Stelios lauunches 'easybus' today.

[Powerjet1]

easybus will start operations today with an almost hourly service between Milton Keynes Central & London(Hendon Central) using new, 16 seat Mercedes minibus. Fares from £1.00, one-way. Buy a seat for your luggage. On 13 September, easybus will start a new route, operating every 45 minutes from outside the terminal at LTN to London(Hendon Central). More routes planned along M1 corridor soon.

Already, Stelios is threatening legal action against National Express, who he claims have dropped fares to uncompetative levels on the route.

When will we see little blue buses with a harp on the boot!

[WHBM]

Don't you just love "LONDON (Hendon Central)".

I think it probably takes the Underground longer to get to Charing Cross from there than the minibus will take to get there from Luton. And half the overseas travellers, unaware of the nuances of the Northern Line and unable to comprehend the "Er, this train is, er, via Bank" announcement at Camden Town delivered in either a gorblimey or a Caribbean accent, will go round the wrong branch of the line and end up down at Kennington.

[eal401]

Don't you just love "LONDON (Hendon Central)".
LOL, exactly my thought!

[brabazon]

Looks like he was a bit late getting the www.easybus.com URL!!

[hasta lueGO]

Where will it all end? easy this and easy that! For those that are interested: http://www.easybus.co.uk

[eal401]

I wonder if it will be as successful as easycinema!!!!

[ALLMCC]

And already he's complaining because National Express have reduced their fares to protect their interests - the audacity of them!

[Powerjet1]

Apparently there is also talk of an 'airline style' tv programme for his 'easycruise' venture which starts in spring 2005. Sights of unhappy, screaming passengers, standing on the quayside, unable to board because they arrived a minute to late for boarding - you can just imagine!!!!!!

[egnxema]

I think Hendon Central is brilliant! If you are trying to get to North London there is nothing worse than sitting on a train all the way past Mill Hill, Cricklewood, St John's Wood to St Pancras, only to then have to catch the Tube all the way out again.

Hendon has plenty of bus routes and the Northern Line.

Should be a winner IMO.

[PPRuNe Pop]

What do you want for a quid! Hendon Central to Tottenham Court Road takes 20 minutes maximum. The trip by road would be twice that I expect.

Good luck to him.

[WHBM]

PPRuNe Pop:

Respect to you as our moderator, and indeed it should be a good service for the money. I think what we are commenting on once again is the Ryanair-style usage of the metropolitan area name to try and conceal an off-centre location for those who don't know. If they would just say the service was to Hendon Central (Northern Line) we would think it was great. And lets have one to Redbridge (Central Line) from Stansted as well.

At St Petersburg Pulkovo airport there is a similar style minibus service from the airport to Moskovskaya metro station, the nearest one, which is also far out in the suburbs. There is no pretence the minibus service takes you into St Petersburg.

By the way, scheduled Underground time in the morning Hendon Central to Charing Cross is 28 minutes, plus the getting to and from the platforms.

egnxema:

You would indeed be unwise to go all the way in to St Pancras and come back out again, as there is a stoppng train as well from Luton Airport Parkway station on exactly the line you describe that stops at all those intermediate points - Mill Hill, Hendon, Cricklewood, every 15 minutes.

[eurostar builder]

Is there still talks about the Easy "Mobile" taking on the Mobile Phone war.

This is what people really want , cheaper mobiles

[johnwalton]

There is but Orange are trying to prevent Stelios from using the orange colour as they say it will confuse people

[BRL]

If you are trying to get to North London there is nothing worse than sitting on a train all the way past Mill Hill, Cricklewood, St John's Wood to St Pancras, only to then have to catch the Tube all the way out again. I beg to differ. The Thameslink train from Luton Airport calls at all stations down to KingsX, one every 15 mins, not a bad service at all and they run 24/7.

johnwalton. I heard from a mate the easy/Orange dispute is over. Both sides decided to agree to disagree over this.

Still a trek though from LTN in a mini-bus down to Hendon. Get to Hendon then change and it is still some time away from the main stations in london. As someone else said though, good luck to him.

[Thirty06]

24/7 ? I beg to differ.

There's a bit of a lull in the wee small hours.

If you get the City Flyer you can skip all the outer London stuff.

I (not so) fondly recall the occasion when I'd come down from Oxenholme to Milton Keynes, caught the Virgin bus to EGGW and then got on the shuttle for Luton Airport Parkway. I got on the first available Thameslink on the principle that they all stop at Harpenden and then watched as we whizzed through every single stop until we got to King's Cross (albeit quickly).

That 'Central' tag on the Hendon station does rahter look as though Stelios is trying to imply that Hendon is not in the wilds of North London.

You could now take Thameslink from London King's Cross to Luton Airport Parkway, shuttle to the airport, Virgin bus to Milton Keynes (two quid single, bargain !) and then take Easybus to Hendon. You'd need a really good reason though.

[Thirty06]

I think I saw one.

Well inside of Hendon though.

A sort of minibus thing with Easybus written all over it.

[LTNman]

Have yet to see it carry a single passenger!