Are coaches ready for take off?

Coaches account for just 6% of all long distance travel in the UK, but there has been an awakening to their potential

Alex Warner launches the new Greyhound service to Bournemouth

Alex Warner launches the new Greyhound service to Bournemouth

The new Digbeth coach station

The new Digbeth coach station

The average Briton makes 20 long distance journeys every year, but only one is by coach. The coach sector is relatively small but there does appear to be scope for considerable expansion, both as a partner to other modes and as a competitor.

At present, holiday and leisure trips are the main market for coach companies, but coach travel makes up only 6% of all long distance mileage. Most coach journeys are either to airports or inter-city. Thus the growth of foreign air travel has seen Heathrow...