A profitable visit for bus firm National Express

Oct 20 2010 by Iain Laing, The Journal

TRANSPORT group National Express says that revenues at its coach division have been boosted by the Pope's visit to Britain.

The company, which also operates bus and rail services, ran 1,000 coaches to Birmingham from across the UK for pilgrims to see Pope Benedict XVI last month.

The group said coach revenues in the three months to September 30 increased 4% year on year, compared with a 2% rise in the first half. The transport group said a restructuring in its bus network, which operates mainly in the West Midlands, had added £5 million to year-on-year operating profits.

Jez Maiden, group finance director at National Express, said the company would continue to focus on operational improvements to achieve growth.

He said the company will be in a position to eye up potential areas of expansion in Europe and North American in about 12 months’ time.