Simon Ingham, Edwards Coaches Commercial Manager, reviews the past 12 months in the coach sector
The festive season is upon us. Where has the year gone? It seems to have passed by extremely quickly for everyone at Edwards Coaches as our calendar has been filled with multiple centenary celebrations.
We’ve had birthday cakes, open days, presentations, awards, staff celebrations, management changes, contract successes and new vehicle deliveries.
As we approach Christmas and associated getaways, we are reflecting on the past 12 months and looking ahead to the first year of our next century and what our future holds.
As with many coach operators, preparation for festive “turkey and tinsel” getaways is in full swing. 23 December is one of our busiest departure dates in our calendar.
It’s always a proud moment seeing coach after coach leave various pick-up points across South Wales for popular destinations, full of customers looking forward to spending Christmas away from home.
Cheer and high spirits fill our departure lounge at Parc Busnes Edwards. We enhance the customer experience by offering warm and expansive waiting room facilities, and we have festive tunes playing and other little special touches. This year, we may have a special little tipple on offer!
The industry adds sparkle and smiles to the faces of customers who otherwise may be faced with spending Christmas alone
Our vehicles are adorned with festive decorations and drivers are high-spirited, even though they may be spending Christmas away from their loved ones. Our wider team are on hand to assist with luggage transfers, wearing Christmas jumpers to add to the festive spirit.
Collectively, where this is replicated around the UK, the industry adds sparkle and smiles to the faces of customers who otherwise may be faced with spending Christmas alone. This is worth a celebration in itself.
Looking back over the year, there have been challenges as well as successes:
- Changes to home-to-school transport provision within Rhondda Cynon Taff, which have dictated some changes to the way we work.
- Periods of staff shortages, though this has reinvigorated succession planning.
- Challenges at UK ports and have dealt with the European Union Entry/Exit System developments.
- Contract wins, including high-profile sporting teams and organisations engaging in exclusive travel partnerships with us.
- Being official travel partner for Commonwealth Games Wales at next year’s event in Glasgow.
- Changes in coach industry legislation and have a vested interest in updates to PSVAR requirements and current exemptions.
- We have a pipeline of new vehicles on order, all of which will assist in cascading vehicles in the continued interest of PSVAR compliance. The future for battery-electric coaches looks a strong one with the likes of Scania launching its new high-floor battery-electric coach and bus platform.
Who knows what else the new year will bring and what changes will come about from local elections in May 2026? How will the industry be impacted?
Without doubt, we are committed to supporting “Driving Wales Forward” as per the Confederation of Passenger Transport Cymru’s manifesto for developing the coach and bus sectors in Wales, which is likely to have a positive impact on the wider UK industry, too.
During times of reflection, thanks and looking forward at Christmas, let’s ensure we raise a special toast, not just for making it through the year and for the successes under our belts, but also to opportunities that lie ahead.
Let’s not forget to thank our valued drivers for keeping the UK moving over the festive period and for providing cheer to our precious customers whom we serve. Thank you.
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas from myself and everyone at Edwards.
