National Express thrives despite dip after terror attacks

National Express, the bus and train operator, has reported a sharp fall in coach travellers in April in the aftermath of the Brussels attacks.

The group said that trade took a hit but advanced bookings for coaches were now recovering and passenger volumes on coaches rose by 6% across the first quarter.

The impact of the attacks did not hold the transport group back as it reported an 11% increase in revenues, thanks to the start of new rail operations in Germany.

Even without the new contracts, revenue increased by 4% in the first quarter, ahead of the 3.8% achieved in the whole of 2015.

National Express said the strong first quarter numbers validated its decision to seek certain overseas contracts. The company already transports six million Germans from Bonn and Cologne and is expanding in Bahrain.

Boss Dean Finch said: “It is these successes that convince us that our strategy of diversification into new markets in a measured way, when the conditions are right, remains the right one.”