Kate Reynolds, Director of Corporate Affairs & Communications for National Express, said:
“We are delighted to be celebrating this significant milestone with Rimsha and Salman and we really hope to welcome them onboard our services again soon.
“It’s great to see customers are switching to our coaches because they’re reliable, great value and you’re guaranteed a seat.
“With an increase in the number of people travelling with us we’re proud to have already welcomed our millionth customer through Manchester - and much earlier in the year compared to last year, too!
“Our significant investment in new and enhanced services means we are making it even easier for our customers to enjoy a relaxing, comfortable journey with us and we look forward to welcoming even more customers onboard.”
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| Salman Khan and Rimsha Zamir with Kate Reynolds, Director of Corporate Affairs & Communications for National Express |
Rimsha Zamir was thrilled to be National Express' millionth customer, she was visiting Manchester from Birmingham to undertake her medical licensing exam, as she aspires to be a GP.
"I thought about taking the train, but the coach is so much more comfortable and you always get a seat. I was nervous coming to Manchester for my exams so this is a lovely treat."
Salman Khan, Rishma’s husband, is a doctor at Russells' Hall Hospital in Dudley. He said:
"Thank you so much, you've made our day."
National Express has also seen a huge surge in passengers travelling on its Trans Pennine coach network following a boost to the number of services in May this year.
Between January and September 2023, passenger numbers on services linking Bradford, Leeds, Manchester, Manchester Airport and Liverpool were up 75%, compared to the same period in 2022.
In May 2023, National Express increased the number of services between Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool from eight to 13 a day to meet demand. The company also invested in increasing its fleet, adding three new vehicles to serve these routes.
Earlier in the year the company also introduced an uplift in coach services between Manchester and London, with up to 17 services a day offering customers an affordable, reliable and greener way to travel to the capital.
In 2022 over 16 million people used the National Express coach network - up from over 10 million from 2021. The rail strikes and soaring costs for motorists are all believed to be contributing factors in the increase in passengers, with 12 percent of rail users reported switching to coach travel for better value and reliability of service.
National Express, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, currently operates over 550 services across the country. Passengers can expect a safe and comfortable experience on board, with leather reclining seats, free wi-fi, air conditioning, USB power sockets and a generous luggage allowance of up to 20kg.
Website www.nationalexpress.com.
