Whilst Marlborough received recognition from the Coach Travel industry in the form of being awarded ‘Coach Friendly’ status, this doesn’t appear to cut any ice with or extend as far as National Express.
Prior to the Pandemic National Express ran their ‘402’ service from Frome to London, stopping at Marlborough, Hungerford and Newbury on the way to London, and Devizes, Melksham, Trowbridge and Frome in the other direction.
This will not be reinstated – as it is ‘not viable for us to do so from both a commercial and operational perspective’ according to National Express Coaches, MD Chris Hardy in a reply to a letter from Marlborough Town Councillor Noel Barrett-Morton. (see letter from Cllr Barrett-Morton to marlborough.news)
So Marlborough will lose out. The other towns on this route do have rail services nearby, and even Devizes is planned to have its station restored in the not-too-distant future. But for anyone in Marlborough wishing to go to London or Heathrow via public transport, they will have to get – initially via a bus service – to Pewsey, Bedwyn, Hungerford or Swindon to catch a train, or to Swindon to pick up the National Express ‘401’ coach service that did get reinstated.
There are possible other alternative options but none that immediately offer a Marlborough stop. The nearest would be for the ‘401’ service that passes through Avebury to stop there, so that any Marlborough resident wishing to get a coach to London or Heathrow could get do that, but only if they could get to Avebury first, and at the right time.
What does the explanation ‘not viable for us to do so from both a commercial and operational perspective’ actually mean? The letter from the National Express Coach MD adds that the former ‘402’ service ‘produced only marginal profit’, so although it was profitable, it was not profitable enough.
Cllr Barrett-Morton has since suggested to Chris Hardy that the ‘401’ service re-route through Marlborough (and stop) on its way to Swindon rather than going through Avebury and Wroughton but no reply to date.
Danny Kruger, Marlborough’s Devizes Constituency MP is aware of the situation and is being kept ‘in the loop’ regarding discussions (negotiations?) with National Express Coaches.
Interestingly there is news over the past couple of days that National Express is ‘in talks’ to take over Stagecoach, the recently appointed bus operator for the Marlborough area villages. If this proceeds, will the same issue of not enough profit apply? That is something to watch over the forthcoming months and year.
So, for the time being and possibly the forseeable future, whilst plenty of coaches will stop in Marlborough, enabling their passengers to enjoy the delights of the town – the retail and refreshment places for which Marlborough is rightly famous – none of these coaches, nor any others will pick up Marlborough passengers to take them up to Reading, Heathrow or London. Just as well that Marlborough is a beautiful town for residents and visitors alike to appreciate and enjoy…..
Kitchen Porter – Catering – Marlborough College
