Overland night bus
Night buses are public means of transport that are used in regular service in many parts of the world to cover relatively long distances by land . The journey usually begins in the evening hours; the destination is often reached in the early morning, just before sunrise. The distances covered depend on the quality of the roads and the volume of traffic, but are usually several hundred kilometers. Typical travel times are 10 to 12 hours. During longer night trips, parts of the trip are covered in daylight. But there are also shorter night routes with travel times of around 4 to 5 hours; Night trips between Kuala Lumpur and the island of Penang often don't start until around midnight and end well before daybreak.
Trips can either begin at a bus station or terminal, which in some cases is well outside the city center. In contrast, private bus companies in Thailand, which primarily transport tourists, go directly to and from the tourist district of Banglamphoo .
advantages
Night buses use the lower volume of traffic at night to avoid traffic jams and thus travel faster and with less energy. If the passengers can sleep during the journey, the journey time is perceived as being shorter. Since night time is used to cover a relatively large distance, travelers can use the bright hours of the day before and after the trip for other activities at the start and destination of the trip. Local and price-conscious individual travelers also appreciate the cost savings: On the one hand, night buses are usually much cheaper than flights over the same distance, and on the other hand, an overnight stay in a hotel is saved. If the landscape along the route does not offer any special sights , the possibility of "skipping" "monotonous" sections of the journey in your sleep is perceived as pleasant.
disadvantage
Nocturnal journeys through scenic routes, for example over mountains or through settlements with appealing architecture, on the other hand, deprive the passenger of part of the travel experience. In some regions of the world, where inadequately developed roads lead through mountainous terrain, warnings are issued against night bus journeys, partly because of safety concerns. How safe a night bus trip is is also influenced by the maintenance status of the vehicles, driving and rest times for the driver and their driving behavior.
Even in regions where gang crime or even insurgent activities have been recorded, authorities and travel guides advise against driving at night. Some travelers also fear that they are more likely to fall victim to petty crimes, e.g. B. To become pickpocketing. However, you can limit this risk by taking your own precautionary measures.
If the passenger cannot sleep due to a lack of driving comfort or personal worries, which can also relate to real or supposed risks of the journey, the long journey time and the fact that they cannot sleep despite being tired may be perceived as uncomfortable or even agonizing.
Classes
The comfort of night buses varies, but seats that can be brought into a more comfortable reclining position are the rule. Second class buses often interrupt the journey at several stations along the route to take additional passengers, and legroom is limited. First class buses stop at rest stops less often, often only once , to give passengers time to eat, drink and use the toilet. In addition, extra legroom makes it easier to fall asleep. So-called VIP buses are also used, especially in Southeast Asia, the seating is reduced to around 30 seats and the seating comfort is comparable to a flight in business class. However, the term VIP does not always guarantee a defined standard, so some private bus companies in Thailand refer to their buses as VIP or even "Super VIP" services, although the actual comfort is comparable to a state bus of 1st to 2nd class .
In China in particular, there are also so-called sleeper buses, which offer loungers (usually double-decker) instead of seats. The driving comfort here is usually comparable to that of a sleeper or couchette car and enables most travelers real sleep.
Some lines, such as the state-owned Thai bus company, offer their passengers free drinks, snacks or even hot meals, depending on the class and route.
stretch
There are numerous night bus connections in China, India and Southeast Asia including the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra . Night buses are also a popular means of transport in the relatively large Mediterranean countries Turkey and Egypt.
In Germany and the surrounding countries, night buses were of secondary importance for a long time due to the dense rail network and legal restrictions for long-distance bus traffic. In the course of the liberalization of long-distance bus traffic, a network of night lines is now emerging in Germany, which connects metropolises such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Cologne with each other, as well as night connections to Austria and Italy. There are night bus routes from Prague to numerous European countries, including Germany, Poland, France, Austria and Italy.
In the USA and Canada buses from Greyhound and some competitors offer night connections.
swell
- Travel guide from Lonely Planet publishing house to China, Japan, Thailand, India, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia
- Greyhound Lines website