A new coach hire business is being started in Shrewsbury by Andrew Martin, who last October started an easyBus franchise to Manchester Airport from Telford, Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Wrexham and Chester.
With journeys from £2 and passenger numbers gradually rising, he says its success inspired him to launch easyCoach.
The franchise, the first of its kind, is being run from a leased yard in Harlescott, north Shrewsbury, initially creating six new jobs.
Already two Volvo coaches – a Jonckheere JHV and a tri-axle Van Hool T9 – have been bought and are being liveried. They are expected to be on the road in two weeks.
Says Mr Martin: “The plan is to do local tour work, day trips and excursions, weddings and the like. We will also then look to do work further afield going into Europe.
“We are going to roll it out quite quickly. In six months we might have 6-10 coaches operating.
Mr Martin says there is demand and customers can be confident of good service as the firm is backed by a recognised brand.
“There are not really any coach operators based in Shrewsbury, everybody is around the area with nobody really in the town centre.
He says the idea came from a conversation with easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. “I told him we already have the yard and management of easyBus, and many years’ experience in the coaching industry.
“We said, we might as well get some vehicles and look to provide a service here. There is a gap in the market.
“There is definitely demand for quality coach travel both locally and nationally and with a recognised brand we want to provide that.”
