National Express (NX) has marked its 50th anniversary as it continues to continue to rebuild its white coach network post-COVID-19. The business says that in May it operated 70% of pre-pandemic mileage and will expand that further with more service introductions in June.
As part of its anniversary celebrations, NX assembled three coaches from those 50 years at Wembley Stadium to inform the media of the mode’s important place in transport history. Alongside one of its current-generation Levante III models it posed a Plaxton Supreme-bodied Leyland Leopard from 1980 and a Bristol RELH with ECW bodywork that was new in 1969. All three carry different styles of the blue and red fleet name.
National Express UK Coach Managing Director Chris Hardy says that the cost-of-living crisis has already led to new patronage among cost-conscious users. The business adds that it has introduced over 2,000 new services per week to its network over the past two months, including a new route between Canterbury and Stansted Airport earlier in June.
In addition, the overnight service between Dublin and London – operated in partnership with Bus Eireann – will return from 23 June, while in an indication of an increasingly competitive market for domestic coach travel, National Express has added departures between Plymouth and London.
It will also offer direct services and travel packages to major summer events including festivals and sporting gatherings. Among those will be Glastonbury Festival, which falls in a week where rail strikes are planned.
Reflecting on the 50th anniversary, Mr Hardy continues: “Coach travel has moved on immeasurably in the last 50 years. Today, journeys are quicker and more reliable and our coaches are safer and more comfortable than ever.
“Plus, we have set ourselves a target of a zero-carbon fleet by 2035 whilst continuously investing to ensure that we have the newest and greenest vehicles currently available on the road, so choosing to travel by coach is good for the environment as well as the pocket.”
NX says that a Levante III emits an average of 21.7g of greenhouse gases per passenger kilometre, which is lower than both rail and car. The white coach fleet has covered 3.8 billion miles over the past five decades.
As a further part of its anniversary celebration, National Express is looking at stories from customers and staff past and present. Further activities are planned and a commemorative book, National Express: The Journey of an Iconic Brand, has been published.
