| The M23 Flixbus incident Posted by Mark A at 18:01, 22nd September 2026 |     |
Not sure what happened here: police removed driver for 'Reasons', after which passengers in a stationary coach on the motorway hard shoulder, hopefully with a hi-viz police vehicle as protection.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/sep/22/flixbus-left-us-stranded-m23-after-a-police-swoop
| Re: The M23 Flixbus incident Posted by grahame at 18:35, 22nd September 2026 | |
Not sure what happened here: police removed driver for 'Reasons', after which passengers in a stationary coach on the motorway hard shoulder, hopefully with a hi-viz police vehicle as protection.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/sep/22/flixbus-left-us-stranded-m23-after-a-police-swoop
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/sep/22/flixbus-left-us-stranded-m23-after-a-police-swoop
We had boarded the Cambridge to Brighton Flixbus service at Gatwick. The coach was an hour late, was visibly damaged on the outside and the driver set off without closing the luggage hatch.
Other passengers observed him driving with his eyes closed, and police pulled him over on the M23 because of erratic driving. He was tested at the roadside and detained on suspicion of driving while under the influence.
The police asked Flixbus to source an alternative driver, but to no avail. The 90-minute wait was terrifying with lorries swerving past. Eventually, the police drove us to a service station on the outskirts of Brighton and we had to make our own way into the city.
Other passengers observed him driving with his eyes closed, and police pulled him over on the M23 because of erratic driving. He was tested at the roadside and detained on suspicion of driving while under the influence.
The police asked Flixbus to source an alternative driver, but to no avail. The 90-minute wait was terrifying with lorries swerving past. Eventually, the police drove us to a service station on the outskirts of Brighton and we had to make our own way into the city.
and
You reported the incident as it unfolded via Flixbus’s live chat, which is evidently not programmed to address alleged driving offences, as it kept reassuring you that the company aims to offer a safe and reliable experience. Its reasoning was that since you had boarded the bus there was no case for compensation.
When you complained by email, Flixbus referred to the incident as “disruption”, as though the issue was heavy traffic.
When you complained by email, Flixbus referred to the incident as “disruption”, as though the issue was heavy traffic.
Comparing rail and road ... I am rather glad that a train leaving on time with people on board does NOT remove the need for compensation or provision to "get you there" if it's delayed on the way.
Have any members here ever left on time on a train, and then been delayed on the way so that a connection misses?
| Re: The M23 Flixbus incident Posted by LiskeardRich at 22:01, 22nd September 2026 | |
Flixbus customer service is horrendous.
I was driving a Falcon about 12 - 18 months ago, and come across a lady at a stop we shared with Flix at Taunton who was heading to London. She spoke little English but I established her Flixbus hadn’t turned up. I did some research and whilst Flix didn’t have a direct number, I knew a driver who drove the local Flix bus at the time, so gave him a call to get information.
I assessed the lady as potentially vulnerable as she was distressed, spoke very little English and in an unfamiliar place in a foreign country (to her), so as I had plenty of spare seats decided I’d take her to Bristol, and walk her to a Flixbus at Bristol bus station. Now in my head I thought flixbus reps/ drivers at Bristol would help and get the lady to London. Apparently not. They told me the upcoming Bristol to London departures were operated by a different partner so they couldn’t transport her. A national express person over heard the discussion, and put her on the next NX to London.
Overall I was left less than impressed by Flixbus customer care.
Despite this I gave them a go myself, £6 for a single Krakow to Kosice. Service cancelled. Told they wouldn’t refund as it was under the minimum refund amount, even though it was them who failed to operate! I shall avoid as far as possible now, unless I have a back up.
| Re: The M23 Flixbus incident Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:06, 22nd September 2026 | |
Flixbus - the Ryanair of buses?
Again, that is my personal opinion, certainly not the official view from the Coffee Shop forum.
CfN.
