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Press releases from around the Group

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  • News across the Group

Xplore Dundee with the MyXplore card

Dundee’s main bus operator, Xplore Dundee, is relaunching its smartcard.

  • News across the Group

Coventry bus garage - 30 years of service

  2016 marked 30 years of operation for Coventry bus depot at Pool Meadow.

  • News across the Group

Charities boost from Xplore Dundee

National charities are set to benefit from the hard fundraising work of local bus company staff.

  • News across the Group

Increased patrols keeping passengers safe at Birmingham’s German market

  As the Christmas countdown enters its final few days, extra police are patrolling the public transport network as millions of shoppers pour into Birmingham city centre for the city’s famous German market.

  • News across the Group

Merry X-mas from National Express

  National Express West Midlands is giving its bus routes the X factor.

News across the Group

Travel on a Whim - West Mids pioneers smartphone transport system

  National Express West Midlands is helping to trial an exciting new integrated transport system where people can combine all their travel needs via a smartphone.

Number 11 is a work of art

  Birmingham’s famous number 11 bus has inspired a song (by The Woodbines in 1999), a dance (Kenneth Reid from the Birmingham Scottish country dance group created a dance based on the Outer Circle) and at least one novel (it features in West Midlands author Jonathan Coe’s recent satirical bestseller “Number 11”).

Better buses mean better lives for the West Midlands’ poorest people

  Improving local bus services would boost employment and improve income in the West Midlands, reducing social deprivation, according to a report by the sustainable transport group Greener Journeys.

Xplore offers more buses for Christmas week

Dundee’s main bus operator is providing increased services this Christmas and New Year.

Award-winning Safe Zone Bus back on the road

Dundee’s Safe Zone Bus is hitting the streets again after scooping a silver prize at the UK Bus Awards.

National Express West Midlands wins trio of UK Bus awards

  Bus services in the West Midlands have brought home two golds and a silver from the UK Bus Awards.

Santa’s selfie marks the start of SantaBus2016

Santa’s taken a selfie to mark the first day of Xplore Dundee’s Charity Bus Drivers’ annual Christmas campaign.

See Something Say Something gets result

  A passenger report of anti-social behaviour on an Erdington bus has got a prolific offender sent back to prison.

Enjoy a Tinsel Tour around Dundee’s Light Night

Xplore Dundee is offering Tinsel Tours for this year’s Christmas festival in the city centre.

Survey shows sustained satisfaction levels for bus passengers

The latest independent bus passenger satisfaction survey has shown a sustained satisfaction level from travellers in the West Midlands.

National Express is an award-winning clean-air guinea pig

  National Express West Midlands has been piloting cutting-edge technology to improve air quality in the region.

Industry first Health Bus wins third national award

National Express UK Bus has won its third national award for creating a bus that makes its employees healthier - and even saves their lives.

National Express is Master of driver training

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

Tyrese wins the name game with Operation Bale

  Birmingham youngster Tyrese Nelson has left his mark on a National Express West Midlands bus after winning a competition promoting safer travel.

50 ways to Xplore Dundee…starts with a bang!

There are just 50 days between Bonfire Night and Christmas Day, and Xplore Dundee is helping to fill each one with festive fun.

Learning Journey ‘Xplores’ Discovery Walk heroes

Xplore Dundee is helping local people appreciate the local heroes who have helped put Dundee on the map.

Halloween special - Hop onboard the zombie bus, if you dare...

For the first time ever, National Express West Midlands’ is taking over Birmingham city centre with a special zombie bus this Halloween (Monday 31 October 2016), in partnership with Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity.

Just a stone’s throw...

Throwing stones at buses can have life-changing consequences – that’s the message behind a new educational film aimed at Dundee’s young people.

Bus passengers urged to See Something, Say Something by Safer Travel Police

With Halloween and Bonfire Night looming, bus passengers across the West Midlands are being urged to report anti-social behaviour on the network with the new look See Something Say Something service.

Award nomination for Xplore Dundee and Safe Zone Bus

Xplore Dundee and the city’s Safe Zone Bus partnership have been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

National Express celebrates first UN Wonder Woman Day

  National Express West Midlands and the Midlands Metro are marking the United Nation’s first Wonder Woman Day on 21 October 2016.

National Express West Midlands is Bus Operator of the Year

  National Express West Midlands has won Bus Operator of the Year at the National Transport Awards.

Midland Metro wins national customer prize

  Midland Metro has won Best Customer Initiative at this year’s Light Rail Awards.

National Express wins top safety award - twice

  National Express has won the UK's top safety award - twice.

Gilbertstone Primary gets a double-decker library

  Gilbertstone Primary School in Yardley, Birmingham, now has its very own big red bus, thanks to dozens of enthusiastic volunteers at National Express West Midlands.

Balsall Heath CATS get a special ticket to ride with National Express

National Express West Midlands’ Bordesley head office and garage has launched a special community partnership with local community group Balsall Heath CATS by taking the group on a special bus trip.

90th birthday Ale Trail for number 11

  Europe’s longest urban bus route, Birmingham’s famous number 11, is celebrating its 90th birthday with an anniversary Ale Trail and a locally brewed commemorative beer.

Black Country goes Platinum

  National Express West Midlands has invested £8 million in the Black Country, bringing 46 top-of-the-range Platinum buses to the region.

National Express Wolverhampton driver wins UK Bus Driver of the Year

  Craig Lockyer beat 113 other bus drivers from all over the UK to become the nation’s 2016 Bus Driver of the Year.

Jam tomorrow - traffic up 20% as the West Midlands goes back to school

  It may not be just children and young people who are dreading the first week of September.

One ticket, many buses!

Commuters in Dundee will soon be able to travel across the city and its surrounding area using three different bus companies but just one ticket.

National Express is buying cleaner, greener buses

  The West Midlands will soon be enjoying better air quality because of cleaner buses.

Xplore Dundee introduces new services

Xplore Dundee is making some amendments to its bus timetables after reviewing its network of routes across Dundee.

Midland Metro tram depot is site of historic Pokemon battles

  Midland Metro staff at Wednesbury depot puzzled by a sudden influx of silent teenagers glued to their phones have found the explanation - the tram stop is a Pokemon Gym! Ben Ackroyd, Midland Metro director, said: “We did wonder why people were turning up, staring intently at their phones for a bit, then going away.

National Express brings contactless to West Midlands buses and trams

  National Express West Midlands is fitting every one of its 1500 buses with state-of-the-art contactless technology.

Walsall man crowned National Express West Midlands Bus Driver of the Year

  A Walsall man has been crowned National Express West Midlands’ Bus Driver of the Year.

Xplore Oor Wullie’s Bucket Trail by bus

Xplore Dundee is encouraging people to hop on the bus to visit statues sited across the city for Oor Wullie’s Bucket Trail.

Information day for bus passengers

Xplore Dundee is holding a Bus Surgery to allow local people to find out more about their city’s services.

Summer roadworks to divert bus services

Xplore Dundee will keep customers moving when a series of extensive roadworks begins across the city in July.

National Express West Midlands commemorates staff who died at the Somme

  National Express West Midlands is marking the centenary of the Battle of the Somme (1 July 2016), in which 49 West Midlands transport workers died, by reprinting a book that tells their story.

Operation Goliath a giant success in targeting bus crime

  A high-profile police operation targeting anti-social behaviour on the West Midlands bus network has seen a drop in crime.

National Express - fathers and sons

  Some National Express West Midlands staff will need no reminding that it’s Father’s Day on Sunday (19 June) – because they work alongside their dads at the bus company every day! National Express West Midlands HR Director Madi Pilgrim says: “We are one of the largest employers in the West Midlands, with over five and a half thousand staff.

National Express model driver makes model bus

  National Express West Midlands bus driver Gary Woodward has lovingly created a 14-inch model of the number 17 bus he drives every day from Small Heath to central Birmingham.

West Midlands congestion is "a disease"

  Road congestion is “a disease” which has brought average traffic speeds to below 10mph in Britain’s busiest cities and reduced some bus routes to walking pace, a new report warns today.

Local cricket team ‘nets’ generous donation from bus company

‘Owzat!’ Arbroath United Cricket Club has received a funding boost of £250 from the National Express Employee Charity Panel.

Xplore Dundee supports Royal Arch rebuild

Xplore Dundee is encouraging people to hop on the bus to get to this weekend’s People’s Tower event in Dundee city centre.

National Express Master Drivers rule the road

National Express has teamed up with IAM RoadSmart (formerly the Institute of Advanced Motorists) to train and certify its world-class bus drivers.

National Express - driving up employment

  National Express West Midlands launched phase two of their hugely successful Routes to Work programme on Thursday 19 May in Acocks Green in south Birmingham.

National Express Foundation to bridge skills gap in local clock-making industry

The National Express Foundation, a charity set up in 2012 to help disadvantaged young people, has announced that it is to provide an annual three-year £10,000 bursary to support over 150 Birmingham City University students.

Young people in the Midlands to benefit from £135,000 of National Express Foundation funding

The National Express Foundation, a charity set up in 2012 to help disadvantaged young people, has announced which local community groups and universities will receive £135,000 of its funding.

Crime down on West Midlands buses

  Travelling on public transport in the West Midlands is now safer than ever after new figures show crime has fallen by 70% per cent in the last eight years.

National Express bus drivers take tea at Number 10

  Two National Express bus drivers have been to Downing Street to have tea with the Prime Minister.

Midland Metro tram drivers represent UK at European TramDriver Championships

Two Black Country tram drivers have been chosen to represent the UK in an international competition.

Birmingham bus driver goes the extra mile for homeless people

A Birmingham bus driver has been nominated for an international award for going the extra mile for homeless people.

First birthday celebrations for bus driver cycle awareness training

National Express West Midlands and Centro have celebrated a successful year of delivering ‘2WheelsAware’ courses for trainee bus drivers.

National Express leads the way on Living Wage

While the Government’s new National Living Wage becomes law this week, hundreds of National Express West Midlands employees have enjoyed a higher rate of pay since the beginning of the year.

National Eggs-press West Midlands Easter travel

Trams and National Express buses in the West Midlands will be running every day over Easter.

All Aboard the Easter Egg-spress!

Xplore Dundee is operating a free shuttle bus to the Fun Day at Camperdown Park this Easter Sunday (27 March 2016).

Scotland’s bus operators to deliver smart ticketing for millions of passengers

Three quarters of Scottish population to benefit by 2017 Smart ticketing also to extend to rail, ferries and subway Bus operators across Scotland have outlined their commitment to deliver multi-operator smart ticketing for millions of Scottish bus customers, paving the way for seamless travel between bus, rail, ferry and subway.

National Express bus passengers happy with their journeys

A national survey has shown that 85% of National Express West Midlands bus passengers are happy with their journeys.

Higher tram penalty fares coming down the track

Penalty fares of £70 for passengers travelling without a valid ticket could soon be in place on the Midland Metro.

Platinum buses worth their weight in gold

National Express is expanding its fleet of high-tech environmentally friendly buses following their successful introduction to the West Midlands.

Midland Metro gets ISO 9001 accreditation

National Express’ Midland Metro has achieved the ISO 9001 accreditation.

National Express welcomes Birmingham pollution trial

  National Express, which operates most of the buses in the West Midlands, has welcomed the new government trials to improve air quality in Birmingham.

Higher Living Wage rate for Midland Metro employees

Midland Metro employees are enjoying the benefits since National Express became the first private transport group to pay the higher, voluntary Living Wage in the West Midlands.

New off-peak ticket saves the day

Hundreds of National Express West Midlands customers have come forward to talk about how the bus company’s new off-peak daysaver ticket has helped save their day.

Bus company reveals top attractions in the West Midlands

A survey of staff and passengers at National Express West Midlands has uncovered the most popular attractions in the West Midlands.

Passengers make a smart saving as Swift Pay As You Go is launched on Midland Metro

Commuters using the Midland Metro can now travel the smart way with Swift Pay As You Go.

National Express Employee Charity Panel provides over £14,000 of support

In 2015 the National Express Employee Charity Panel donated £14,260 to over 50 different charities and community groups supported by employees from the company’s UK bus, coach and rail divisions.

Dundee communities praised for record breaking generosity

Wellgate shoppers and Xplore Dundee bus passengers have been thanked for their part in the record breaking success of a Christmas kids’ fundraising campaign.

Global graduates attend inaugural National Express Network event

​35 graduates ​from across National Express Group's international businesses recently came together at Warwick Business School for an inaugural meeting of ​its global ​'National Express Network’.

Funding secured to upgrade 150 buses with clean air technology

The engines in 150 West Midland buses are to be fitted with clean air technology after the region won nearly £500,000 of funding.

Xplore Dundee pays Living Wage

Xplore Dundee has become one of Dundee’s largest Living Wage employers.

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