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LCR to Secure Bus Depots in Major Franchising Move

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Bus services across the Liverpool City Region are set for a major transformation, with plans for a fully publicly-run bus network moving forward at pace. The introduction of a franchised system will see services brought under public control for the first time in nearly 40 years, promising more frequent buses, better connections and improved infrastructure. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Franchising is Coming Sooner Than Planned You’ve probably heard about the move to bus franchising—where routes, fares and timetables will be planned by the public sector rather than private companies—but here’s what’s happening next. The first phase kicks off in St Helens and Wirral, with the new system up and running by September 2026. The whole region should be fully franchised by the end of 2027, a year ahead of schedule. Mayor Steve Rotheram, said: “Reliable, regular, and affordable buses are the backbone of a great public transport system. They connect people to work, education, and each ...
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FirstGroup Takes the Wheel at Matthews Coach Hire

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Exciting news from FirstGroup! They’ve just acquired Matthews Coach Hire, a family-owned coach and bus operator in Ireland with a solid reputation and over 40 vehicles to its name – including two shiny new electric coaches.

A white double-decker bus branded Matthews.ie is parked in an urban area with modern buildings and a church spire visible in the background. The sky is partly cloudy.
Matthews Coach Hire

Matthews, founded back in 1995, runs six key routes connecting the commuter hubs of Drogheda and Dundalk with Dublin. These routes are booming as the northeast of Dublin continues to grow. Along with their impressive fleet, FirstGroup has also snapped up Matthews' depot, conveniently positioned between Dublin and Belfast.

And the numbers speak for themselves: Matthews reported a tidy €8.8m in revenues and €1.2m in EBIT for the year leading up to August 2023.

This acquisition isn’t just about expanding the fleet. It’s a strategic move that complements FirstGroup’s existing Aircoach service, opening up new opportunities in Ireland’s non-airport commuter market and giving them a foothold in local B2B ventures.

Matthews’ leadership team isn’t going anywhere – they’ll stay on to manage the day-to-day, working alongside Kim Swan, Aircoach’s Managing Director, and the wider First Bus leadership team.

“The acquisition of Matthews Coach Hire, an established, profitable business builds on our recent strategic acquisitions in First Bus,” said Graham Sutherland, FirstGroup CEO. “It will complement our existing operations and allow us to expand our presence in the non-airport commuter and B2B markets in Ireland, and we look forward to taking the business forward.”

With this move, FirstGroup is setting itself up for even greater success in Ireland’s commuter and B2B sectors. Here’s to seeing what they’ll drive forward next!

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LCR to Secure Bus Depots in Major Franchising Move

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Bus services across the Liverpool City Region are set for a major transformation, with plans for a fully publicly-run bus network moving forward at pace. The introduction of a franchised system will see services brought under public control for the first time in nearly 40 years, promising more frequent buses, better connections and improved infrastructure. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Franchising is Coming Sooner Than Planned You’ve probably heard about the move to bus franchising—where routes, fares and timetables will be planned by the public sector rather than private companies—but here’s what’s happening next. The first phase kicks off in St Helens and Wirral, with the new system up and running by September 2026. The whole region should be fully franchised by the end of 2027, a year ahead of schedule. Mayor Steve Rotheram, said: “Reliable, regular, and affordable buses are the backbone of a great public transport system. They connect people to work, education, and each ...
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