GWR vs National Express

 Recently I went to Cheltenham to make the most of the 4-day Easter weekend, and to save costs I decided to take a Coach on the return journey. This also allowed me to try National Express for the first time in quite a long time, so I thought that it would be interesting to compare the train against the coach.

Great Western Railway (Train):

My train at Cheltenham Spa

The first advantage of the train was the ability to make free reservations, which guaranteed that I would have a seat on the train. Unfortunately, I was travelling in standard class on a GWR IET.

The first issue was the platform, which was not announced till less than 10 minutes before departure, which was a big issue since the train was at the other end of the platform, requiring a dash to make sure I didn't miss it.

This specific train was quite cheap at £18.50 for a standard class ticket, although most services are more expensive, ranging from £20-40.

This journey would take 1 hour and 59 minutes, faster than the coach which take 2.5 hours to/from Earl's Court and just under 3 hours to/from Victoria.

Standard Class Seating

Seating onboard was terrible, with a flat, tough back and cushioning minimal, meaning that I could feel the metal bar inside the seat.  Amenities were much better though, with USB and plug socket charging, pull-down blinds, coat hangers, large luggage racks and (normally) a trolley service with drinks, snacks and sandwiches. Unfortunately, my train did not have a trolley service, but I didn't mind since I had bought food before boarding.

As the train accelerated along the Great Western Main Line, the train began to violently shake. Was something wrong? Nope, its just poor suspension (or bad track). Fortunately, once it reached Didcot Parkway, the shaking stopped, although this may have been because the train's top speed was now limited. At Swindon, the limit of electrification, the train switched to diesel, resulting in a loud rumble whenever the train was moving.

The train arrived a minute early, which was great, but my journey wasn't over, since Cheltenham Spa Station is a 25-30 minute walk away from the town centre, with buses costing £3 for a single.

National Express (Coach):

National Express Coach at Royal Wells Bus Station

National Express departs from the Royal Wells Bus Station, a few minutes walk away from the town centre. If you're travelling from the town centre, the coach is just as fast as the train, despite being "slower" thanks to the convenience of the coach (and inconvenience of the train)

In addition, the coach was cheaper, at £11.50 plus £2 for seat reservation, although a seat is guaranteed for everyone. However, the amenities onboard were much worse - with usb instead of plug charging, a small, cramped toilet and no coat hook.  Additionally, after every stop a loud safety announcement would play, which was quite disruptive, particularly for those wanting to relax.

National Express Seating

Although the seats appeared to be better, as the journey neared its end I found it quite uncomfortable, no better than economy seats on a plane.

As the coach joined the M4, we picked up speed, but the motors were very noisy and disturbing, and unlike a train, there were very few sights to see out the windows.

The coach arrived 15 minutes late, which was annoying but ultimately, at least than £12, it's still worth it

Conclusion and Final Results:

The train loses out to the coach on price, and for speed its a draw, with journey time depending on where you start and finish. Comfort-wise, both are terrible, with poor seats., but the train does have nice amenities such as good tables (for 4-seat bays) and toilets. The train also offer food onboard but your money is better spent buying beforehand.

In the end, if I were to go back to Cheltenham, I personally would take the train because I much prefer having nice amenities and good scenery, although the coach is a good option for those on a budget.