| The M23 Flixbus incident Posted by Mark A at 18:01, 22nd September 2026 |     |
Not sure what happened here: police removed driver for 'Reasons', after which passengers in a stationary coach on the motorway hard shoulder, hopefully with a hi-viz police vehicle as protection.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/sep/22/flixbus-left-us-stranded-m23-after-a-police-swoop
| Re: The M23 Flixbus incident Posted by grahame at 18:35, 22nd September 2026 | |
Not sure what happened here: police removed driver for 'Reasons', after which passengers in a stationary coach on the motorway hard shoulder, hopefully with a hi-viz police vehicle as protection.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/sep/22/flixbus-left-us-stranded-m23-after-a-police-swoop
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/sep/22/flixbus-left-us-stranded-m23-after-a-police-swoop
We had boarded the Cambridge to Brighton Flixbus service at Gatwick. The coach was an hour late, was visibly damaged on the outside and the driver set off without closing the luggage hatch.
Other passengers observed him driving with his eyes closed, and police pulled him over on the M23 because of erratic driving. He was tested at the roadside and detained on suspicion of driving while under the influence.
The police asked Flixbus to source an alternative driver, but to no avail. The 90-minute wait was terrifying with lorries swerving past. Eventually, the police drove us to a service station on the outskirts of Brighton and we had to make our own way into the city.
Other passengers observed him driving with his eyes closed, and police pulled him over on the M23 because of erratic driving. He was tested at the roadside and detained on suspicion of driving while under the influence.
The police asked Flixbus to source an alternative driver, but to no avail. The 90-minute wait was terrifying with lorries swerving past. Eventually, the police drove us to a service station on the outskirts of Brighton and we had to make our own way into the city.
and
You reported the incident as it unfolded via Flixbus’s live chat, which is evidently not programmed to address alleged driving offences, as it kept reassuring you that the company aims to offer a safe and reliable experience. Its reasoning was that since you had boarded the bus there was no case for compensation.
When you complained by email, Flixbus referred to the incident as “disruption”, as though the issue was heavy traffic.
When you complained by email, Flixbus referred to the incident as “disruption”, as though the issue was heavy traffic.
Comparing rail and road ... I am rather glad that a train leaving on time with people on board does NOT remove the need for compensation or provision to "get you there" if it's delayed on the way.
Have any members here ever left on time on a train, and then been delayed on the way so that a connection misses?
