National Express Group says its UK division had a “strong” summer with its core coach operation taking more than £5m in revenue for every week in August, for the first time ever.
In its trading update for the period 1 July-30 September, the Group says its core UK coach revenue rose by 10.1% and passenger numbers grew by 6%. UK coach revenue was up 9.4% on a like-for-like basis.
“We had a good summer’s trading, with our UK coach businesses in particular delivering outstanding organic growth,” says Dean Finch (pictured), Group Chief Executive for National Express.
The acquisition in mid-September of Stewarts, a high-quality coach business, expanded its business-to-business operations among blue-chip companies in the fast-growing M4 corridor, provides further in-bound tourist market opportunities to complement the Group’s Clarkes of London services, and offers synergy benefits with existing coach operations, according to the trading update.
It adds that the Group’s UK bus operation saw commercial revenue increase by 1.1% and passengers rise by 0.5%. Commercial revenue per mile rose by 4.1% with M-tickets “continuing to grow strongly”.
