National Express suspends all coach services as third lockdown hits demand

National Express has revealed it is to suspend its entire national network of scheduled coach services due to the UK’s third national lockdown.

The company is one of two main long-distance coach operators in the UK. It said on Thursday that the suspension will come into effect from 11.59pm on Sunday.

Chris Hardy, managing director of National Express UK Coach: “We have been providing an important service for essential travel needs. “However, with tighter restrictions and passenger numbers falling, it is no longer appropriate to do this."

The firm said it will offer all customers whose travel has been cancelled the choice of a full refund, or a ticket change to a later day.

Hardy said that the suspension would be kept under “regular review” as the vaccination programme is rolled out and Government guidance changes.

The company put in a provisional restart date of March 1.

Tickets for the provisional re-start on March 1 are still on sale, but the company said this is under regular review and subject to change.