The Coach Travel Group signs a deal to acquire Stewarts Coaches

The Coach Travel Group has completed a deal to acquire Berkshire-based Stewarts Coaches, further strengthening the group’s position in London and the South East.  

The move takes the number of operators in The Coach Travel Group up to nine following the group’s formation during the summer. In addition to expanding the group's national presence and influence, services delivered along the vital M4 corridor will be further enhanced by the addition of Stewarts Coaches. 

“We haven’t been standing still since forming The Coach Travel Group over the summer,” said Tom Stables, CEO at The Coach Travel Group.  

“Our plan to date has been to bring together similar, established operators, many being family-owned. Stewarts is slightly different, as the brand had previously been absorbed into National Express. This means we have an opportunity to make our mark on the brand, adding value and sharing our passion for first-class group travel.  

“With our support, Stewarts Coaches will serve the community as a trusted regional coach operator, serving the needs of its local customers while being better equipped to navigate the future challenges of the sector by being part of a group dedicated to the coach sector.” 

Mark Heffernan, Chief Operations and Safety Officer, National Express, said: 

“We are pleased to complete this deal with Coach Travel Group as part of our strategic objective to transform our operating model. This sale will enhance our operational performance and increase profitability within our scheduled coach network.”  

The Coach Travel Group was formed by the strategic merger of Alpine Travel, Barnes Coaches, Coatham Coaches, Horseman Coaches, JH Coaches, Johnsons Coaches, The Ready Group, Swans Travel and Whittles. Established in June 2024, the group has approximately 700 employees and 450 vehicles in its fleet. Its focus is on leveraging the extensive experience and investment across the seven operators to provide a best-in-class service offering to its customers.  

About Stewarts Coaches 

Located in Reading, Berkshire, Stewarts Coaches was established in 1986 and has been acquired from National Express Group. Its fleet of modern vehicles is available for one-off hire and contract work, such as the shuttle service from Slough Station to the Bath Road Central Business Estate and the Thames Valley Park shuttle. 

Tom Stables, CEO of The Coach Travel Group, added: “Building partnerships and giving customers better value and choice is at the heart of The Coach Travel Group,” said Tom. “With a diverse and unrivalled portfolio of outstanding coach operators, our people understand the UK travel industry and their local markets. Our approach to group travel is to continually focus on passenger experience.”