FAQs

Here are some of our most frequently asked questions, which we hope you will find helpful when planning your journey and using our buses – if you have any further questions, please email us or call us on 01553 776980.

What service runs on public holidays?
On bank holidays a Saturday service normally runs on Coasthopper, to maintain connections with trains at King’s Lynn. However, on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, no buses will run, and a reduced service runs on New Year's Day.

Are all buses fully accessible?
All Coasthopper journeys are normally run with low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses. Each bus can carry one wheelchair in the dedicated space, and wheelchairs must be secured and have the brake applied while the bus is moving. Wheelchair users have priority over all other passengers in using the dedicated space – please ask the driver if you need any assistance. We cannot allow mobility scooters on board our buses.

In rare circumstances, we may need to substitute an older, non-accessible bus to keep the service running, and we cannot guarantee that extra buses at busy times will be fully accessible. If you need to make sure that your bus will be accessible, then call us on 01553 776980 on the day.

Will the bus wait for me if my train is late?
We are unable to guarantee that we will wait for late-running connecting trains at King’s Lynn or Sheringham, and we won’t be liable for any missed connections. However, it is true to say that train reliability figures to and from King’s Lynn and Sheringham are well above the national average.

Waiting for a train means inconveniencing our customers that are already on the bus, or are waiting for us up the road. Also, all bus operators have to comply with strict reliability, or face severe financial penalties.

Will buses stop anywhere or only at marked Coasthopper stops?
In rural areas along the route, bus stops can be some distance apart, so Coasthopper buses will stop to pick up and drop off between stops, but only if it is safe to do so in the judgement of the driver at the time. If you do decide to get on or off anywhere other than at a marked bus stop, we cannot be held liable for any injury or accident that takes place before or after you have left the bus.

Please give the driver plenty of notice that you wish to get on, by holding your arm out, or by ringing the bell if you wish to get off.

Can you guarantee I will get on the bus?
Because of the narrow roads that Coasthopper passes along, we can only use 32-seat single deck buses and so at times, especially between 10 and 11 in the morning and between 3 and 4 in the afternoon, they can become very busy. We do run extra buses as and when we can during these peak times.

Drivers are bound by the legal seating and standing capacity of the vehicle, and when that is reached they must refuse anyone else on board. We therefore cannot guarantee that you will be able to get on, but in the unfortunate event that the bus is full, we are running more buses than ever this year, so hopefully you won’t have to wait too long for the next one. It would help if you could avoid the mid-morning and mid-afternoon peak times if possible.

Do I get a refund if I have to stand or can't get on, even if I have a free bus pass?
Sorry, but we cannot offer refunds if the bus is full or if you have to stand.
 
Can I take my bike on board?
No. Health and Safety regulations prevent us from being able to have any form of bicycle on board the bus, even folding ones. We are legally obliged to keep the gangway clear in case of emergency, and we are also required by law to dedicate the wheelchair bay to use by wheelchairs if required.

We are often asked why we cannot have a bike trailer or a rack on the outside of the bus to carry bikes. The trailer idea was tried but the narrowness of the roads along the route, and the delay to buses during loading and unloading meant that this is simply not practical. Also, the only place on our Coasthopper buses to fit a rack would be on the rear end, where we need unimpeded access to the engine compartment in case of an emergency.

Can I take my dog?
Dogs are welcome on board Coasthopper, and we do not charge for them. However, the driver has the right to refuse a dog on board if they are considered a safety or health risk to other passengers. Dogs must not be allowed on seats.

Do kids go free?
Up to two under-fives travel free when accompanied by a full-fare paying adult.

Can I use an English National Bus Pass on Coasthopper?
Yes. Despite recent press reports, there are no changes whatsoever to the use of English National Bus Passes on Coasthopper buses in the same way as any other bus route.

Can I use my English National Bus Pass before 0930 on Monday to Friday?
Anyone issued with a bus pass by one of the seven Norfolk districts can use their pass from 0830 on Monday to Friday. As a special concession on Coasthopper and the 35 only, any ENBP pass holders can also travel free after 0830. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, there are no morning time restrictions, and holders of blind or disabled passes can also use them any time, seven days a week.

If I buy a single or return ticket, can I break my journey?
When you buy a normal single or return fare on Coasthopper, we’re sorry that you cannot break your journey mid-way going there or back. However, if you want to have the freedom to hop on and hop off as you please all day, then simply buy one of our great value Coasthopper Rover tickets.

How long do 1, 3 and 7 day Coasthopper Rovers last?
A 1-day Coasthopper Rover is valid for use on the day of issue only. 3 and 7 day Coasthopper Rovers are valid until the end of the third or seventh day after the ticket is issued, and expiry dates are shown clearly on the ticket.

Will buses divert off route to drop people off at their holiday homes or hotels etc?
No. Although Coasthopper is used by many tourists and holidaymakers, it is no different from any other bus route in running along a set route at set times, so our drivers will not divert to drop you off away from the set route.

Do I have to change buses at Wells or Hunstanton?
Coasthopper is actually three bus routes, joined together at Wells and Hunstanton, which is why Coasthopper timetables show each end-to-end journey in three parts. However, through tickets are always available, and in most cases you won’t need to change buses mid-route – and if you do, the onwards connections is always guaranteed.

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