Edwards Coaches marks centenary with £1.7m investment in new bus fleet
Edwards Coaches marks centenary with £1.7m investment in new bus fleet
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Wales’ largest independent travel operator, Edwards Coaches, is celebrating 100 years in business with the launch of seven brand-new local service buses as part of a £1.7m fleet investment.
The new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC vehicles increase the company’s local service fleet to 15 permanent buses, strengthening its network across key communities in south Wales.
The Pontypridd-based operator said the expansion underlined its long-term commitment to providing safe, modern and comfortable transport as demand for reliable public travel continues to grow.
Each of the vehicles has been finished in a refreshed version of Edwards’ signature metallic blue livery, developed by Jump-On Marketing and applied by Pontypridd firm D&S Signs. The buses are branded for high-frequency local routes 90, 100 and 400 to ensure strong visibility across the network.
In a creative touch designed to reflect local character, each bus welcomes passengers with a regional greeting displayed at the entrance. One serving Rhondda Cynon Taf features the familiar “Hiya Butt,” celebrating community identity in one of Edwards’ core operating areas.
The fully accessible vehicles include next-stop audio announcements, high-back seating with seatbelts and USB charging points. CCTV has been installed throughout by Coachtek to enhance passenger safety.
The seven additions follow a series of earlier fleet upgrades made during the company’s centenary year. These include two new Mercedes-Benz Tourismos for its tour fleet, one showcasing a commemorative centenary crest. A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter EVM Cityline has also joined the fleet to support local routes 105, 107 and 109 around Pontypridd.
Alongside these, the company introduced a dual-branded Edwards National Express Caetano Levante 3A coach, reinforcing its long-standing partnership with National Express, and an executive 33-seat Ilesbus Glance that offers enhanced comfort for smaller group travel.
Founded in 1925, Edwards Coaches has grown over five generations from a local family business into one of the most recognised travel operators in the UK, providing coach holidays, tours, school transport and scheduled local bus services.
The company said this series of centenary investments demonstrates its ongoing focus on quality, safety and customer experience as it plans for the years ahead.
The new buses will be placed into service immediately across Rhondda Cynon Taf, Cardiff and surrounding areas, supporting local connectivity as Edwards marks a century on the road.
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