Regional Operators
There are no coach operators running services exclusively within the Manchester area.
National Operators within the Manchester Region
National Express
https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
Provides a coach service from Manchester City Centre.
This service runs to Manchester Airport, or Manchester City Football Club locally. Then provide locations like Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, and Newcastle.
Megabus
Provide an extensive bus service from Manchester City Centre, connecting with many other destinations countrywide.
Flixbus
Cheap coach and bus travel throughout Europe | FlixBus
Provide an extensive bus service from Manchester City Centre, connecting with many other destinations including Europe.
Help with cost
Check my Bus
Will help you find the cheapest fares for your journey
National Express Senior Coachcard
If you’re 60 or over, you can apply for a National Express Senior Coachcard. It offers a 1/3 saving on Standard and Fully Flexible fares to hundreds of towns, cities, and airports across the UK.
There’s are no restrictions on peak and off-peak travel times, so you can travel when it suits you and your plans. This includes public holidays, bank holidays and weekends. Benefits include:
- Save 1/3 on Standard and Fully Flexible fares, even at peak times.
- £15 day-return on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to anywhere in the UK (excluding airports), just book 3 days in advance of your travel.
- Free journey if your coach is delayed for over an hour
Apply for a card on their website, by phone or at any National Express ticket outlet
0871 781 8181
Planning a journey
National express
Book tickets online of via ticket office.
Assisted Travel Team also available to talk through any need on 03717 818181 (lines open 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week), or email us using our assisted travel form.
National Express have created a selection of journey assistance cards for passengers. These explain to staff and drivers any need for assistance or exemptions from requirements, eg, if you have a hearing impediment. They can be downloaded here: https://www.nationalexpress.com/media/3122/assisted-travel-cards.pdf
Traveline
Traveline is a partnership of transport companies, local authorities and passenger groups which have come together to bring routes and times for all travel in Great Britain by bus, rail, coach, and ferry. They can help you find the way that best suits you for making your journey using the most up to date information. From their homepage you can plan your journey from door to door, see the different ways you could travel, how long the journey will take and view your route on a map.
Help by phone
If you need help to plan a journey, traveline’s national call centre can be contacted on 0871 200 2233 between 07.00 and 10.00 seven days a week (more limited hours at Christmas/New Year). Calls cost 12p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.
Travelling with Mobility Equipment
National Express
Have a dedicated Assisted Travel Team who you can contact on 03717 818181 to talk through your needs (lines open 9 am – 5 pm, 7 days a week). It isn’t a requirement to book your assistance in advance, but it will help to provide your assistance if you let them know.
Coaches are equipped with a wheelchair lift. However, it can’t be deployed at all stops, so it’s best to check in advance if your stop is accessible.
Wheelchair users are advised to book travel in advance, although this is not essential. This will allow them to carry out the following:
- that the wheelchair is compatible with the space on the coach
- that the combined weight of the customer and the wheelchair do not exceed the maximum weight capacity of being lifted by the wheelchair lift
- that the locations at which the customer plans to board and alight the coach from are accessible stops at which the wheelchair lift can be deployed
- that the specific coach on which the customer plans to travel is not already fully booked
It is recommended that you contact them 36 hours in advance of travel on the telephone number above. This will ensure we are able to carry out these checks. If you book same-day travel, they will make all reasonable efforts to carry out these checks on the day.
Customers cannot travel in their mobility scooters, however small lightweight mobility scooters that can be dismantled and safely stowed in the luggage hold of the coach are accepted.
In order to check if your scooter will be accepted, you will need to give details of the size, make and model of the mobility scooter you will be travelling with. You will be advised
either at the time of booking or by calling you back, about the suitability of your mobility scooter for carriage in the luggage hold.
Megabus
Offer assistance to those with walking difficulties or those who normally use wheelchairs.
They recommend that all wheelchair users contact them before purchasing their tickets (preferably at least 36 hours before their intended journey), to book the wheelchair space.
All their coaches are wheelchair accessible and can carry one seated wheelchair user subject to size and weight limits (with max weight 300kg, dimensions length 1200mm x width 700mm x height 1350mm including the seated passenger)
They are unable to accommodate passengers seated in mobility scooters. However, If you use a wheelchair (max weight 20kg) or mobility scooter and are able to climb the few steps into the bus, your mobility device can be stored in the luggage bay and the driver will help you to your seat.
In order to be accepted for transit, your mobility scooter must break down into separate parts each weighing no more than 20kg. You or a companion must be able to dismantle and reassemble the mobility scooter for carriage in the luggage hold.
Passengers departing from London Victoria Coach Station may use the Mobility Assistance Lounge before departure. To pre-book, please call +44 (0) 207 126 2716. Assistance to departing coaches is available if required.
Flixbus
It is free to transport a folding wheelchair, walking aids or any other mobility aids. They are transported in the luggage compartment.
If you are travelling in the UK for us to be able to check the availability of the wheelchair space onboard your desired journey, it is recommended that you click on the link and contact us button to fill out the form in which you can describe the model and design of your wheelchair at least 36 hours before your trip. https://help.flixbus.com/s/article/PSSP-How-and-where-do-I-get-assistance-when-travelling-with-my-foldable-wheelchair?language=en_GB#:~:text=click%20on%20the-,Contact%20us,-button%20below.
You may still travel onboard if you don’t contact us in advance, however there is a risk that the space has already been booked by another wheelchair which would mean you’d have to wait for the following journey.
Assistance Dogs
Are accepted on both Megabus and National Express services, and Flixbus services.
You just need to contact the Customer Service at the latest 36 hours before departure.