Take a journey through the timeline of our history. Find out more about the last five decades including the story of coach travel and big moments for the nation.
Take a journey through the timeline of our history. Find out more about the last five decades including the story of coach travel and big moments for the nation.
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But for those close to the coast the beach was the obvious destination, with famous seaside towns full to the brim with people making the most of the weather.
This video from the Telegraph sees three people recall their memories of the Summer of '76... Oh how things have changed.
Janet was 22 years old when she started working for National Express in 1983 and was one of the first hostesses aboard the Rapide services from Manchester to London. The four-hour route was non-stop, so the provision of toilets and refreshments on board meant that passengers could enjoy a faster service in comfort.
“When I first started, I was sent to Preston for training and then given a uniform of red, white and blue. We were so proud to wear the uniform as we looked like air hostesses”, recalls Janet.
Janet remembers how hard the teams worked but that the camaraderie and friendships she made along the way really made the job so much fun: “We worked long hours and were away from home a lot, but the team made it worthwhile. We spent time with drivers and hostesses from across the network while we were in the mess room in Victoria Coach Station.
“We struck up some fantastic friendships and had a lot of fun. I often wonder what many of my old colleagues are up to now. We met such a diverse range of people and really enjoyed taking care of people on board. We made our own food to sell on board and created our own menus of sandwiches, sweet treats and light bites that went down a storm with passengers.”
Janet, who is now 58, recalls her time as a National Express hostess with huge fondness: “It really was the best time of my life and I talk about my job as a hostess constantly. I have some fantastic memories of my time on the network - I could write a book!”"
They record the charity song Do They Know It's Christmas? which became the fastest selling single in UK chart history.
Feeling nostalgic? Watch the famous Band Aid performance from 1985 here.
A loved-up couple who met on a National Express coach 30 years ago celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip down memory lane. Simon and Joanne Jones from Whaley Bridge got to relive the moment they first met on a vintage National Express coach, just like the one that brought them together 30 years ago.
Having endured the stress of being evacuated from their home of 25 years in August due to the collapse of the Whaley Bridge dam, Joanne said it was great to be able to spread some good news: “It was great to be able to celebrate with National Express. There is so much bad news in the world now, it is nice to hear something positive.
“We have been married 25 years this year and have National Express and the M1 to thank for that.”
The couple met when Joanne was travelling from Manchester down to her home town of Crawley and Simon, who was on his way to Gatwick Airport for a holiday to Magaluf, took the empty seat next to her at the back of the coach.
“I remember he was listening to Madonna on his walkman. It was very loud. The driver made an announcement about a delay and Simon took his headphones off to ask what he had said. We talked the rest of the way to London and exchanged addresses when we got to Victoria.
“That week I received a postcard from Simon from Magaluf which I still have to this day. A month later we went on our first date and the rest is history.”
The pair, who met when they were just 25 and 26 years old, were in a long-distance relationship for two years and made their relationship work thanks to weekly visits using National Express. Simon said: “We are proof that long-distance relationships really can work. We got married five years later and now have two grown-up children that we are very proud of. Sara is 24 and working in China and Ben is in his final year at drama school.”
Joanne said: “For years people have told us that we should share our story. I finally got round to it 30 years after it started.”
Chris Hardy, Managing Director of National Express UK Coach, said: “With 1,800 services each day linking more than 540 locations, we're all about connecting people.
"When we heard the story of how we brought Simon and Joanne together all those years ago, we knew we had to do something special to help them celebrate."
David Barrow was travelling to London from Manchester on Saturday 8 December 1990 when progress was curtailed in Birmingham, thanks to a huge snow storm that hit the M6/M1 interchange. As conditions worsened, all hope of leaving Birmingham was lost and passengers were made as comfortable as possible while they waited out the storm.
David recalls “National Express staff did their best to make us comfortable at Digbeth Coach Station, supplying us with soup, sandwiches and hot drinks. By Saturday evening, the number of stranded coaches had grown considerably. We were then ferried by a fleet of coaches to Birmingham City Hall and supplied with blankets and sleeping bags and bedded down for the night in the main hall.
“On Sunday morning, all three hundred of us enjoyed a superb breakfast and then proceeded on our journey back to Manchester.”"
Val worked as a hostess for National Express from 1991-1997, on a number of partner operator services between Yorkshire and London. Hostesses operated on National Express services across the network, between 1983 and 1998, serving drinks, snacks; checking passengers onto the services and taking care of passengers
“It was the best job I've ever had”, exclaims Val. “I loved it so much, meeting so many different people and travelling up and down the country. It was hard work and long hours, but we had so much fun. I even met my now-husband on board, who was a driver on the network. We were immaculately turned out in beautiful uniforms that really made us stand out. The outfits were on par with flight crew uniforms and we felt proud to wear the National Express badge.”
Val (55) recalls receiving a famous face aboard one of the services she was working on: “Dickie Bird joined the 240 service from Dewsbury to Heathrow and was such a gentleman. He wore his famous Panama hat, rain coat and carried a cardboard suitcase. He ordered a plain chicken sandwich on white bread and ordered a tea with one sugar. I'll never forget it!”
Val recalls that the best thing about the job was helping to make passengers smile. “The services we hostesses offered was often the difference between a good journey and a great one. Taking the time to check on passengers; offering them a drink or just chatting with them, especially if they were travelling alone, really made the difference to them. I received a number of cards and lots of passengers remembered me from previous journeys and shared their memories and kind words on how I looked after them. It meant the world to me.”
After Val left the network, her passion for coaches had been well and truly lit. “I have a huge collection of miniature coach models - everything from the services I worked on to the older and newer models. I am also really proud of my collection of tickets, timetables, training certificates and uniforms from my time as a hostess. They hold such dear memories for me and really are very treasured possessions.”
England lose on penalties to Germany in the semi-finals and Gareth Southgate's long journey to redemption begins.
Are you a glutton for punishment? You can re-watch the highlights including the penalties here:
Matt and Gail Elwell met and fell in love on a coach journey from Torquay to Cardiff. Matt - a speech therapist - spoke the language of love to nurse Gail, and the two struck up an instant bond.
They swapped numbers and within a few months, Matt moved from Torquay to live with Gail and her children in Pontypridd.
They married in Lapland in 2006 and remain happily married today.
Transport has an important part to play in combating climate change. We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and have committed to making our coach fleet zero emission by 2035. Find out more about our vision to be the UK's most sustainable coach company on our environment page.
Our journey begins
The majority of scheduled coach services run by the National Bus Company are united under one brand, initially known as 'National'.
1972
National Express takes the stage
The now famous 'National Express' brand first makes an appearance.
1974
A summer scorcher
One of the hottest summers on record melts the asphalt on Britain's roads putting travellers in a sticky situation.
1976
Lovely Jubilee
The London Underground's Jubilee line is inaugurated. It commemorates the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 1977, after which the line was named.
1979
Rapide Starts
The first London Rapide Shuttle service, complete with onboard toilet, steward, and a service of snacks and hot and cold drinks, goes into operation.
1981
Band Aid blasts off
As our coaches deliver passengers to London in the winter of this year, pop stars gather in Notting Hill to form Band Aid.
1984
Faster than Halley's comet
Comet Halley reaches the closest point to the Earth, during its second visit to the solar system in the 20th century.
1986
Game on!
Nintendo releases the Game Boy across the world. It's soon a fixture in the hands of big and little kids, helping many a journey pass a little more quietly for many parents.
1989
We go public
National Express floated on the London Stock Exchange on 1st December 1992 for a price of 165p per share.
1992
Tunnel vision becomes a reality
The Channel Tunnel, a 51 km (32 mi) long tunnel beneath the English Channel from Dover to Calais, officially opens.
1994
It (almost) comes home
The country is gripped by football fever for Euro '96 with thousands of England and Scotland fans heading to Wembley on our coaches.
1996
Millennium Bug
Everyone worries about the Millennium Bug breaking technology across the world. Helpfully, the government sends every household a booklet called 'What everyone should know about the Millennium Bug'.
1999
Millennium celebrations
The world ushers in a new millennium and celebrations are held in living rooms, pubs, towns and cities across the globe.
2000
X Factor hits our screens
The biggest talent show of the noughties - X Factor - hits our screens.
2004
Improved accessibility
First Caetano Levante fully accessible coach is launched.
2006
Here we go!
The brand new Wembley Stadium is finished and we soon become its official coach service.
2007
A Fab opening
The new Birmingham coach station is officially opened by Fabio Capello.
2009
Running rings around the world
We take thousands of spectators to the hugely successful London Olympics. Team GB win 29 gold medals and Mo Farah's 'mobot' celebration sweeps playgrounds across the land.
2012
Equality in action
The first same-sex wedding takes place after a change in law in England and Wales.
2014
Fair pay all the way to Plymouth
Plymouth Coach Station opens and we become the first UK private transport group to become an accredited Living Wage Foundation employer.
2016
Comeback kids
Football fans are priced out of flights and hotels for Liverpool and Tottenham's Champions League Final clash. We arrange affordable return travel to Madrid, and the big match is back on!
2019
Irish times
Dublin Express launches with over 100 services a day connecting the airport to the city centre.
2020
Happy Birthday Victoria
Victoria Coach station celebrates 90 years of welcoming and seeing-off thousands of passengers every year. This iconic builidng has played a big part in our story since day one.
2022
Into the Future >
Going greener
National Express pledges for all coaches to be fully zero emission by 2035.
2035
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