The programme, which is run in partnership with Visit Britain, Visit Wales, Visit Scotland, and Tourism Northern Ireland, is for businesses across the sector to demonstrate that they are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and check they have the required processes in place. Over 43,000 businesses across England signed up since its launch in June and Mainline Coaches are delighted to be accepted and now continue to offer our very high standards in health, comfort and hygiene for our passengers.

Britain & Ireland Marketplace (BIM) 2021 – 26^th January 2021

As a springboard to COVID-19 business recovery plans BIM 2021, General Manager Colin Jones, attended the Britain & Ireland Marketplace, a one full-day B2B workshop for international tour operators and travel buyers, the opportunity to meet new clients, re-establish old friendships and partnerships, build innovative programmes and packages

The leading B2B event was organised by the European Tour Operator Association (ETOA) and took place online.  Colin had arranged sales and marketing meetings throughout the day with Inbound tour operators, tourist boards, business and corporate clients, the event focussed fully on an agenda of pre-scheduled face-to-face appointments and networking meetings.  Though a very busy and challenging day, Colin reported this was a great success and came away with encouraging business and opportunities for touring in Wales and throughout the UK from the incoming group travel buyers.  The networking also gave Colin the opportunity to discuss new developments and opportunities with clients, building plans for a recovery in 2021 and into 2022.

The development of a recovery in coach touring for later this year was a welcome boost.

Other News

Filming with Mainline Coaches …

During January and continuing the first two weeks of February saw Mainline Coaches supplying coaches for the staff and crew in the Netflix filming of “Sex Education 3”.  The filming took place in Monmouth, Penarth and Newport and Mainline were delighted to be involved with this comedy-drama, which made the streaming platform’s top-ten most popular series of 2019 both in the UK and US and it now continues for a third and eagerly waited series.  Don’t worry the drivers were only used for the driving part and transporting the crew during in the filming!

Have you booked your Coach Hire?

Mainline Coach Travel are the ideal coach operator for domestic group travel and visitors to the UK from abroad. We work with many groups and group tour operators from all over the world to provide quality coach hire for tourists so they can see the best the UK and Ireland has to offer.

Our transport is ideal for all types of groups visiting the UK including schools, choirs, church groups, large families, corporate groups and Rotary Clubs to name just a few.

We work with you to ensure you receive top quality coach transport for your group travel in the UK – so call us today and enjoy your travel experience from the start.

Coach industry and MPs called upon to support  Coach Tourism

Mainline Coach Travel and other leading Coach operators have encouraged their MP’s to lobby parliament in support of the tourism industry. Our local MP Chris Elmore (Ogmore) has taken particular interest in the support of the coach tourism industry which we are grateful and he continues to communicate with the Chancellor, Reishi Sunak calling the government to support the toursim industry during these very difficult times.

Our thank you letter of support …. 

Dear Mr Elmore

Thank you for your letter and support for the coach tourism industry and we do appreciate your continued backing and voice.

2020 taught us the real value of being part of something bigger. Working together gives the bus and coach industry greater presence and influence, and a voice that can’t be ignored. This approach will be vital in meeting whatever challenges lie ahead to ensure our business – and our industry – continue to thrive.”​

 But while we leave behind a year where the pandemic dominated our personal and professional lives, 2021 looks set to be just as challenging, with a return to a ‘new normal’ not yet in sight.

With the dawning of the vaccine programme a light is now visible at the end of the tunnel, there is now real hope that we will see progress made in restoring businesses large and small to their rightful position and for our coach tourism industry as part of the backbone of the UK economy.

Over the last twelve months I’ve been incredibly proud of the hard work and resilience shown by everyone within our industry, quickly adapting to change and continuing to provide high quality services in the most challenging of circumstances.  Our company and well as countless examples of other bus and coach operators working tirelessly to keep communities connected; delivering vital supplies to the elderly and vulnerable, safely transporting key workers and getting children to school, workers to their jobs and, of course, saving the day for thousands when planes or trains are disrupted. Day trips, excursions and holidays have been disrupted for most families and the elderly and the incoming tourists into Great Britain who generate so much to our economy has stopped.

To help us do everything we do, we need your support. Last year, the coach industry fought tirelessly to take our case to government, and we thank you for your continued support and effort in doing this. Working together gives us greater presence and influence, and a voice that can’t be ignored. This approach will be vital in meeting whatever challenges lie ahead to ensure our business – and our industry – continue to thrive.

Our focus for the year is to recover from the effects of the pandemic and the damaging Government messages we saw around avoiding public transport. With your help we want to continue to spell out to government the vital role that coaches and buses will play in getting the country back up and running, and the support and operating conditions we need to make it happen.

Our finances were hit by the pandemic, and we anticipate a further reduction in sales and revenue in 2021. We’ve acted early to minimise the impact – taking tough decisions on staff and operational costs, we sleeved our plans to re-locate to a new site, which would have increased our business and staff levels in South Wales, we have needed to mothball coaches until the Spring and we’ll continue to cut costs where we can to avoid further job losses.

The Industry is now requiring to meet new Environmental emission standards, PSVAR disabled coach facilities, the challenges of Brexit and the new rules and regulations on travel to Europe and most importantly the renewing confidence of travelling public and bus users to get back on our vehicles.  

Mr Elmore, I hope you’ll continue to get involved in any way you can to ensure our industry’s voice and messaging is heard louder and clearer than ever before.

Coach Tourism is vital to our country, contributing £14billion to our economy, many businesses are family owned like ours and we need your support now more than ever.

Yours Faithfully