Bus operators in England write their own conditions of carriage, so the rules for a pushchair can differ from one company to the next. National Express West Midlands (NXWM) publishes numbers, while Reading Buses leaves more to the driver. This guide compares the NXWM Conditions of Carriage, last updated 10 March 2026, with the conditions published on the Reading Buses website, which carry no date. Both operators run in England, and the rules are those of the operator, not national law. Other operators are covered in the guides to Nottingham buses and trams and Stagecoach and Cardiff Bus. This is general information.
National Express West Midlands: numbers and priority
The NXWM conditions say its vehicles have a low entrance step, which can allow pushchairs, wheelchairs or mobility scooters to be wheeled straight on without being folded, subject to space. Condition 11.8 states that, if the space is not occupied by a wheelchair user, low-floor buses can carry up to two small unfolded pushchairs or one double pushchair within the designated area.
The space is allocated for one wheelchair user, which the conditions say by law takes absolute priority. Condition 11.9 requires all passengers, including pushchair users, to co-operate by vacating the designated wheelchair space if a wheelchair or mobility scooter user needs it. The wheelchair space is described as suitable for a wheelchair up to 700mm wide and 1200mm long, so a long pushchair is likely to be an awkward fit there.
Folded pushchairs and luggage rules at NXWM
Folded pushchairs are carried subject to space being available (condition 12.4). Luggage is carried at the driver’s discretion and at the passenger’s own risk, and the conditions state that an individual item, or total weight of items, over 23kg will not be carried. A pushchair loaded with shopping is therefore sensible to unload if it is heavy.
Under condition 5.4, a passenger travelling with a pushchair, luggage or shopping must use the designated spaces where possible, with items stored at their own risk. Where the designated spaces cannot be used, items must not obstruct the gangway or seating areas. A child in a pushchair must be strapped in and secured at all times while boarding, alighting and travelling.
Reading Buses: space and discretion
The Reading Buses conditions say that, subject to space being available and at the discretion of the driver, small prams and unfolded buggies are carried within the designated area. They must never block the aisle. Use of the space is first come, first served, and no priority is given.
The same conditions state that the space reserved for wheelchair users may be occupied by an unfolded buggy or pram if no wheelchair user needs it, but it must be vacated on request. The wording does not give a number of buggies and does not define a small pram, so the driver’s view of the space decides in practice. The conditions are not specific about folded pushchairs; for luggage generally, they say the passenger remains responsible for items brought on board and that the operator may refuse luggage that blocks gangways or access to emergency exits.
Who bears the risk if a pushchair is damaged
The NXWM conditions contain a separate liability clause for wheelchairs and other mobility equipment, which pays the cost of repair or replacement where the damage is caused by the operator’s negligence. A pushchair is not described in that clause. NXWM’s general rule for personal property in condition 7.3 is that it is liable only for direct loss that results from its own negligence, and condition 7.4 limits that liability to £300 in aggregate. Condition 7.2 adds that nothing in the conditions limits liability where that would be unlawful, including for death or personal injury caused by negligence.
Reading Buses’ conditions say the company does not take responsibility for customers’ property on board and will not be responsible for damage to fragile items however caused. Whether any such term can be relied on in a particular dispute is a legal question the conditions do not answer. The site’s guide to complaint deadlock and alternative dispute resolution sets out where to go if a claim is refused.
Children and fares
NXWM lets children under 5 travel free with a responsible fare-paying passenger, with a maximum of three children per fare-paying passenger. Reading Buses allows up to two children under 5 to travel free with a responsible fare-paying passenger, provided they do not occupy a seat to the exclusion of a fare-paying passenger or are seated in a buggy in an appropriate space. Additional children are charged as if aged five or over.
FAQs
Can a double pushchair go on a National Express West Midlands bus?
The conditions say low-floor buses can carry one double pushchair within the designated area, if no wheelchair user needs the space.
Do I have to fold a pushchair on a Reading bus?
The conditions say small prams and unfolded buggies are carried in the designated area at the driver’s discretion, but must not block the aisle and must be moved if a wheelchair user needs the space.
Who has priority for the wheelchair space?
NXWM says a wheelchair user takes absolute priority by law. Reading Buses says an unfolded buggy may use the space only if it is not required by a wheelchair user.
The bottom line
NXWM sets out clear numbers: up to two small unfolded pushchairs or one double pushchair in the designated area, always subject to the wheelchair user’s priority, with folded pushchairs carried if space allows. Reading Buses leaves space to the driver and applies first come, first served, with the wheelchair space free for a buggy only until it is needed. Items are carried at the passenger’s own risk under both sets of conditions, with NXWM capping liability for personal property at £300 in aggregate. Checking the current conditions before travelling remains sensible. This is general information.
Sources
- Conditions of Carriage, last updated 10 March 2026 (nxbus.co.uk)
- Conditions of Carriage (reading-buses.co.uk)