Beccles – Border Bus

Needing to get back from Beccles I had a choice of getting the train via Lowestoft, using First Bus or Border Bus, a relatively new bus company operating primarily around the Norfolk and Suffolk borders. A single by train, via Lowestoft, costs a ridiculous £9.80, it’s a secret on First Bus and it’s £2.80 by Border Bus.

I know it’s £2.80 as Border Bus have gone for a clear and coherent timetable which, perhaps radically, includes the times and prices on it. First Bus have, in my view, arrogantly decided that they don’t need to bother to tell customers how much single fares are (either on timetables or their web-site), so it’s not possible to get the right change ready in advance. And, single tickets can’t be purchased via their m-ticketing system, so that’s not an option either. Although, First East Anglia are doing better than First Cymru Buses, who received a large fine in court today for “failure to meet the needs of the travelling public”.

And safely into Norwich, on time and without any issue. The bus was clean, well presented and the driving seemed safe enough to me.