All aboard for London as McGill’s expands
Bus company McGill’s is set to expand cross-border services in collaboration with a London-based coach firm.
The Renfrewshire company will extend their partnership with long distance outfit Flixbus - the UK arm of US-based FlixMobility.
McGill’s - which has depots in Inchinnan and Johnstone, as well as Dundee and Coatbridge - currently runs FlixBus services from London to Glasgow, via cities such as Sheffield, Sunderland, Newcastle and Edinburgh.
But it is set to branch out and add additional services between London and Scotland, including those via cities in the north west of England, ahead of what they anticipate will be increased summer demand.
The companies originally teamed up in June and will now run services between Manchester and Glasgow, calling at Preston and Lancaster, ten times a week.
Operators say the new route will also provide additional connections to Birmingham and improve access to Scotland, alongside the west coast of England.
FlixBus , which launched in 2020, is a travel tech company which boasts of a “unique”business model and of offering new alternatives for convenient, affordable and environmentally-friendly journeys across the UK and into Europe.
Andreas Schorling, managing director of FlixBus UK, said:“McGill’s has been a consistently strong partner, with their driving team delivering a solid, high quality service.
“This new route marks a significant milestone in our relationship and cements
The new route marks a significant milestone in our relationship
our commitment to Scottish-based coach travel.”
McGill’s, the largest privately-owned bus company in the UK, operates a number of routes in Renfrewshire.
The operators share a vision for more sustainable coach travel and claim to be Scotland’s largest operator of electric, zero emission buses.
Colin Napier, operations director at McGill’s, said:“Our first long-distance routes, in partnership with FlixBus, have proved to be a terrific success, with passenger numbers and feedback both being very positive.
“That is testament to the quality service being provided by team members and we’re excited to be able to expand the routes offered.
“Working in partnership with FlixBus has proved even more fruitful than we could have anticipated.
“Their bold growth targets and sustainable values align directly with ours, and we’re looking forward to being a key partner on the FlixBus network as passenger numbers continue to grow.”
Flixbus claims to have established Europe’s largest coach network and launched the first green long-distance trains in 2018, as well as a fleet of all-electric coaches.
Its parent company launched FlixBus USA and Canada in 2018.
FlixBus scheduled services and green FlixBus fleet is managed by long-term bus operator partners.
McGill’s is overseen by directors including James and Alexander Easdale.