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  • News across the Group

Divine Comedy super-fan dazzles travellers with surprise performance ahead of band’s Birmingham gig

A Divine Comedy super-fan partnered up with the UK’s largest coach operator to surprise travellers with performances of ‘National Express’ and other ‘90s hits at Birmingham Coach Station today to celebrate the band coming to the coach company’s home city.

  • News across the Group

National Express leads the way to making Birmingham the UK’s first Living Wage city

National Express is urging local employers to follow them and join the Living Wage movement to transform the city and boost the local economy.

  • News across the Group

National Express ❤ Black Country High Streets

  National Express West Midlands is helping to save struggling Black Country high streets.

  • News across the Group

National Express drives UK's 24-hour society forward

The nation’s appetite for a 24-hour society is being reflected in the changing habits of UK travellers according to recent figures from the UK’s largest coach operator.

  • News across the Group

Safe Travel for Safe Taysiders

Xplore Dundee is delivering key safety messages to Dundee’s Primary 7 schoolchildren as part of the annual Safe Taysiders event.

News across the Group

We’ll be Des for Oktoberfest

How does someone enjoy Oktoberfest responsibly? He (or she) leaves the car at home and hops on their local bus! Xplore Dundee’s offering to be the Designated Driver for Oktoberfest, which takes place this year at Slessor Gardens on Thursday 26, Friday 27 and Saturday 28 September.

British Safety Council says National Express West Midlands is its world best

  National Express West Midlands has been judged the safest public transport company of all those audited across the world by the British Safety Council.

National Express Coventry bus network changes event this Tuesday

National Express Coventry is hosting a bus network changes event for customers this coming Tuesday, 10th September.

A bloomin’ great bus service

Stemming from the success of previous years, Xplore Dundee is once again running special Service 53 to Camperdown Park for the annual Flower & Food Festival.

Brum Bus Bash in Billesley this weekend

The Birmingham Bus Bash takes place this Sunday (8th September) with Fuzz Townshend, presenter of TV show Car SOS, expected to be making an appearance.

National Express Welcomes TfL Victoria Coach Station Decision

The UK’s largest coach operator has welcomed an announcement from Transport for London (TfL) securing the future of Victoria Coach Station.

Dudley bus driver takes on the UK

  A Netherton bus driver will be in Blackpool this Sunday representing the West Midlands in the national Bus Driver of the Year finals.

Dundee bus driver hopes for gold at the end of the rainbow

Xplore Dundee’s top driver is travelling to Blackpool to compete in this weekend’s Bus Driver of the Year competition.

Transport fan Alex enjoys a National Express West Midlands bus visit

Alex Boughey from Halesowen was treated to a very special visit to a National Express West Midlands garage - but not before a VIP ride on his very own bus.

Small businesses get huge apprenticeship boost as more big employers sign up to levy transfer

Nearly £500,000 has been added to the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) unique Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund, thanks to new contributions from some of the region’s biggest employers.

Special Daysaver for DunDee 80s gig

Xplore Dundee’s offering a special discounted bus ticket for anyone attending the DunDee 80s concert at Slessor Gardens this weekend (Saturday 24th August).

National Express Coventry announces changes following public consultation

Following feedback from the public National Express Coventry has announced changes to its bus network in and around the city.

Aspiring artist’s work to be seen by millions on supersize mobile canvas 

An up-and-coming artist from Hull has won a UK-wide design competition to see his artwork come to life across an iconic 14-metre-long National Express coach.

Future of West Midlands door-to-door transport service is secured

A new contract to secure the future of a door-to-door transport service for more than 12,300 registered users in the region has been welcomed by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

National Express engineers get their grimy hands on top trophies

  Bus technicians from National Express West Midlands have cleaned up at this year’s Society of Operations Engineers national awards.

National Express West Midlands’ Open Day goes down a storm

Local bus operator National Express West Midlands has opened its garage doors to the public - and it went down a storm.

National Express West Midlands wants passengers’ views on proposed changes to West Dudley routes

National Express West Midlands is looking at making some changes to bus services in West Dudley from October 2019.

Why, why, why Diversion….?

Xplore Dundee is reminding local people It’s Not Unusual for their services to be diverted in the city centre during concerts at Slessor Gardens.

West Midlands WASPIs get free travel

  West Midlands women who lost out when their pension age was put back can now get free bus and tram travel.

Bennetts hits 100% with National Express

Gloucester based Bennetts Coaches has been recognised for its efforts in being the first company to achieve full marks in National Express’ monthly Operator Evaluation.

Airport Express off to a flying start

Dundee’s first express link with Edinburgh Airport has got off to a flying start, with more than 11 000 journeys sold on the coach service since its launch in June.

Not just an outstanding bus driver but an award-winning Outstanding Citizen

A National Express West Midlands bus driver has been honoured as an Outstanding Citizen by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

Mason Xplores a bright future in buses

Xplore Dundee and the youth work charity Helm is celebrating a successful partnership, just months after joining forces.

Xplore bus saves the day

Xplore Dundee is stepping in to offer a bus service to West End residents affected by the cancellation of the 204.

Bus engineering is a work of art

Xplore Dundee’s skilled engineers are being celebrated in a new exhibition at Verdant Works by local artist and former employee of the bus operator Pam Kelly.

Sandwell's transport boss is backing this year's Catch the Bus Week campaign

Councillor Jackie Taylor, cabinet member for sustainable transport joined Lee Stockton, Operations Manager from National Express West Midlands’ West Bromwich depot, on one of their brand new Platinum buses when it pulled up at a bus stop outside Sandwell Council House, Oldbury.

National Express announce Driving Design finalists

The UK’s largest coach operator has announced the finalists of its UK-wide Driving Design competition now open to a public vote.

Holiday-hop on the bus to see Oor Rabbie this summer!

As the Big Bucket Trail gets well underway, Xplore Dundee’s urging local people to holiday-hop onto the bus to see the city’s latest Oor Wullie statues.

Xplore Dundee celebrates TWO mTicket milestones

Two lucky bus customers have won free travel, after buying Xplore Dundee’s ‘Golden mTickets’.

Bus spitters face jail as DNA kits rolled out to more drivers

More bus drivers are being equipped with specialist DNA packs to help police trace anyone who spits at them or other passengers.

National Express Coventry consults customers on proposed bus route changes

National Express Coventry is looking at making some changes to bus services in Coventry in September 2019.

City Circle now taking in Verdant Works

Xplore Dundee is extending the City Circle from this Sunday (23rd June).

Bus driver recognised for award for her actions during a robbery

A bus driver is up for a top policing award for her calm and courageous actions which led to the arrest of three men.

National Express celebrates national Clean Air Day

National Express West Midlands is celebrating national Clean Air Day by giving away a free bus Daysaver.

#ToysReunited

Today a nationwide campaign to reunite lost toys found across National Express’ UK-wide coach network was launched to celebrate the highly anticipated release of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4.

National Express West Midlands team wins global safety award

A small but mighty team at National Express West Midlands has won a global award for transforming safety in Birmingham.

£7 million of brand-new green buses arrive at West Bromwich

National Express West Midlands has invested £7 million in 24 top-of-the-range Platinum buses for the company’s West Bromwich garage.

Not all heroes wear capes and drive batmobiles - some wear a hi-vis and drive buses!

A National Express West Midlands driver has won a top global accolade for her actions during a robbery which ultimately led to the arrest of three men.

National Express Comes Out Top

The UK’s largest coach operator has been recognised as number one for their commitment to excellence and continuous improvement with a win at the British Quality Foundation’s (BQF) annual awards.

National Express boosts #DontBeIdle campaign

National Express has joined forces with Westminster Council to ramp up its anti-idling campaign, #DontBeIdle, in a bid to make the capital a healthier city.

Beast from the East is no match for Brian

  A Birmingham bus Serviceman at National Express has won a place at the company’s global Values Awards finals in recognition of his heroic efforts during last year’s “Beast from the East”.

Dundee to Edinburgh Airport coach service ready for take-off

Xplore Dundee is saying ‘chocks away’ to its brand new coach service between Dundee city centre and Edinburgh airport.

Black Country bus drivers take on the world

  Two Black Country bus drivers at National Express West Midlands have won places at the company’s global Values Awards finals.

Xplore More with cut-price coach concert travel

Xplore Dundee’s aiming to become the key transport link between the city and Scotland’s top concert venues.

National Express West Midlands celebrates May Day with contactless ticketing breakthrough

  Early in the morning of the May Day bank holiday 2019, National Express West Midlands successfully completed the rollout of its full upgraded Model 2 contactless ticket system.

National Express Coventry thanks drivers for incredible 200 years’ service

National Express Coventry has honoured four recently retired drivers who clocked up nearly 200 years of service driving the city’s buses by naming buses after them.

Contactless: the change you’ve been looking for

There’s great news for bus users in Dundee – the city’s main operator is now offering contactless payment on all of its services.

Celebrating Birmingham Pride 2019

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is celebrating the diversity of the region’s communities in the lead up to Birmingham Pride 2019.

Safer Travel Partnership for Dundee

Safer Travel on Dundee’s buses – that’s the aim of a new initiative launching today (Monday 29th April).

National Express offers artists a supersize canvas of dreams

Aspiring artists are being offered the chance of seeing their work come to life across the side of one of National Express' iconic 14-metre-long coaches.

National Express wins another award for its industry-leading Master Driver programme

National Express, the Birmingham-based bus and coach company, has won another award for its industry-leading driver training programme.

Easy Easter bus travel

Xplore Dundee is making it easy to get around this holiday weekend, with its Easter Egg-spress, city circle service and great value ticket options.

National Express is flying high at London Stansted Airport

National Express has been successful in retaining its contract to run airside and landside shuttle bus services for the transfer of passengers, staff and crew at London Stansted Airport.

Xplore Dundee’s Outdoors

Xplore Dundee is lending its support to a brand new bus map which helps people find their way to the city’s parks to get some exercise outdoors.

Beauty and the Beast - ballet and the buses

National Express West Midlands is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with Birmingham Royal Ballet, having been newly appointed as the dance company’s 2019 Accessibility Partner.

Xplore Dundee assesses Whitfield bus services

Xplore Dundee is proposing some route changes in response to customer feedback to fine-tune the bus network in Whitfield following its recent network review.

National Express West Midlands signs up to new ticket scheme in Staffordshire

Local bus operators in Staffordshire including First Potteries, D&G, Arriva, Midland Classic, and National Express West Midlands with support from Staffordshire County Council have all signed up to a new multi-operator bus ticket scheme, giving people the flexibility to use any bus, any time, anywhere across the county of Staffordshire.

Wishing a local legend a very happy retirement - Dave drives his last bus

After 53 years of driving millions of customers right across the Black Country, local legend Dave Gerrard has finally driven his last bus journey.

National Express celebrate partner operators with awards night

National Express UK Coach celebrated the hard work of its partner operators at their annual awards ceremony in Coventry.

National Express to run some iGo services from 1st April 2019

From Monday 1st April 2019, National Express has taken over the operation of several bus services previously provided by iGo buses.

National Express West Midlands accelerate its fundraising and raise over 4K for children’s cancer charity

National Express West Midlands has revealed that its fundraising throughout 2018 raised £4,275 for CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people after a driver’s son used the services of the charity whilst fighting leukaemia.

Travellers will benefit from increased access to Stansted Airport

It's easier than ever before for holiday makers to get to Stansted Airport thanks to National Express.

West Midlands bucking the trend as bus usage begins to grow

Half-price travel for under-18s and low fare zones are driving growth in bus usage in West Midlands.

It’s a double whammy as National Express crown two Coach Drivers of the Year

Not one, but two coach drivers from Suffolk and Salsburgh have beaten the best in the business to be crowned the joint ‘Drivers of the Year’ after a thrilling racing event.

Not a model bus, but a bus model

  A Wolverhampton mum-of-two has accidentally become the “face” of a six-figure advertising campaign.

Getting on and loving it

  Kevin Beresford is getting on - and loving it.

Xplore excels in satisfaction survey

Dundee’s bus passengers are among the most satisfied travellers in Scotland, according to the latest survey by Transport Focus.

Students celebrate National Express Coventry going Platinum

National Express Coventry has recently invested in £5 million worth of brand new buses for the city.

Students get a helping hand from National Express West Midlands

Students at the Queen Alexandra College in Harborne are better able to travel independently on public transport, thanks to support offered by National Express West Midlands.

Xplore Dundee backs Living Wage City bid

Dundee’s main bus operator’s supporting an Action Plan aiming to make Dundee a Living Wage City.

East Anglian coach operator retains its gold status with National Express

East Anglia’s Galloway Coach Travel has won National Express’ top award for engineering standards for the second year running.

National Express boosts late night travel connections

Late night, weekend travel connections to and from the UK’s capital have received a welcome boost, thanks to National Express.

King now reigns at National Express Coventry

Matt King has taken over the reins as Operations Manager for National Express Coventry.

National Express Boosts Funds for Cancer Charity

A runner has received a £250 boost to his fundraising efforts for a local cancer charity thanks to National Express.

National Express celebrates nearly 100 years of Dimmock drivers

Starting in the 1920s, the Dimmock family has followed in each other’s footsteps by driving National Express buses - for nearly 100 years.

mTickets are the smart choice

Xplore Dundee is celebrating one year of its innovative mTicket app by giving one customer the chance to win a months’ worth of free bus travel.

Tap 'n' grow - 3 million people pay contactless on the bus

  Public transport in the West Midlands is way ahead of New York! A quarter of all bus fares here are now paid for with contactless cards - less than a year after the system was introduced.

Coventry to get new fully electric buses for greener, cleaner journeys

10 fully electric buses will be introduced to Coventry’s bus fleet after National Express and Coventry City Council won £2.

National Express goes the extra mile for the Grand Brighton Half Marathon

National Express is saving the day for runners and spectators of next month’s Grand Brighton Half Marathon by putting on extra coach services from London to Brighton, when no train services are available.

Mayor welcomes jailing of man after spate of thefts

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street has welcomed the jailing of a man who carried out a series of thefts on West Midlands buses.

Make the smart move!

More bus passengers in Dundee can do away with paper tickets and move to smartcard.

Bus changes on the way

Xplore Dundee is reminding its customers to check the most up-to-date journey information ahead of timetable changes coming into place on Sunday 13th January.

Trends in UK Travel Help A Very Merry Record Breaking Christmas

Boxing Day was the busiest single day in company history with over 74,000 passenger journeys More passengers than ever before on both 25th and 26th December 15% increase in passengers during the festive season An extra 76,000 seats were added onto services during the festive period, 22,000 more than the previous year Latest passenger figures from National Express reveal a record breaking 2018 as well as an interesting insight into the changing trends of what the UK public get up to over the Christmas period.

A Platinum makeover for route 50

  National Express West Midlands is turning Birmingham’s iconic 50 bus route Platinum.

New Year Savings on travel with National Express

  Travellers can take advantage of great value coach travel in the New Year with National Express.

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