National Express Travels With Edgbaston

Warwickshire County Cricket Club has secured a new deal with travel firm, National Express, to become the official coach & bus travel partner to the club and Edgbaston Stadium until at least 2018.

From this coming cricket season, National Express West Midlands, which operates the region’s buses, will provide transport links from Birmingham New Street Station and a number of other city locations to Edgbaston on all major matchdays, including this summer’s Investec Ashes Test Match and NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day.

Return shuttle services will also operate for Birmingham Bears’ Friday night NatWest T20 Blast group games at Edgbaston.

In addition, the partnership includes a package for the Warwickshire and Birmingham Bears playing squad to travel to away fixtures in a special executive coach provided by National Express’s sister brand The Kings Ferry.

Gareth Roberts, commercial director at Warwickshire CCC, said: “The new partnership with National Express will make it easier than ever before for spectators to access Edgbaston, with an enhanced shuttle service running from Birmingham City Centre for Major Match and NatWest T20 Blast games.

“We’re constantly investing and looking at new ways of making the spectator experience at Edgbaston even more enjoyable. It’s great that National Express shares our vision and we look forward to working with them.”

Following the recent major match allocation from the ECB, Edgbaston will host an Investec Test Match each year until at least 2019, and NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day until 2018. Edgbaston will also host five matches, including a semi-final, in both the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 and the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019.

National Express West Midlands managing director Peter Coates commented: “We are thrilled to become the official travel partner of Warwickshire and Birmingham Bears. Based in the heart of Birmingham, National Express is perfectly positioned to carry fans directly and affordably to Edgbaston Stadium and our new shuttle service will make the big matches even more accessible.”