Edwards Coaches
![]() | |
![]() Setra S 315 GT-HD in October 2008 | |
Parent | Mike Edwards |
---|---|
Founded | 1925 |
Headquarters | Llantwit Fardre |
Service area | South Wales |
Service type | Bus & coach services |
Fleet | 225 (October 2014) |
Website | www.edwardscoaches.co.uk |
Edwards Coaches[1] is a family-owned coach company based in Llantwit Fardre, near Pontypridd in South Wales.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Edwards_2.jpg/220px-Edwards_2.jpg)
In 1925 Edwards Coaches was founded by George Edwards.[2] Over recent years, the company has expanded by acquiring several smaller local firms. Today, their fleet consists mainly of single decker coaches used for holiday tours and private hire but they also have a number of double-decker buses primarily for school contracts and park and ride services. Edwards Coaches carry around 7,100 students to school every day and around 80,000 customers on holidays each year. A small fleet of service buses is maintained to operate a group of local bus services.[3]
On 7 January 2011, Swansea based coach holiday operator Diamond Coach Holidays went into administration.[4] In the week after Diamond collapsed, Edwards took over £1m in holiday bookings (many of these from ex Diamond customers). On 25 January 2011, after talks with administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers, Edwards Coaches agreed to buy the firm becoming the largest coach holiday operator in Wales[5] In 2016, as Silcox Coaches of Pembroke Dock were going out of business, Edwards took over their school contracts and some of their bus services.[6]
National Express
Edwards Coaches are a National Express contractor and as at November 2015 operated services on routes:[7]
- 201 Swansea – Gatwick Airport
- 202 Swansea – Heathrow Airport
- 216 Cardiff – Bristol Airport
- 320 Cardiff – Bradford
- 321 Aberdare – Bradford
- 322 Swansea – Birmingham
- 507 Swansea – London
- 508 Haverfordwest – London
- 509 Cardiff – London
- 528 Haverfordwest – Rochdale
Fleet
As at October 2014, the fleet consisted of 225 buses and coaches.[8]
References
- ^ Companies House extract company no 4045308 Edwards Coaches Limited
- ^ On the Buses South Wales Echo 22 May 2007
- ^ Omnibuses Blog reports Edwards commencing local bus services
- ^ "Swansea's Diamond Coaches goes into administration". BBC News. 7 January 2011.
- ^ "Pontypridd firm buys Swansea-based Diamond Holidays". BBC News. 25 January 2011.
- ^ "Edwards to provide school transport as Silcox seeks buyer". BBC News. 2 June 2016.
- ^ National Express Coach Handbook – 10th Edition. British Bus Publishing. 2015. ISBN 978-1-904875-80-2.
- ^ Fleetlist Coach & Bus Week issue 1161 28 October 2014 page 62
External links
Media related to Edwards Coaches at Wikimedia Commons
- Company website