National Express Coach / Railway TOC statistics comparison

[whole diary]

[SDS]

National Express group do own some coaches. Well the imprint on the side of some of the 'A' routes, I have seen the following on them.

National Express Group
Birmingham Coach Station
Digbeth

But the majority are indeed franchised out. Badgerline then First Bristol used to run the 040 if I remember rightly. This was then awarded to a local coach company in Bristol, which in turn then got taken over by First Bristol.
I do not believe that any First company runs NatExpress services any more (excluding rail replacement).

[Surrey 455]

National Express group do own some coaches. Well the imprint on the side of some of the 'A' routes, I have seen the following on them.

National Express Group
Birmingham Coach Station
Digbeth

But the majority are indeed franchised out. Badgerline then First Bristol used to run the 040 if I remember rightly. This was then awarded to a local coach company in Bristol, which in turn then got taken over by First Bristol.
I do not believe that any First company runs NatExpress services any more (excluding rail replacement).

I used to live near Heathrow and all the National Express coaches based at the depot at the end of my road had something like "National Express Airport Services, .... West Drayton..." on them. I believe that's been replaced by the Birmingham address now.

When did First stop running NatEx services? I'm sure I used one last summer London to Bristol and I know I've used First NatEx to Bath twice in the last few years.

[trainer]

I believe South Gloucestershire Bus and Coach have been operating NatEx coaches since 2007 gradually taking over various routes from that time.

With all the caveats that apply to Wikipedia, this may be of interest:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Gloucestershire_Bus_%26_Coach

[SDS]

I have a feeling that when First launched Greyhound (UK^▸ (United Kingdom)) for the route of Victoria to Southampton that Nat Express wasn't thrilled and shortly afterwards they started loosing NatExpress routes.

Greyhound in the beginning was operated by First Southern National.

[Surrey 455]

I have a feeling that when First launched Greyhound (UK^▸ (United Kingdom)) for the route of Victoria to Southampton that Nat Express wasn't thrilled and shortly afterwards they started loosing NatExpress routes.

Greyhound in the beginning was operated by First Southern National.

Having also looked at Wikipedia, I see that various Stagecoach companies operate National Express services. Stagecoach also own Megabus which has a more sizeable operation than Greyhound and is probably NatEx's biggest coach competitor.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Express_Coaches

[GBM]

Parks of Hamilton were awarded the National Express contract when First lost it.  Around 5 or 6 years ago, I believe, and this proved a life-saver for Trathens in Plymouth. First at that time seemed not to want the express service, and wanted to concentrate on the 'local' services.
A while later First decided to return to the express sector, and started the Greyhound runs. Falteringly at first (a series of manager changes), but now seems to have steadied.
Megabus is also slowly expanding it's runs - the latest being an experimental day run from Penzance (currently overnight) - or so the gossip is running.
Interesting times ahead as long distance coach travel went out of favour many years ago, but is now steadily reviving.

[SDS]

I think first only got the Bristol nat express routes by taking over a local coach company based in bristol. I cannot think what they were called but they used blue branding back in the days of cityline.