Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your National Express Group shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the National Express Group offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of National Express Group at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a National Express Group? Wrong! If the National Express Group is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about National Express Group then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling National Express Group? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about National Express Group and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your National Express Group wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your National Express Group then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the National Express Group site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about National Express Group, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your National Express Group, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
This article is about the National Express Group; for information on the member of the group which trades under the National Express brand, see National Express article.
National Express Group plc () is a
United Kingdom-based
transport group that operates airport, bus and
Rail transport services in the UK, the
United States and Canada,
Australia,
Spain, Portugal and
Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe. It is listed on the
London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
History
The
National Express brand was created in 1972 by the state-owned
National Bus Company (UK) (
NBC) to bring together the express bus and coach services operated by the bus operating companies within the NBC group. The National Express network was largely a branding and management exercise, with services continuing to be operated by the individual companies.
With the privatisation of the NBC in the
1980s, National Express was subject to a management buy-out in 1988. In
1992, National Express Group PLC was floated on the
London Stock Exchange with a remit to acquire new businesses in the passenger transport market.
Acquisitions
- In 1995, West Midlands Travel, the formerly municipally-owned bus network of Birmingham and the West Midlands (county), was acquired and renamed Travel West Midlands. This began the brand family of Travel ... local bus operations. Since then Travel Coventry has been spun out of Travel West Midlands, and Travel Dundee and Travel London have been acquired.
image:MML logo.gif
- In 1996 the group acquired its first UK rail franchises, Gatwick Express and Midland Mainline. Since then seven further franchises have been added, and rail services now account for the largest portion of the group's activity.
- In 2005 National Express agreed to buy most of operations of privately owned Spanish transport operator Alsa, which operates bus and coach services in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and long-distance coach services to other parts of Europe. Alsa's operations in South America and China were retained by the previous owners.
Also in mid 2005, the group bought the London buses arm of Tellings Golden Miller and branded it Travel London. This included a number of services in South West London and Surrey.
The group has also moved into operations outside the UK. At one time it had extensive bus, rail and tram operations in Australia, but with the collapse of the group there, all operations were either sold off or had control returned to the State Government (see
Services formerly operated). Only one bus operator was retained, Westbus in Australia. It led to a strange situation developing, as Westbus at the time of acquisition owned a subsidiary operation in London, called Westbus in Australia that still operates and is managed from Sydney.
Finances
In the year ended 31 December
2004 the group's turnover was £2,560.2 million. Profits were £63.1 million before tax and £40.8 million after tax.
Operating Companies
Bus and Coach Services
As of April 2006, the bus and coach services operated by the group are:
- AirLinks (contract bus operation at UK airports)
- ATC (transit and paratransit bus operation in the US)
- Durham School Services (school bus operation in the US)
- Eurolines (express coach services between the UK and other Europe countries)
- National Express (long distance express and airport coach services in the UK)
- Stock Transportation (school bus operation in Canada)
- Travel Coventry (bus operation in and around Coventry, UK - A subsidy of Travel West Midlands)
- Travel Dundee (bus operation in and around Dundee, Scotland, UK)
- Travel London (bus operation under contract to London Buses in London, UK)
- Travel Surrey (bus operation under contract to London Buses in London, UK - A subsidy of Travel London)
- Travel West Midlands (Major bus operations in Birmingham and the West Midlands (county), UK)
- Travel Midland Metro (Midland Metro light rail system in the West Midlands (county), UK)
Rail Services
- c2c (passenger rail operation in the UK)
- Central Trains (passenger rail operation in the UK) contract expires November 2007
- Gatwick Express (passenger rail operation in the UK) franchise will transfer to Southern_%28train_operating_company%29 in June 2008
- Maintrain (train maintenance in the UK)
- Midland Mainline (passenger rail operation in the UK) contract expires November 2007
- National Express East Coast (passenger rail operation in the UK) starts December 2007
- 'one' (passenger rail operation in the UK)
- Silverlink (passenger rail operation in the UK) contract expires November 2007
image:357036_at_Southend_Central.jpg 'Electrostar' unit 357036 at Southend Central on 29 March
2003. All c2c services are operated by these
electric multiple units.
Former Businesses/Services
Rail franchises previously operated by the group include:
- ScotRail (until October 2004, now operated by First Group as First ScotRail.)
- Wales and Borders (until December 2003, now operated by Arriva as Arriva Trains Wales.)
- WAGN (until April 2006, now operated by First Group as part of First Capital Connect)
- Wessex Trains (until April 2006, now operated by First Group as part of First Great Western)
- M-Train & M-Tram (handed back to the Victorian State Government after collapse of the group in Australia; M>Train was passed on to Connex, and M>Tram to Yarra Trams).
- V/Line (handed back to the Victorian State Government after collapse of the group in Australia).
Airports also operated include:East Midlands &Bournemouth
Australian bus companies previously operated by the group include:
Airports
The only airport operated and maintained by the group is Stewart International Airport, in
New Windsor,
New York (state), US. On September 29, 2006, it announced it was selling its rights to Stewart, seven years into a 99-year
lease that marked the first attempted
privatization of a U.S. passenger airport.
External links
- National Express Group
- History of the National Express Group
This article is about the National Express Group; for information on the member of the group which trades under the National Express brand, see National Express article.
National Express Group plc () is a
United Kingdom-based
transport group that operates
airport, bus and
Rail transport services in the UK, the
United States and Canada,
Australia, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe. It is listed on the
London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the
FTSE 250 Index.
History
The
National Express brand was created in
1972 by the state-owned
National Bus Company (UK) (
NBC) to bring together the express bus and coach services operated by the bus operating companies within the NBC group. The National Express network was largely a branding and management exercise, with services continuing to be operated by the individual companies.
With the privatisation of the NBC in the
1980s, National Express was subject to a management buy-out in 1988. In
1992, National Express Group PLC was floated on the
London Stock Exchange with a remit to acquire new businesses in the passenger transport market.
Acquisitions
- In 1993 the group acquired Eurolines and Nottingham East Midlands Airport, although the latter has since been sold.
- In 1995, West Midlands Travel, the formerly municipally-owned bus network of Birmingham and the West Midlands (county), was acquired and renamed Travel West Midlands. This began the brand family of Travel ... local bus operations. Since then Travel Coventry has been spun out of Travel West Midlands, and Travel Dundee and Travel London have been acquired.
image:MML logo.gif
- In 1996 the group acquired its first UK rail franchises, Gatwick Express and Midland Mainline. Since then seven further franchises have been added, and rail services now account for the largest portion of the group's activity.
- In 2005 National Express agreed to buy most of operations of privately owned Spanish transport operator Alsa, which operates bus and coach services in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and long-distance coach services to other parts of Europe. Alsa's operations in South America and China were retained by the previous owners.
Also in mid 2005, the group bought the London buses arm of Tellings Golden Miller and branded it Travel London. This included a number of services in South West London and Surrey.
The group has also moved into operations outside the UK. At one time it had extensive bus, rail and tram operations in Australia, but with the collapse of the group there, all operations were either sold off or had control returned to the State Government (see
Services formerly operated). Only one bus operator was retained, Westbus in Australia. It led to a strange situation developing, as Westbus at the time of acquisition owned a subsidiary operation in London, called Westbus in Australia that still operates and is managed from Sydney.
Finances
In the year ended 31 December 2004 the group's turnover was £2,560.2 million. Profits were £63.1 million before tax and £40.8 million after tax.
Operating Companies
Bus and Coach Services
As of April 2006, the bus and coach services operated by the group are:
- AirLinks (contract bus operation at UK airports)
- ATC (transit and paratransit bus operation in the US)
- Durham School Services (school bus operation in the US)
- Eurolines (express coach services between the UK and other Europe countries)
- National Express (long distance express and airport coach services in the UK)
- Stock Transportation (school bus operation in Canada)
- Travel Coventry (bus operation in and around Coventry, UK - A subsidy of Travel West Midlands)
- Travel Dundee (bus operation in and around Dundee, Scotland, UK)
- Travel London (bus operation under contract to London Buses in London, UK)
- Travel Surrey (bus operation under contract to London Buses in London, UK - A subsidy of Travel London)
- Travel West Midlands (Major bus operations in Birmingham and the West Midlands (county), UK)
- Travel Midland Metro (Midland Metro light rail system in the West Midlands (county), UK)
Rail Services
- c2c (passenger rail operation in the UK)
- Central Trains (passenger rail operation in the UK) contract expires November 2007
- Gatwick Express (passenger rail operation in the UK) franchise will transfer to Southern_%28train_operating_company%29 in June 2008
- Maintrain (train maintenance in the UK)
- Midland Mainline (passenger rail operation in the UK) contract expires November 2007
- National Express East Coast (passenger rail operation in the UK) starts December 2007
- 'one' (passenger rail operation in the UK)
- Silverlink (passenger rail operation in the UK) contract expires November 2007
image:357036_at_Southend_Central.jpg 'Electrostar' unit 357036 at Southend Central on
29 March 2003. All c2c services are operated by these
electric multiple units.
Former Businesses/Services
Rail franchises previously operated by the group include:
- ScotRail (until October 2004, now operated by First Group as First ScotRail.)
- Wales and Borders (until December 2003, now operated by Arriva as Arriva Trains Wales.)
- WAGN (until April 2006, now operated by First Group as part of First Capital Connect)
- Wessex Trains (until April 2006, now operated by First Group as part of First Great Western)
- M-Train & M-Tram (handed back to the Victorian State Government after collapse of the group in Australia; M>Train was passed on to Connex, and M>Tram to Yarra Trams).
- V/Line (handed back to the Victorian State Government after collapse of the group in Australia).
Airports also operated include:East Midlands &Bournemouth
Australian bus companies previously operated by the group include:
Airports
The only airport operated and maintained by the group is Stewart International Airport, in New Windsor, New York (state), US. On September 29, 2006, it announced it was selling its rights to Stewart, seven years into a 99-year lease that marked the first attempted
privatization of a U.S. passenger airport.
External links
- National Express Group
- History of the National Express Group
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