The Coach Travel Group has expanded further with the purchase of Stewarts Coaches of Reading from National Express in a move that bolsters the buyer’s existing strong presence in the Thames Valley.
Acquisition of Stewarts takes to nine the number of constituent operators within The Coach Travel Group. It comes days after completion of a deal for Horseman Coaches, which is based around five miles from Stewarts in Reading.
The Coach Travel Group CEO Tom Stables previously led National Express operations in the UK. He notes that the Stewarts Coaches purchase is “slightly different” from the existing approach by The Coach Travel Group of buying family-owned operators.
Continues Mr Stables: “The brand had previously been absorbed into National Express. This means that we have an opportunity to make our mark on the [Stewarts] brand, adding value and sharing our passion for first class group travel.
“With our support, Stewarts Coaches will serve the community as a trusted regional coach operator, serving the needs of its local customers while being better equipped to navigate the future challenges of the sector by being part of a group dedicated to the coach [industry].”
National Express Chief Operations and Safety Officer Mark Heffernan adds that sale of Stewarts Coaches to The Coach Travel Group forms part of a “strategic objective to transform our operating model.” It represents further slimming of the National Express Transport Solutions business and follows the sale of Mortons Travel in September.
Mr Heffernan says that the divestment will enhance National Express’s operational performance “and increase profitability within our scheduled coach network.”
Mr Stables notes that building partnerships and delivering better value for money is at the heart of The Coach Travel Group’s approach. “With a diverse and unrivalled portfolio of outstanding coach operators, our people understand the UK travel industry and their local markets. Our approach to group travel is to continually focus on passenger experience.”
At formation in June 2024, The Coach Travel Group brought together seven formerly family-owned operators. It quickly made clear that further growth is on its agenda.
