Edwards Coaches has marked its 100th anniversary with a celebration hosted by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) as part of National Coach Week.
The Llantrisant-based operator, which began life in 1925 transporting day trippers in charabancs, now employs approximately 500 people and maintains a fleet of over 200 vehicles. Its services span local bus routes, school transport, private hires, corporate contracts and a portfolio of UK and European holidays.
The company currently serves as one of the largest partners for National Express, running services into and out of Wales and managing its depot in Avonmouth, Bristol.
“Edwards embodies the entrepreneurialism of the coach industry. It is a family business that has prospered over the decades by offering a first-class service to schoolchildren, holidaymakers and day trippers alike,” says Aaron Hill, Director of CPT Cymru. “Coaches are a tremendously important part of the public transport network – a single coach arriving in a town once a day can deliver £1 million of economic value over the course of a year.”
,Edwards’ chairman and proprietor, Mike Edwards, adds: “It is unequivocal that a lot has changed in the world and in our industry over the past 100 years. But fundamentally, we’re doing exactly the same job we did a hundred years ago – moving people from A to B and back again. We are proud to continue to serve our communities and look forward to what the next 100 years will bring.”
Edwards is set to hold a centenary open day at its Llantrisant depot on 3 August. CPT hailed the economic contribution of the coach industry to mark the anniversary, citing research by KPMG that found the coach industry supports 81,000 jobs and facilitates ÂŁ8.3 billion of spending by visitors in local economies across Britain annually.
