National Express how many coaches do they have?

[northernrail2009]

Got me thinking on that there are no National express coach services at the moment and in normal times they will always have coaches out 24/7.

so where do they store them all as no doubt they have a few to find spaces for and also the same goes for Megabus.

 

[darloscott]

National Express, and to an extent Megabus too now, is mainly operated by external contractors who supply anything from one to hundreds of coaches. National Express themselves only operate a small proportion of the network (generally Airport services near London!).

 

[Eyersey468]

I'm a NX driver and the contractor I work for have 12 coaches dedicated to NX work, 11 out all day with 1 spare.

 

[Bletchleyite]

National Express, and to an extent Megabus too now, is mainly operated by external contractors who supply anything from one to hundreds of coaches. National Express themselves only operate a small proportion of the network (generally Airport services near London!).

Megabus always was operated by local Stagecoach subsidiaries under contract, wasn't it? I guess others are involved too now, though.

 

[carlberry]

Megabus always was operated by local Stagecoach subsidiaries under contract, wasn't it? I guess others are involved too now, though.

As far as I know most of the none Scottish operations are out of Midland Red South at Rugby, Red and White at Cwmbran and Cheltenham and Gloucester at Bristol (ex South Gloucestershire). Plus a few contractors (Redwoods in Devon for example)

 

[darloscott]

I was thinking of South Gloucestershire previously, though of course they're now part of Stagecoach group. Freestones operate out of Norwich under contract, and there are regular runs operated at least by Compass Royston, JB Travel, MP Travel and I believe Hamiltons too.

 

[NBC Soap Oper]

I thought I had heard they had returned "just Today" OP, it is a hard call mind as to how many they run (not own, though i know at one stage they did own their own - but the majority are run on the basis of as I describe below) as they are not all ownede by Nat ex and you have to look next to the door on the small print for their owners (eg Parks of Hamilton and Stagecoach "in " etc) so unless we have a comprenhensive list if all who operate who knows I think!!

It is a great call and fascinating thread idea I think mind though

 

[northrob]

You'd think that a number would be easy to come up - however as others have stated it's not that straight forward...

(Apologies in advance if some of this is incorrect)

Most of the coaches are registered to the partner operators who operate the service on behalf of National Express - these can include Go North East, East Yorkshire, Bournemouth Transport and of course their sister companies like Lucketts Travel & National Express West Midlands.

It does appear that their London Airports services are operated on a licence registered to West Midlands Travel Limited t/a National Express

I believe that a legacy from deregulation meant that for the National Express name to be used, National Express requires it's own operating licence and it does:

National Express Ltd - Number of vehicles on licence: 1

(It's probably based in Birmingham in amongst all the coaches registered to NXWM...)

 

[Stan Drews]

I believe that a legacy from deregulation meant that for the National Express name to be used, National Express requires it's own operating licence and it does:

National Express Ltd - Number of vehicles on licence: 1

(It's probably based in Birmingham in amongst all the coaches registered to NXWM...)

Nothing to do with the use of the name. You need an Operator’s Licence in order to register services with the Traffic Commissioner, and many sections of their routes are/were registered.

 

[northrob]

Thanks for that. I knew there was a reason, just couldn't remember for certain what it was.

 

[Mwanesh]

The West Midlands Travel name has only been in use for the past 2 years. It was just National Express before. I think with their own coach fleet i would say about 400 to 600. Kings Ferry, Clarkes of London and Lucketts.

 

[Titfield]

THe holder of an O Licence must have at least 1 vehicle in posession.

 

[carlberry]

THe holder of an O Licence must have at least 1 vehicle in posession.

Is this true? There are loads of O licence holders that dont have vehicles (pre Covid) but retain the licence, sometimes so they can start up again or trade seasonally.

 

[Titfield]

Not quite as I simplified the full answer.

Access to a vehicle The licence holder must have “access” to a vehicle (i.e. either a vehicle in possession or a formal contract with a hire company to hire one in, where there are currently no vehicles in possession).

It is my understanding that the hire contract has to be in place at all times you dont have a vehicle ie a blanket hire contract.
It remains to be seen whether eventually the OTC will seek to find those operators who have neither a vehicle in posession nor a hire contract.

 

[route101]

Parks of Hamilton do most of the Scottish NX routes, Bruce coaches as well , if they are still on it?

Parks also do Citylink work , a link between Stagecoach and NX there

 

[winston270twm]

The West Midlands Travel name has only been in use for the past 2 years. It was just National Express before. I think with their own coach fleet i would say about 400 to 600. Kings Ferry, Clarkes of London and Lucketts.

Not forgetting Stewarts & Woods Coaches as well.

 

[bussnapperwm]

Don't forget the Dundee to Edinburgh coaches that NX run

 

[Baxenden Bank]

The National Express O licence has had one vehicle on it for as long as I can remember.

 

[Pat1105]

Parks of Hamilton do most of the Scottish NX routes, Bruce coaches as well , if they are still on it?

Parks also do Citylink work , a link between Stagecoach and NX there

Yes, Bruce’s still do NX work.

 

[Robertj21a]

The National Express O licence has had one vehicle on it for as long as I can remember.

Is that still the case, I thought it changed, possibly when NXWM got more heavily involved ?

 

[Pat1105]

Is that still the case, I thought it changed, possibly when NXWM got more heavily involved ?

There are quite a few entries on VOSA for National Express and West Midlands Travel. Across all entries, NX have a total capacity of 147 vehicles (this doesn’t mean that they actually have 147 vehicles). These vehicles are for services operated directly by them.

 

[DimTim]

We’ve had a thread similar to this previous with a link providing operators & fleet
http://nebula.wsimg.com/c407fd45f81...A174C4DD908996CD8&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

out of date but gives an estimation of original question.