Issue 108

 
http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/

updated March 2nd

National Express strengthens cross channel and European services

The UK’s largest coach operator is strengthening its trans-continental services with a new partnership with two market-leading European coach companies.

National Express has formed a partnership with OUIBUS in France and ALSA in Spain so coach passengers can travel to hundreds of destinations across Europe.

and

  now with

As the UK market leader National Express carries nearly 20 million passengers a year on its unrivalled coach network, so a partnership with French market leader OUIBUS who occupy nearly 50% of the French market carrying 4.3 million passengers this year, is a natural one.

ALSA, meanwhile, is already part of the National Express Group, and is the largest and leading coach and bus operator in Spain and Morocco with over 100 years experience of transporting passengers. It already has an existing relationship with OUIBUS.

The agreement marks National Express’s commitment to continue to provide passengers with European coach travel following its withdrawal from the Eurolines organisation which came into effect at the end of 2017.

Customers can purchase both single and return coach tickets via the National Express website www.nationalexpress.com for European travel .

Customers boarding coaches in London can travel to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam to then access services to hundreds of other European destinations on the OUIBUS and ALSA networks.

Chris Hardy, National Express Coach Managing Director, commented: “This partnership strengthens our hand in Europe and means customers will have access to great value connected coach travel across a fantastic range of destinations in the UK and Europe.

“OUIBUS and ALSA are both well established and respected coach travel providers and market leaders in their own right. We are pleased to welcome them to our family of European partners.”

This is, of course, an interesting development following somewhat later, the split of Megabus Europe and Fixbus!

UK News & Pictures

Several changes have taken place through our area over the past few months. These can be seen in the pictures below, mainly provided by Gavin Francis.

Coaches
 http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx


Still operated by Oxford Bus, the 737 service has had a recent upgrade with the introduction of two tri-axles on the route.
These replace two much older 60 plate Levantes, second hand to Oxford. New 56 is seen on December 23rd by Gavin Francis.
Working a National Express service on August 7th is Applegates H16EFA new as FJ58AHF to Lucketts, seen close to VCS by Gavin Francis.

It has been suggested that Oxford Bus will be getting some of these tri-axles for the National Express 737 service.


Oxford's 57 BV67JVS departs Gloucester Green with a 737 service to Stansted on New Year's Day 2018 by Gavin Francis.


Some 7+ years old now and replaced on the 737 by two new tri-axles, 52 is seen leaving for Gatwick in George Street, Oxford on January 7th by Gavin Francis.
Minimal branding has been applied and it seems unlikely that these two coaches, 51 and 52, will stay too long with COMS.


Westgate looking up Castle St with 52 on the 737 on October 29th by Gavin Francis.


Another new tri-axle is Lucketts Travel of Fareham's X560756 BK67LOH between workings on the 030 laying over on Elizabeth Bridge.
near VCS, London - the date is January 4th by Gavin Francis.


Yet another new tri-axle, Selwyn's of Runcorn's 275 BV67JXR on a 540 working to Rochdale,
seen passing an Oxford Tube in Grosvenor Gardens on September 22nd by Gavin Francis.


Express Operations, Stansted's SH184 BK14LFY seen on an A7 working near Waterloo Station on September 19th by Gavin Francis.
The A6 now terminates at Marble Arch and is replaced from VCS by the A7.

Recently National Express has been indulging in a great number of super rears. A selection by Gavin Francis is shown below.


An interesting rear is this depiction of an aircraft cockpit on  BV66WOM seen in VCs on October 26th


BX65WCO working the A7 seen in VCS with a super-rear for CNN on September 20th.


A very striking rear for Gala Bingo is seen on this TRAVELSTAR EUROPEAN Levante NX17TSE working route 320 through Oxford on February 4th.

Not everything goes to plan and a recovery in the village of Stokenchurch is seen below.


Kardos are recovering this tri-axle on a Midlands to London service which came off the M40 to seek "shelter".
This is a rather rare sight on Stokenchurch.

Well our next issue should have a number of 18 plate coaches to place on record.

 

Nothing to report in this issue.

 

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