The London-based company will add extra journeys on the London-Leicester corridor
Flixbus has announced that London-based operator Desi Coaches will join its network in mid-March as the travel company presses ahead with plans to double its UK network size this year. Desi Coaches will introduce additional daily journeys between Leicester and London, increasing the frequency on the route, with further increases planned for April to meet anticipated passenger demand ahead of the summer travel peak.
“Our growth strategy this year means onboarding ambitious operators like Desi to ensure we offer an optimised network, high frequencies and high quality options for our passengers,” said Andreas Schorling, FlixBus UK Managing Director. Two new Yutong GT12 vehicles will operate the new services, contributing to a total of more than 200 Flixbus vehicles that will be on the road by summer 2025.
Managing Director of Desi Coaches Nilesh Patel commented: “Flixbus has a highly impressive model, growing at a remarkable pace, and its impact on the UK coach market in just a few short years. We saw in Flixbus the opportunity to take our operations to the next level.
“Joining FlixBus will be a transformative opportunity for our business, allowing us to expand beyond our traditional audience and operate on a national scale, leveraging Flixbus’ innovative platform and popularity among travellers.” Desi Coaches was founded in 2011 by Nilesh Patel, and offers private hire coach services and school contract work. Based in Harrow, the company has traditionally focused on the London market.
Andreas added: “We are extremely optimistic about the market and the economic outlook for our network and partners, bringing sustainable and scalable growth opportunities to SMEs across the UK. We are redefining coach as the best way to travel, allowing the whole sector to thrive as a result.”
