National Express gets boost from coach, school bus ops

National Express, which operates coach services in Yorkshire, said it expected passenger revenue to continue to grow in its bus and coach divisions in 2012, and raised its final dividend by 8.3 per cent.

The company’s full-year pretax profit was £180.2m, up from £160.5m a year ago.

Revenue rose five per cent to £2.24bn.

Higher cost of fuel and motoring and rising car park fees in city centres was benefitting National Express as more people were using public transport.

National Express’s North America revenue jumped five per cent in 2011 as budget constraints at U.S. schools encouraged the use of outsourced bus operations.

In 2011, the company had offered to buy U.S. student bus company Petermann Partners for $200m to boost its market share.

National Express said it was in advanced discussions with regulators regarding antitrust approval and expected to close the deal in the first half of 2012.

Its UK coach business, which provides airport, long-haul and commuter services, saw revenue grow four per cent as people preferred coaches to expensive rail travel.