First Bus joins forces with FlixBus to launch new routes across UK on May 15
A new era of affordable, sustainable travel begins with 21 new coaches operating across eight major UK routes.
Leading UK bus operator First Bus and global travel tech leader FlixBus are proud to announce the launch of their coach services in partnership on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
The first service left Slough depot earlier today on its maiden journey serving customers on the new route for the first time.
This milestone marks the beginning of a long-term, five-year partnership aimed at expanding sustainable, high-quality long-distance coach travel options across the country.
The first phase of the partnership will see 21 brand-new Yutong GT12 vehicles hitting the roads, operating eight routes that connect key destinations across England, including enhanced services in Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, and the South West.
Services will be operated from First Bus depots in Bath, Bristol, Slough, Taunton, Truro, Weston-super-Mare, and Yorkshire.
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director, Business to Business at First Bus, said: “This partnership marks a significant step in our ambition to grow and diversify the First Bus business.
"We’re excited to bring high-quality, long-distance travel to more passengers and contribute to building a greener, more connected UK. Our new FlixBus routes have created 70 new jobs, expanded our reach and further strengthened our role in the express coach market.”
The collaboration is part of FlixBus’ rapid expansion strategy in the UK. Since launching in 2021, the company has served more than five million passengers and plans to double its UK network by the end of summer 2025, reaching over 200 vehicles in operation.
Andreas Schorling, Managing Director of FlixBus UK, said: “As one of the country’s most respected operators, it is fantastic to welcome First Bus on to our network marking another key milestone in the FlixBus growth journey as we head towards market leadership.
“Our industry leading TrustPilot score is made possible by operators with exceptional quality, like First Bus. and we are already seeing a huge buzz around the services from passengers.”
All services are fully branded in FlixBus livery and operated by uniformed drivers trained to deliver FlixBus’ renowned customer experience, as. First Bus are managing all staffing and vehicle operations, while FlixBus will handle customer booking, digital ticketing, and nationwide marketing efforts.
Coach travel remains an essential part of the UK economy. A 2024 KPMG report commissioned by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) found that one additional coach visiting a destination daily can generate £1 million in annual economic value.
ENDS
Pictured: The first service leaving from Slough depot on May 15
Notes to editors
About First Bus
At First Bus, we’re on a mission to grow bus usage – so we’ll get behind initiatives that move people out of cars and onto the bus.
We’re one of the UK’s largest bus operators, transporting more than a million customers a day. We serve over 20% of the population of Great Britain with our local bus services, and over half of the UK’s top 15 most populated urban areas.
Transforming our business for the better, we’re putting our people and customers at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we’re the UK’s largest national bus operator to achieve real Living Wage employer status, cementing our position as an employer of choice in the sector.
We’re all about making journeys easier for our customers, which is why we were the first national bus operator to roll out Tap On, Tap Off payment technology across our entire fleet of around 4,500 buses. Our First Bus app has also been voted ‘best in class’ amongst UK bus operators.
First Bus is committed to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. We already operate over 600 zero-emission buses.
We’re passionate about giving back to the communities we serve, which is why we’re helping local businesses to progress their own decarbonisation journeys – giving them access to our charging hubs while our buses are on the road.
We also operate the Aircoach network in Ireland, Specialist Passenger Solutions, First Travel Solutions, York Pullman Bus Company and Ensignbus. First Bus is a division of FirstGroup.
Find more information on our website here: https://news.firstbus.co.uk/