National Express says it is seeing “unprecedented demand” for scheduled coach travel to and from London over the national mourning period.
The company is increasing capacity on its UK network until the day of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral on 19 September. It says that online enquiries for travel on its London services increased by 40% between Friday 9 and Monday 12 September when compared to the same period seven days earlier.
On the day of the state funeral, Victoria Coach Station will be closed and the majority of National Express’s services will terminate at and start from Wembley, using what the operator describes as “a pop-up coach station” there. It expects around 540 coaches to serve that temporary location in less than 24 hours.
National Express UK CEO Tom Stables adds that the operator is “working hard” to meet the additional demand for coach travel from people wishing to pay their respects to the Queen as she lies in state or at her state funeral.
“Our private hire business is also playing its part in supporting Metropolitan Police operations during the period of national mourning by providing transport for over 1,000 officers to get to and around the capital each day to manage the events and crowds.”
National Express is offering fee-free amendments to passengers who do not want to travel during the national mourning period. Earlier, Transport for London advised coach operators bringing groups to London to avoid the central area up to and including 19 September and to instead drop and collect customers at London Underground stations further afield.
