HOW FAR South can I get just on using £2 buses? My last £2 bus challenge of 2024.

[@CameraManSajeev]

It did take me a while to get used to the MK grid system when I transferred my job from ARRIVA SOUTH LONDON to ARRIVA MK. I only lasted few months at MK though. I quit as the job was a lot different driving a London bus compared to MK routes.

[@backpack-travels-uk]

That's interesting, what was it you liked about London driving Vs out in MK? I'd have thought MK would have been better as always find drivers in London get treated awfully by passengers. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

[@CameraManSajeev]

@backpack-travels-uk TFL made the job easier by making it cashless in London. TFL policy changed in how drivers deal with non paying passengers. We are advised to just let anyone travel as to avoid confrontation and to avoid loosing milage and keep driving. In MK contactless payments exist, but cash is still accepted.

[@backpack-travels-uk]

@CameraManSajeev That makes sense!

[@the-scamp]

Great video. I'm going to guess you'll get the bus from Hatfield to somewhere in the vicinity of Edgware, then get a bus to perhaps Marble Arch, then get a bus to Victoria Coach Station, where you'll catch the coach back to Leicester.

[@backpack-travels-uk]

Oh, think I'm going to beat your expectations this time 👍 keep watching!

[@rainshine3457]

Love these videos . Good man saying thank you were bought up with manners rare these days. As a Coach/Bus driver myself a thank you means so much. 👍👍

[@backpack-travels-uk]

Thank you for watching and your service transporting us everywhere! Yeah, it's my pet peeve in London, you don't get to speak to the driver to thank them!

[@andrewwilson6240]

Bus driving is deservedly the most thanked profession in the UK!

[@rainshine3457]

@@andrewwilson6240 ok not in my 17 year career it's not

[@lovefive5733]

Thank you for another excellent video. All the best. 😊😊😊😊

[@backpack-travels-uk]

@@lovefive5733 Thank you for your kind feedback means a lot!

[@James-Power82]

Brilliant first part, looking forward to the next one 👍. Even with the bus fare cap going up next year these challenges will still be great value.

[@backpack-travels-uk]

Thanks James! You're right, will plan on doing more next year. Maybe from different starting points too as getting a bit sick of Leicester 🤣 How have your journeys been?

[@simondavey7787]

Absolutely love this and am tempted to try a similar challenge myself. Just discovered your channel and love it.

[@backpack-travels-uk]

Welcome aboard - pardon the pun! Thanks for watching! You absolutely should try it if you have a spare day to kill. I'm considering what further challenges I can do in the future.

[@topmandog1]

quite a few buses in lancs used top be stagecoach gold but have been given a snatdard livery, the odd gold one still exists, we see it on the fylde coast

[@backpack-travels-uk]

I get the feeling it's a bit like Arriva Sapphire and being phased out which is such a shame as Gold was a real luxury seat unlike Sapphire! Thanks for watching 👍

[@topmandog1]

@@backpack-travels-uk i used to live in bolton when Arriva Sapphire came out and i never got to ride one as my route always got the oldest buses on the fleet

[@backpack-travels-uk]

@@topmandog1 I don't think Sapphire was ever that great, just a slightly better interior and features like USB and WiFi and next stop announcements which a lot of the newer buses have anyway.

[@topmandog1]

@@backpack-travels-uk 10-15 years ago that was amazing

[@tsungiraichiramba]

Brilliant video, I’ve done the X6 and MK1. Ngl they are very good

[@backpack-travels-uk]

@@tsungiraichiramba Yes, they're not bad at all. Especially for £2. You can't moan at that price - even at the new year's £3.

[@sueweston502]

Excellent video, thanks. Indeed it will be the last £2 bus trip as I believe the minimum fare will increase to £3 in January. Heres to many more bus trips anyway!

[@backpack-travels-uk]

@@sueweston502 Yep, it'll still be a great adventure with £3 tickets. Planning one for late Jan, just not sure on timings for work yet!

[@markh5481]

My prediction of your target is Southampton. You have made good progress so far and for the £2 bus to work between towns you need reasonable size towns and to skirt London in some way. Luton -> Watford -> High Wycombe -> Slough -> Reading -> Basingstoke -> Southampton might be doable by bus. Perhaps a bit optimistic however and I think you are aiming for a day.

[@backpack-travels-uk]

@@markh5481 interesting and you're absolutely right, skirting London is a great idea. You'll see why next episode!

[@stevecampbell7589]

It is down to the type of service on the operators license that dictates if seatbelts are required or not and not the road type or length. However, if the vehicle is fitted with seatbelts, then they must be used

[@backpack-travels-uk]

Yes, I checked gov website and it appears that urban services don't have to provide belts. That's why I'd be interested to know whether you have to use belts on the X1 as they're provided but it's registered as an urban service.

[@Alcofrolicchap]

I’ve done a similar route, but going as far as Aylesbury from Leicester a couple of years ago. I’ve often thought about going to Oxford and beyond from MK. As soon as I saw the title of this episode I knew you were going to head to MK. 👍 I’ve used the X6 to get to Cov and then changed for different days out in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Leamington Spa. Something I wouldn’t have considered before the £2 fare cap.

[@Alcofrolicchap]

PS The new bus station in Northampton is not fit for purpose. I’ve stood waiting for the bus back to Leicester and all the bays are full, the bus pulls into a bay half way down the station then there’s a stampede to get to it. Also, I’ve encountered the rudest passengers at the Drapery stop, all pushing in to get onto that MK bus. It seems queuing is unheard of there.

[@backpack-travels-uk]

You're not wrong about the Northampton bus station, they might have upgraded from the old Mouth of Hell, but it's not much of an upgrade in reality. Also had the joy of some rude people pushing to get on the MK1! I was considering going Oxford way to avoid London area but a lot of the long distance ones around there aren't included in the cap frustratingly. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@timothyduncan3457]

The last time I stopped overnight in Leicester was 2023 on my way to Land's End. My next nights sleep was in the Travelodge at Glastonbury in deepest Somerset. I look forward to seeing where you end up! This year's trip due to some operator changes was overnight in Northampton and then a long days leap all the way to Exeter.

[@backpack-travels-uk]

Wow, how many times have you completed the Lands End Journey and where were you starting from? I bet that was an epic journey?

[@timothyduncan3457]

@@backpack-travels-uk Well, so far, my Senior bus pass has been to Land's End twice, Summer 2023 & 2024. Autumn last year I took it to the Lake District for a ride on La'ratty - out via Newcastle/Carlisle and back via Leeds and Whitby. This spring, I went to the most Easterly bus stop in the UK at Lowestoft. My last long trip this year was down and back to Devon for the Kingsbridge Vintage bus running day in September. Oh! And I live in the home of the train, looking over to North Yorkshire from County Durham.

[@backpack-travels-uk]

@@timothyduncan3457 You're living the dream!

[@aaronsmith9209]

The direction you are heading, I'd be surprised if you didn't end up on a 724 (St Albans to Heathrow but route starts in Harlow!) so you avoid the worst of London. Also I want to do trips like this by bus but the trains fares put me off and need to be simplified first, as many singles cost almost as much as return tickets which is mad really.

[@backpack-travels-uk]

Thank you watching! You absolutely should do some. Agree, train prices are crazy so I always end up using the coach on the way back as that often works out cheaper than the bus journey itself.

[@al557uk]

At Northampton. you could've got the 41 to Bedford then the MK1 to Luton from there which would've been quicker depending on when you got there as the 41 is only every 2 hours

[@backpack-travels-uk]

I didn't know about the 41, possible the timings didn't marry up though if it's only every 2 hours. Definitely one to keep in mind for future though. Thanks for commenting 👍

[@roryp2379]

love these videos hope the journey went well but treated to an e400mmc!!?? thoses buses are probably the worst modern double deckers out there!

[@backpack-travels-uk]

@@roryp2379 Thank you! I don't actually mind them, not sure why.

[@roryp2379]

@ tbh theyre fast and sound nice but the rattles do my head in yk adl call it theyre ‘anti-rattle interior’?

[@backpack-travels-uk]

@@roryp2379 Not sure there's any non rattly buses these days!

[@ajons190]

Rachel Reeves has ruined this too. Or perhaps three.

[@backpack-travels-uk]

@@ajons190 Haha, it was always going to end at some point. Just glad we get another year - even at £3.

[@stevecampbell7589]

are they actually a challenge as you are just basically catching a bus then another

[@backpack-travels-uk]

@@stevecampbell7589 Well, the challenge is to see how far you can get - you'll see in the next part that this isn't always straightforward.