Edwards Coaches

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

Setra S 415 HD in October 2008
Service 400 (Beddau to Cardiff via Tonteg and A470)

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 of November 2015 operated services on routes:[7]

In May 2017, Edwards will commence operating more National Express services previously operated by South Gloucestershire Bus & Coach from a new depot in Avonmouth.[8][9][10]

Fleet

As at October 2014, the fleet consisted of 225 buses and coaches.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Companies House extract company no 4045308 Edwards Coaches Limited
  2. ↑ On the Buses South Wales Echo 22 May 2007
  3. ↑ Omnibuses Blog reports Edwards commencing local bus services
  4. ↑ "Swansea's Diamond Coaches goes into administration". BBC News. 7 January 2011.
  5. ↑ "Pontypridd firm buys Swansea-based Diamond Holidays". BBC News. 25 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "Edwards to provide school transport as Silcox seeks buyer". BBC News. 2 June 2016.
  7. ↑ National Express Coach Handbook – 10th Edition. British Bus Publishing. 2015. ISBN 978-1-904875-80-2.
  8. ↑ New £12m National Express depot to bring 120 jobs to Bristol Bristol Post 22 March 2017
  9. ↑ Edwards Coaches wins 10 year NatEx contract Coach & Bus Week 5 April 2017
  10. ↑ Edwards buys Avonmouth depot Route One 20 April 2017
  11. ↑ Fleetlist Coach & Bus Week issue 1161 28 October 2014 page 62
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