

(a) Food and drink: You are more than welcome to bring your own drinks (with a lid, if they are hot) and cold food. For the safety and comfort of all customers, no alcohol or hot food is permitted on our coaches.

(b) Rubbish: You must take your rubbish with you when you leave the Coach.

(c) Filming: You shall not, without our prior written consent, film on any Coach or at any Station owned or managed by us for any commercial or professional purpose. You may film for personal or private purposes provided that such filming does not cause, and is not likely to cause, distress or alarm to any driver, National Express Representative or any other customer or passenger. Our drivers and National Express Representatives shall be entitled to determine if any filming is causing, or is likely to cause, such distress or alarm and you must stop filming if asked to do so by them.

If you fail to comply with this Condition 12, we shall be entitled to restrain you, remove you from any Coach or Station owned or managed by us, refuse you further carriage, cancel your Ticket without refund and take any other measures as we consider necessary, including to involve law enforcement authorities if we consider that there are any security or safety issues.

Furthermore, we reserve the right to refuse travel, either on a one-off or permanent basis, to anyone who has failed to comply with this Condition 12 or who we consider to be a nuisance or danger to our passengers, customers, drivers or National Express Representatives.

If we take any of the actions in consequence of your bad behaviour specified in this Condition 12 or you are refused travel in the circumstances specified in this Condition 12, we will not be liable to you for any loss, damage, injury, inconvenience or cost that you suffer or incur as a result.

We will not be liable to you for any act or omission of any other customer or passenger on a Coach or at a Station.

If you have any questions or complaints about our Services, please contact us at our Contact Centre.

Alternative dispute resolution is a process where an independent body considers the facts of a dispute and seeks to resolve it, without you having to go to court.

If you are not happy with how we have handled your complaint once we have completed our internal complaint process, we are obliged to inform you of an approved alternative dispute resolution entity which is competent to deal with your complaint. For these purposes, we refer you to the Ombudsman Services of The Brew House, Wilderspool Park, Warrington, WA4 6HL (the “ADR Entity”). However, and in accordance with our rights, we will not submit to an alternative dispute resolution procedure operated by the ADR Entity.

If your complaint relates to any of our Services (other than our European Services referred to in the paragraph below), you may also want to contact Bus Users UK, who can independently review your case. Bus Users UK’s contact details are: Address - Cobalt Square, 83 Hagley Road, Birmingham B16 8QG, Email address - enquiries@bususers.org and website - www.bususers.org. Depending on the facts of your case, we may or may not have regard to any process followed by, or recommendations of, Bus Users UK.

If your complaint relates to our Belfast-Dublin European Services, you may also want to contact either the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (CC) or the National Transport Authority for the Republic of Ireland (NTA). The CC’s contact details are: Postal address - Floor 3, Seatem House, 28-32 Alfred Street, Belfast, BT2 8EN, Email address - complaints@consumercouncil.org.uk and Telephone number - +44 (0)800 121 6022. The NTA’s contact details are: Postal address - Dún Scéine, Harcourt Lane, Dublin 2, D02 WT20, Email address – info@nationaltransport.ie and Telephone number – +353 1 879 8300.

These Conditions, and your contract with us, are governed by the laws of England and Wales and you and we can bring legal proceedings in respect of your contract in the courts of England and Wales, save that:

(a) if you live in Scotland you or we can bring legal proceedings in respect of your contract in either the Scottish courts or the courts of England and Wales; or

(b) if you live in Northern Ireland you or we can bring legal proceedings in respect of your contract in either the courts of Northern Ireland or the courts of England and Wales; or

(c) if you live in the Republic of Ireland you or we can bring legal proceedings in respect of your contract in either the courts of the Republic of Ireland or the courts of England and Wales.

(a) Unless otherwise stated in these Conditions, no person other than you and us shall have the benefit of or be entitled to rely upon or enforce any of these Conditions or any other term of the contract to carry you and the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 shall not apply.

(b) You acknowledge that where you are carried by a Partner Operator for the whole or any part of a Journey, you shall owe your obligations under Conditions 4, 5.2(c), 5.2(f)(i), 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6 to 6.11 (inclusive), 6.14, 7.2, 7.3, 8.2(b), 11.1 to 11.4 (inclusive) and 12 and any Special Conditions to that Partner Operator as well as to us, and that Partner Operator shall be entitled to the benefit of any rights, remedies or limitations of liability which we have set out in such Conditions and Special Conditions as if they were a party to them.

These Conditions, and any Special Conditions which apply to your Ticket, may be amended at any time, provided that the versions thereof that were current at the time you purchased your Ticket will be the versions that form your contract with us. None of our, or our subcontractors’, employees, agents or representatives, has authority to alter, modify or waive any of these Conditions or any Special Conditions.

Each of these Conditions, and Special Conditions which apply to your Ticket, shall be separate and severable. Should any such Condition or applicable Special Condition (or any part thereof) be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, it shall be severed from these Conditions or the Special Conditions (as appropriate), and the remaining Conditions and applicable Special Conditions (or parts thereof) shall continue in full force and effect and be amended as far as possible to give valid effect to the intentions of the parties under the severed provision.

We shall be entitled to subcontract the operation of all or part of the Services to any Partner Operator.

We may transfer our rights and obligations under these Conditions and any Special Conditions to any other person. You may not transfer or assign your rights or obligations under these Conditions and any Special Conditions to any other person.

If we delay enforcing these Conditions, or any Special Conditions that apply to your Ticket, including by delaying asking you to comply with them or taking steps against you for non-compliance with them, this will not prevent us from enforcing them against you later in respect of that or any other non-compliance.

Your personal data will be processed in accordance with our customer and passenger privacy notice available at www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/privacy-centre.

In the event that customer demand for a particular Journey is sufficient we may, in our entire discretion, run additional Services which will stop at Stations and stopping points which are only determined on the day of travel and in response to customer demand (a “High Demand Service”).

You will have the option of selecting a High Demand Service, where an option exists, as part of the online booking process and where such an option is selected, You acknowledge that the Journey on the High Demand Service is subject to the following conditions:

(a) a High Demand Service will only stop at Stations and stopping points where there is sufficient demand and it may not stop at all of the same Stations and/or stopping points as a scheduled Service;

(b) a High Demand Service may not be branded in National Express livery;

(c) a High Demand Service may not have some or all of the following features:

(i) Wi-Fi;

(ii) USB ports;

(iii) plug sockets;

(iv) air-conditioning; and;

(v) leather seats. 

In order to help ensure the safety of our customers and staff, you must, until further notice, whenever travelling with National Express act in a way which is consistent with helping prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and current government guidance.

Please note that we reserve the right to amend this condition 15 at any time up until the day of travel in order to reflect the current laws, government guidance and industry practice relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and safer travel on public transport.

These terms and conditions apply to your purchase of our ‘Change & Go’ product (“Change & Go”)” and are in addition to our General Conditions of Carriage.

• These terms and conditions apply to your purchase and use of our ‘Change & Go’ product (“Change & Go”) and are in addition to the Conditions, which shall apply to all Tickets purchased and your use of the Services.
• Change & Go is an optional product, which you can purchase in addition to a ‘Standard’ or ‘Fully Flexible’ Ticket, and which entitles you, subject to availability, to amend your departure time on the same Service departing from certain Stations up to 12 hours prior to or 12 hours after the scheduled departure time of your original booking.
• Change & Go is subject to availability and is available on our ‘Standard’ and ‘Fully Flexible’ Tickets.
• You may purchase Change & Go as an “Add Extra” at the time of making your booking or up to 24 hours prior to departure of your booking using the ‘My Account’ section of our website, or in person from one of our Stations listed below:
  • Birmingham Coach Station
  • Bournemouth Coach Station
  • Bristol Bus Station
  • Cardiff Coach Station
  • Gatwick Airport
  • Leeds Coach Station
  • Leicester St Margaret’s Bus Station
  • London Victoria Coach Station
  • Luton Airport
  • Manchester Coach Station
  • Milton Keynes Coachway
  • Nottingham Bus Station
  • Plymouth Coach Station
  • Southampton Coach Station
  • Stansted Airport
• The fees for Change & Go are set out in the table below. Please note that, if you are booking a return Ticket and would like the flexibility in both directions, then you will need to purchase Change & Go on both the outward journey and the return journey:

• If you purchase Change & Go you:
  • are entitled to make one amendment to the departure time of your journey for the Service(s) for which you have purchased Change & Go; and
  • are not entitled to amend for a direct Service, where your original Ticket was for an indirect Service.
• No discounts apply to the Change & Go fees, unless otherwise stated.
• If you purchase Change & Go and wish to amend the departure time of outward and/or return journey, please contact us using the details set out below:

• If you are unable to contact our Customer Contact Centre or Travel Shop, you may request the driver at the departure Station to allow you to redeem your change & go add-on, however, it is at our driver’s complete discretion, and dependant on seat availability whether you will be able to travel on the alternative Service.
• Refunds – The Change & Go fees are non-refundable unless:
  • you have bought a ‘Fully Flexible’ Ticket and cancel your booking more than 24 hours prior to your scheduled departure time;
  • we have cancelled your journey; or
  • we have amended your departure time and you no longer wish to travel.
• You can transfer your seat reservation across to your new departure, if your seat reservation is available.
• If your seat reservation is unavailable on your new departure, normal terms and conditions apply and the seat reservation is non-refundable.
• Change & Go cannot be re-purchased on a Ticket for which have already amended the departure time using your Change & Go redeemed.
• All Tickets are issued subject to our Conditions.
• These terms and conditions are in addition to our Conditions and may be amended at any time.