First Bus and FlixBus have announced an expansion of their partnership, with 11 additional vehicles scheduled to join the FlixBus network from spring 2026.
The new phase of collaboration will bring the First Bus depot in Leicester and its coaching operations in Leeds into the FlixBus network, providing extra capacity on routes across the Midlands and the North of England.
Services will also increase at First Bus depots in the West of England and within its Yorkshire coaching operations. These changes support FlixBus’ plans to strengthen connections between major cities and regional centres.
The development follows the partnership launched in 2025 under a five-year contract. First Bus’s investment in the 11 vehicles will bring its fleet of Flix-specification coaches to 32. The move forms part of the operator’s broader effort to diversify its business activities.
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director for Business to Business at First Bus said:Our partnership with FlixBus is delivering strong results, so we’re expanding the long-term contract to involve more of our depots across England.
This further investment reinforces our strategic focus on growing our involvement in long-distance coach.
FlixBus, which entered the UK in 2021, has carried millions of passengers on its coach network. The company has expanded to more than 80 destinations during 2025 and plans further network growth in 2026.
Service delivery for the expanded network will be managed by dedicated FlixBus teams within First Bus, creating around 40 new roles. The additional vehicles are expected to enter operation from spring 2026, adding frequency on selected routes and improving links between cities and regions.
Andreas Schorling, Senior Managing Director of FlixBus UK said:The demand for our modern, comfortable and affordable coach services continues to rise, and we have a fantastic relationship with First Bus.
Together we plan to build an even stronger network and move FlixBus closer to UK market leadership which we see as inevitable.
