Bus Partnership With Centro

National Express Group PLC
23 August 2007


                           National Express Group PLC
         Signing of West Midlands Bus Partnership Agreement with Centro

National Express Group, one of the UK's leading bus operators, is pleased to
announce the signing of a new voluntary partnership agreement with Centro, the
West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, to further improve bus services in
the West Midlands. The agreement covers six key Travel West Midlands bus routes
within the West Midlands and focuses on a number of initiatives to encourage
further passenger growth.

The agreement will provide passengers with faster, cleaner and more frequent
services from October. In addition, selected routes will also see the
introduction of limited stop bus services to give passengers a fast express
service into Birmingham city centre whilst frequencies will be increased to cut
waiting times.

Commenting on the partnership agreement, Richard Bowker, Chief Executive of the
National Express Group, the parent company of Travel West Midlands, said 'We are
committed to improving the quality of bus services and transport more generally
within the West Midlands and believe that working in partnership we will be able
to deliver real benefits for passengers. Our aim is to make travel simpler. For
passengers this means better services including modern buses, clean buses,
improved reliability and increased security on-board. This partnership ensures
that we deliver these improvements whilst our partner, Centro, deliver the other
important parts of the equation - improved facilities, better information and
initiatives to improve the journey times of buses.'

Geoff Inskip, Chief Executive of Centro-WMPTA said: 'Passengers want more
frequent services that are safe, affordable, clean and accessible. Through this
partnership, we will work together to provide high quality services which should
enable us to grow patronage. Both Centro and TWM have made significant
commitments in the agreement announced today that once implemented should
encourage more people to travel by bus and lead to higher customer
satisfaction.'

                                     -Ends-


Notes to Editors

Passenger benefits will include:

• 51 new and refurbished buses;
• Real-time information provision at bus stops on the routes;
• Enhanced cleaning of buses, the removal of litter from buses during the day 
  and a dedicated cleaning team focused on ensuring vandalism and graffiti is 
  repaired within 24 hours of notification;
• Installation of 149 new bus shelters and refurbishment of remaining shelters;
• CCTV installed at key bus shelter locations to improve security;
• A new Passenger Charter setting out what customers can expect from the 
  improved services.

The partnership route will cover six key bus routes through Birmingham, Walsall
and West Bromwich:

• 1     Acocks Green - Moseley - Five Ways
• 377   Walsall - Sutton Coldfield
• 451   Sutton Coldfield - West Bromwich
• 934   City centre - Kingstanding - Pheasey - Doe Bank
• 993   City centre - Kingstanding - Streetly
• 997   City centre - Pheasey - Aldridge - Walsall


For further information, please contact:

Nicola Marsden/ Alison Flynn
National Express Group PLC             020 7529 2000

Suzanne Bartch/ Brian Hudspith
Maitland                               020 7379 5151





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