First Bus & FlixBus have officially launched their new joint coach service, with the first bus having left the former’s Slough depot earlier today (15 May).
The five-year partnership will see the launch of 21 new coaches across eight major UK routes and aims to expand sustainable, high-quality long-distance coach service options across the country.
The first phase of partnership will see support from Yutong, who have supplied 21 brand-new GT12 vehicles for the new routes connecting key destinations across England, with enhanced services now operating in Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and the South West.
Andreas Schorling, Managing Director of FlixBus UK, said:As one of the country’s most respected operators, it is fantastic to welcome First Bus on to our network marking another key milestone in the FlixBus growth journey as we head towards market leadership.
Our industry leading TrustPilot score is made possible by operators with exceptional quality, like First Bus. and we are already seeing a huge buzz around the services from passengers.
All services will be operated from First Bus depots in Bristol Taunton, Slough, Bath, Truro, Weston-super-Mare and Yorkshire, and will be wrapped in FlixBus livery, with the former providing staffing and vehicle operations whilst the latter handles customer booking, digital ticketing and marketing materials.
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director, Business to Business at First Bus, said:This partnership marks a significant step in our ambition to grow and diversify the First Bus business.
We’re excited to bring high-quality, long-distance travel to more passengers and contribute to building a greener, more connected UK. Our new FlixBus routes have created 70 new jobs, expanded our reach and further strengthened our role in the express coach market.
