As the coach industry moves into a new year, Simon Ingham, Commercial Manager at Edwards Coaches, hopes the profile of the sector can be raised
Well, here we are in 2026! How did that happen? Festivities are over and we knuckle down with fresh starts, resolutions and best intentions as we move through January.
It was very pleasing to see so many people from the industry recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.
Particularly pleasing was the news of Fatima Benzbir receiving an MBE for her leadership in moving National Express services to a temporary station location at Wembley during the Queen’s funeral – described as one of the most significant and logistically demanding transport operations in recent history.
I had the pleasure of working alongside her as a colleague at National Express – well done!
I’m going to reflect on the CPT Cymru manifesto Driving Wales Forward. That seems apt considering that we are at the start of the new year and we contemplate progressing and moving ahead with various projects, schemes and strategies now that the hype and festivities are over.
It is very pleasing that the coach sector is part of the strategy. The last – but hopefully not the least – of CPT Cymru’s asks of government is to “Support the important role coaches play in the public transport mix through data collection and analysis.”
We hope that the support also encapsulates infrastructure improvements, consideration of coach requirements in road design and planning to assist and not impede access, providing adequate driver refreshment areas, and a consideration of making a transition to EV or hydrogen alternatives, alongside other elements to progress the industry.
The coach sector wants to be further integrated into society and communities, and to be considered a serious transport option to get from A to B
Encouraging people to choose coach as a sustainable way to travel, whether it be for holidays, sport, music, social activities, commuting or otherwise, is important.
We want people to accept coach, so we can grow and strengthen our positions as operators, opening up further opportunities to trade.
We are likely to need to think outside the box a bit, too. We no longer want to be the poor relation to train travel or car ownership.
The coach sector wants to be further integrated into society and communities, and to be considered a serious transport option to get from A to B and back again, no matter what the occasion.
Other points in the manifesto will impact the coach sector, too, such as improving journey speeds – as long as coaches are permitted to use bus lanes, for example.
The compilation, sharing and analysis of modal data is likely to be complex, particularly where unregulated market crossovers occur. However, results should assist in supporting the role of coach and promoting its importance.
It’s impressive that two thirds of the public see coaches as a vital part of the UK’s public transport network. However, less impressive is that 97% of respondents never hear politicians mention coaches at all.
We are not so naive as to think that “any press is good press” and probably don’t want to be on the tongues of politicians 100% of the time, though an elevation of the awareness of the role of coach in Wales and the rest of the UK should be encouraged to benefit those within the industry and those who use our services.
Happy New Year from everyone at Edwards.
