Horseman Coaches of Reading has become the first acquisition by newly formed The Coach Travel Group. The 47-year-old operator, which has a fleet of 60 coaches carrying more than 9,000 passengers per day, will continue as an individual brand.
The Coach Travel Group, which was formed as a consolidation of several operators in June, says customers will thus not experience significant changes.
The move furthers major growth plans for the Group, which ordered 42 Scania Touring coaches in November, and strengthens its position in the South East.
Horseman joins fellow Berkshire-based operator The Ready Group within the business, along with the other founding members: of Alpine Travel, Barnes Coaches, Coatham Coaches, JH Coaches, Johnsons Coaches, Swans Travel and Whittles.
The Coach Group has around 700 employees and more than 450 vehicles. CEO Tom Stables says: “We are delighted to announce the addition Horseman Coaches to The Coach Travel Group so soon after the company was formed in the summer.
“Our ethos is to grow the group by bringing together well-established and like-minded operators, many of them family owned; by building a portfolio of operators with a shared passion for first-class group travel, we will be better equipped to navigate the future challenges of the sector.”
Adding of Horseman Coaches, he says: “The family business shares our commitment to service quality, safety, and passenger experience – that is why we are delighted to have them on board. We have already started the integration process, so Horseman Coaches can benefit from shared resources and UK-wide support.
“The strength of The Coach Travel Group lies in each coach operator’s years of rich heritage, proven expertise, and deep connections within the local communities they serve.
“This unity ensures that, while The Coach Travel Group operates on a national scale, it brings together operators from different regions where the heart and soul of the services remain as personal, and community-focused as ever.”
