Flixbus offers several new connections from today. However, decreased the frequency on some existing lines. The buses on some routes have become slower. The buses on different routes, but never more than 4 times a day. More and more buses drive to and from foreign destinations.
New features such as the bus Nijmegen – Amsterdam, Nijmegen – Den Haag, Groningen – Arnhem and Groningen – Nijmegen. On existing routes Enschede – Eindhoven and Rotterdam – Nijmegen, the buses are less frequent. At launch, more than half a year ago, the bus drove Rotterdam – Nijmegen example yet 8x per day, which was later halved to 4 times a day. Now that the frequency is reduced to 2 times a day.
Rotterdam – Amsterdam
In the spring Flixbus started a night bus Rotterdam – Copenhagen, which besides domestic passengers could travel between Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Between Rotterdam and Amsterdam, the frequency is now increased from 1x per day to 3 times a day. The buses run from The Hague.
Less than fast train
At the launch in December focused mainly on the speed. Flixbus was on several domestic routes faster than the train, as shown by an equation that showed the company itself. But that does Flixbus not anymore. Not strange, because in many places, the bus is now just slightly slower than the train. The advantage in the bus should mainly be in the price, comfort and the travel convenience of a direct connection.
Up to 50 minutes slower
At launch, the bus was Enschede – Eindhoven 2 hours and 10 minutes on the way. Now that is 3 hours 50 minutes slower. The four buses Groningen – Eindhoven have also become slower. First, wash the travel time for all buses 3 hours and 15 minutes, now it ranges between 3 hours and 35 minutes and 3 hours and 50 minutes.
Amsterdam – Nijmegen
The new bus Nijmegen – Amsterdam is also quite slow: 3 hours and 20 minutes. In comparison, the train will take 1 hour and 24 minutes. That’s because the bus Nijmegen – Amsterdam first drive Lombardijen Rotterdam, Zuidplein Rotterdam Central Station, and then via The Hague to Amsterdam. Also on the route Rotterdam – Amsterdam is the bus slower than the train, especially when compared to Intercity Direct.
Time less important
That Flixbus less bet on fast travel times is understandable, says editor Hildebrand Kuyeren. “In high-frequency lines, the travel time is very important. But the bus still only runs a few times a day, then 10 minutes more or less much less important. You should probably still wait a while for the bus.”
Foreign Destinations
Domestic routes now seemed a strategy to open more international routes. The domestic market currently attracts crowded buses, but the cross-border buses do very well, especially if there are still a few seats filled with domestic travelers. The existing bus line Groningen – Eindhoven therefore continues driving 3 times a day to Antwerp and Brussels. The line Groningen – Enschede is pulled, and now driving to the suburbs of Cologne
.
Changes rapidly
Flixbus change the network rapidly. The network and frequencies seem more like six months ago. New lines are introduced, others are modified or even eliminated. And sometimes something already seems to change before the change is implemented. Thus, it had been a night bus Rotterdam – Berlin announced, but that bus is still not reached, or very soon lifted. There was also an earlier bus Den Bosch – announced in Brussels, which did not happen. In January Flixbus announced that the network would be extended to Bucharest, but that has not yet been realized.
Competition
Considering the journey times and frequency of the bus is to attend any threat for the train at short distances. It will be especially a supplement, which will be used by a restricted group of travelers. On cross-border lines, the bus is a major competitor of the train.
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