Boost for Region’s Transport Links!

18TH May 2011

Huge investment in transport links were announced last week at the launch of new and improved coach services for people across Bournemouth, Ringwood and Poole.

National Express, the UK’s number one scheduled coach company has launched a new service, the 206, from Bournemouth’s Travel Interchange to Gatwick Airport 10 times a day and to all terminals at Heathrow Airport 12 times a day.

Services to Portsmouth, Fareham and Chichester have increased from 1 to 11 times a day and one of the most popular services, Bournemouth to Southampton, has more than doubled from eight times a day to an impressive 18 times per day.

More than £1.5million has been invested in new coaches and 25 jobs in the local area have been created to operate the service.

Andrew Cleaves, Managing Director, National Express coach said, "We’re proud to be investing in the region with new and improved coach services offering great value ticket prices. Coach services across the South Coast are extremely popular attracting new customers as well as our many loyal customers including staff working at the airports. Our customers travel in safety and comfort and we will continue to invest in great customer service for the people of Dorset and the surrounding areas."

National Express is working with Bournemouth’s own Excelsior Coaches to deliver the service for people across the region.

Kathy Tilbury, Managing Director of Excelsior Coaches said, "Without doubt our delivery standards and our performance in the National Express quality tables is one of the main reasons why we have been awarded this contact. There have been opportunities for everyone in the business to get involved and new positions available, as well as the recruitment of a further 20 staff to complement the existing delivery teams to allow us to deliver the contract, we as a business are expanding and guaranteeing stability to our employees. We have invested £1.34 million and taken delivery of six new vehicles in order to carry out the new service."

The new multimillion pound coaches have many modern conveniences such as power supplies to all seats, leather reclining seats and air conditioning. Wheelchair accessibility is also an important feature as the coach has an innovative wheelchair lift incorporated into the front entrance of the coach.

Facilities at Bournemouth Interchange have also recently being upgraded with the installation of 24/7 self-service kiosks particularly aimed at customers using the 24/7 airport coach services.

Bournemouth’s Four Fast Facts

• More than 100 UK destinations are served directly by National Express from Bournemouth every day. You can travel as far as Edinburgh on a direct coach.
• Around 100 jobs in the area directly depend on National Express services
• 5 staff in Bournemouth’s Interchange have a combined 50 years’ service
• A coach has been named after the famous landmark ‘The Bournemouth Pier’

For further details please contact:-
Joy Williams at National Express 07795267453 or email joy.williams@nationalexpress.com
Kathy Tilbury, Managing Director at Excelsior Coaches - ktilbury@excelsior-coaches.com
Louise Wakeley, Sales & Marketing Executive, Excelsior Coaches - lwakeley@excelsior-coaches.com

Excelsior Coaches Limited. Central Business Park, Bournemouth BH1 3SJ
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