National Express announces faster journeys between Manchester and London with tickets from £16

National Express has announced a faster bus service between Manchester and London, with journey times cut by up to 30 minutes on its 540 bus service. Fares for the intercity service start from £15.90 – less than half the cost of a train ticket.

Weekend fares for the Manchester to London service still start from £18.90. The fast service means passengers can reach the capital in just over four hours.

Ahead of the summer holidays, the bus operator is also enhancing its Trans Pennine coach network with services to and from Manchester city center and Manchester Airport. From Friday 17 May, an improved 170 service between Manchester, Manchester Airport, Liverpool and Leeds will start, also bringing Warrington (Hulme) into the network.

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Customers will benefit from the reintroduction of locally available journeys on this key travel corridor, particularly between Manchester city center and Manchester Airport. From the same date, service 171 between Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford and Leeds will also see the same improvements.

It comes after National Express saw a huge increase in demand in 2023 as travelers look to budget options when it comes to travel. More than 19 million customers traveled on the National Express bus network in 2023, a 25% increase in passengers compared to 15 million in 2022.

The firm continues to invest in its fleet, with 150 brand new vehicles expected to hit the roads this year, meaning customers will be able to enjoy a comfortable and relaxing journey to hundreds of destinations across the country. Passengers can expect a comfortable on-board experience with reclining leather seats, free Wi-Fi, USB sockets and a generous baggage allowance of up to 20kg.

Ed Rickard, Network Director for National Express UK and Ireland, said: “Through continued investment in our bus network, including these improved and faster journeys to and from Manchester, we are making it even easier for savvy travelers to save money for vacations. , with convenient travel, great value and a guaranteed seat. More and more people are choosing to travel with National Express as a reliable, affordable and sustainable way to get around, and we’re responding by investing in new vehicles and services, while providing a brilliant customer experience for a relaxing journey and comfortable.”

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