Introducing The Coach Travel Group by numbers
10th June 2024
The UK travel industry is changing with the exciting news of the formation of The Coach Travel Group. Here are the facts and figures behind the formation of the UK’s leading group travel provider.
Seven founding members
The Coach Travel Group is the result of a strategic acquisition of seven market-leading operators: Alpine Travel, Barnes Coaches, Coatham Coaches, JH Coaches, Johnsons Coaches, Swans Travel and The Ready Group. From North Wales to the South Coast of England, the forward-thinking company promises to set the standard for customer experience and service delivery.
Here are the websites of the coach operators:
Alpine Travel (North Wales) - https://www.alpine-travel.co.uk/ - including Jones Holidays https://www.jonesholidays.co.uk/
Barnes Coaches (Swindon) - https://www.barnescoaches.co.uk/
Coatham Coaches (Cleveland) - https://www.coathamcoaches.co.uk/
JH Coaches (County Durham) - https://www.jhcoaches.com/
Johnsons Coaches (Warwickshire) - https://www.johnsonscoaches.co.uk/ - including Whittles (Kidderminster) https://www.whittlecoach.co.uk/
Swans Travel (Manchester) - https://www.swanstravel.com/
The Ready Group (London and the South East) - https://www.readygroup-uk.com/
232 school transport routes
The seven companies in The Coach Travel Group are all recognised in their local communities as leading coach operators. Working closely with local authorities, schools and colleges, we collectively manage more than 232 home-to-school routes each day.
As well as these daily commutes, our group also completes thousands of school trips to swimming pools, sports facilities, museums, zoos, residential centres and other venues each year. By combining a comprehensive range of destinations with a commitment to passenger safety, The Coach Travel Group is the operator of choice in our local regions.
11,600 children transported
Across The Coach Travel Group, we safely transport more than 11,600 children to and from their school or college. For added peace of mind, we offer a tracking service that notifies parents, guardians and carers of the safe arrival of students.
450 vehicles in our fleet
The Coach Travel Group has a fleet of 450 high-specification vehicles designed for comfort and functionality. With a range of vehicle sizes, from minibuses to large executive coaches, we can find the perfect solution for your group travel needs.
For example, we provide professional, efficient and reliable commercial transport solutions for private and public sector organisations. Our services include shuttle buses between office locations, team collection, park-and-ride setups and transport to conferences and events.
143,804 tourist passengers
In the past 12 months, The Coach Travel Group has transported more than 140,000 passengers on a wide variety of holidays and day trips. With unrivalled expertise in group travel, we offer convenient and memorable experiences across the UK and Europe. Our diverse range of trips and breaks covers places of interest, scenic destinations, cultural sites and fun recreational activities.
700 staff members
Across our seven operators, The Coach Travel Group has a team of 700 dedicated professionals who are committed to providing exceptional service. From receptionists to operations managers and coach drivers, we have an experienced and qualified team that understands how to meet the needs of our diverse range of clients.
16 UK depots
With the combined resources of our founding members, The Coach Travel Group has access to substantial resources, with a fleet of 450 vehicles across 16 well-equipped depots. This nationwide network allows us to provide convenient and affordable group travel to passengers across the country.
£23.1 million investment
Running a coach company is not cheap, as new legislation requires a modern fleet using the latest engine and safety technology. Over the past three years, operators in The Coach Travel Group have committed to investing more than £20 million to enhance and expand our fleet.
This significant investment reflects our dedication to providing first-class group transportation, ensuring that our vehicles meet the highest standards of safety, efficiency and environmental compliance. By continuously upgrading our fleet, we not only improve the quality of service and comfort for our passengers but also reinforce our commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Finally, some industry figures
According to data published by the CPT, which represents 900 members in the bus and coach travel industry, there are around 2,500 coach operators in the UK. More than 80% of these are either family or individually owned. Together, these companies employ 42,000 people across the country.
In 2019 there were 23 million visits to tourist attractions and locations by coach, which contributed £14 billion to the UK economy.
If you require group travel, contact your local operator within The Coach Travel Group today.
