Hello there.
My brother and I were getting the coach to Glastonbury with a friend of ours on the Thursday of the festival, the 23rd June. Our coach was 9:00am boarding. When we arrived at Victoria coach station, the staff seemed to be boarding people as and when they came. We got on a coach at around 8.30am and were not asked to show our ticket. After around an hour or so on the motorway, we stopped at Fleet services where we were informed by the driver that the gas pressure had failed and we would have to wait for a mechanic or a replacement bus. When I asked how long this would take, I was given the answer, 'your guess is as good as mine'.
After around an hours wait, there was no new information. A mechanic showed up but apparently didn't have the right tool to fix the problem. Also, because the gas had gone, we had no access to our luggage that was stored in the side compartment of the coach. After one group on the coach found an alternative mode of transport, the luggage compartment was forced open, with the help of the driver and our luggage was thrown to the tarmac by the group who has alternative transport.
This left us with a coach that did not work, an open luggage department, and our luggage strewn across the carpark.
The time was now 1pm. We had set off from London 4.5 hours previous and were still stuck.
After getting back on the coach because of the rain, we spotted some taxis taking some of the coach party away with there bags. We assumed that this was a small group that had thought it would be better to pay up and get a taxi the rest of the way than risk waiting any longer. Then another taxi, and another taxi. I went outside and after asking the driver, was informed that National Express were paying for taxis to take everyone the rest of the way, why were we the last to know? We were now stood with a few others waiting for taxis as we were told the coach would not be able to be fixed.
Luckily, a very helpful passer by mentioned that she may have room in her camper van for my brother, my friend and I. We accepted and got in the camper van.
We arrived at Glastonbury at around 4.30 and were not able to pitch our tent until 6.40pm. The email we were sent of National Express with ticket information said we would arrive on site at 12.30. We actually arrived 4 hours after this, people who set off hours after us with National Express arrived before us and were able to find a much better place to pitch their tent. We had to walk for hours to find a spot to pitch and it caused us a lot of distress. This was all down to National Express. If it wasn't for the woman with the campervan, I have no idea what might of happened.
I would like a refund for the full amount for me and my brother as this journey did not live up to expectations at a time when we needed it to. The whole operation was a farce from start to finish.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you in advance.
Stefan Hodgson
No comments:
Post a Comment