A Gloucester resident has voiced strong concerns over the suspension of a crucial coach service connecting Longlevens suburb to London. William Lewis, a regular National Express commuter, describes the decision to remove Longlevens from the Gloucester-to-London 444 route as “short-sighted” and unfair, highlighting the early morning service’s importance for many travelers.
At the end of May, National Express halted the Longlevens stop on its 444 coach route, which runs multiple times daily from Gloucester Transport Hub through Cheltenham and Cirencester, then onto Heathrow and London Victoria. This came as a result of ongoing roadworks related to new cycleway installations in Gloucester.
Lewis explains, “This coach service made it possible to travel from Longlevens to Heathrow in under three hours without the need for additional taxis or parking costs, offering a convenient and environmentally friendly travel option. From June onward, that convenience has been taken away.”
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He also points out the perceived imbalance of the decision: “Although Gloucester has lost one of its two stops, Cheltenham retains all of its stops. In my experience, the retained stop at Charlton Kings rarely sees any passengers boarding or alighting, making the removal of Longlevens stop particularly unreasonable.”
Despite the route itself remaining unchanged—coaches continue to pass through Longlevens—the loss of the stop denies residents access to a direct service that previously began early in the morning, ideal for arrival in London around 9:30 AM.
A National Express spokesperson stated, “Due to ongoing roadworks for the installation of a new cycle lane, we have temporarily suspended our stop at Longlevens. This measure is necessary to minimize congestion and prevent significant delays to our services. We continue to operate up to 15 daily services between Gloucester Transport Hub and London on the 444 and 445 routes, offering affordable and reliable travel options.”