National Express has announced plans to increase direct coach services for customers travelling between the South Coast and the West Midlands.
From Friday 12 April 2024, the UK’s largest scheduled coach operator will introduce a new daily 161 service departing the coastal town of Bournemouth, calling in at Southampton, Swindon and Cheltenham before heading to Birmingham.
The new service also adds Swindon to the popular cross country coach network operated by National Express, with new journey options including Swindon to Birmingham, Southampton and Bournemouth, and Cheltenham to Southampton and Bournemouth.
This latest investment adds more direct, efficient services connecting cities, towns and coastal areas, providing customers with even more affordable, reliable and sustainable options for travel.
It follows a number of new routes introduced by National Express across its UK-wide network last year to meet a surge in customers turning to coach travel. It also announced the purchase of 130 new vehicles that will both replace some of the existing fleet and add to its inventory.
Ed Rickard, Network Director for National Express UK and Ireland, said:
“With continued investment in our coach network, including the introduction of this new, direct route between Bournemouth and Birmingham, we are making it even easier for savvy travellers to save their money with convenient, great value travel and a guaranteed seat.
“More and more people are choosing to travel with National Express as a reliable, affordable and sustainable way to get around, and we’re responding by investing in new vehicles and services while delivering a brilliant customer experience for a relaxing, comfortable journey.”
National Express is also amending other services from 12 April to provide customers with more efficient journeys:
- 030: revised daily services between Portsmouth and London
- 032: revised daily services between Southampton and London
- 100: revised daily service between Bristol and Birmingham which reintroduces Gloucester to the Cross Country coach network
- 160: revised and faster daily service between Bournemouth and Birmingham via Southampton and Oxford, which also reintroduces Winchester to the Cross Country coach network
- 203: revised daily service between Portsmouth and Heathrow Airport via Southampton and Winchester to improve punctuality
Customers can expect a safe and comfortable experience on board, with leather reclining seats, free Wi-Fi, USB power sockets and a generous luggage allowance of up to 20kg.
Visit www.nationalexpress.com to plan your journey and book tickets.
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