National Express Offers Students a One Stop Campus Hop

National Express launches a 'Campus Hoppa' service for universities across the Midlands

The UK's number one coach operator, National Express, has further extended its services to the student market by introducing the new 'Campus Hoppa' service, which is being trialed at universities in the Midlands from the 12 October. If the trial is successful, universities across the country could soon expect to see the hassle-free service at their local campus.

The new 'Campus Hoppa' will operate a direct route between campuses in Birmingham, Nottingham, Loughborough and Leicester until the 2nd December. It aims to improve the flow of traffic in and around university campuses as well as provide students and staff with easily accessible transport at an affordable price.

"From our research, we discovered there was a growing need to cater for a high volume of movement by staff and students between local universities. With this new trial service it will be easy to board the coach directly on campus to then simply get off at the chosen university. Students will be able to experience different student unions and visit friends." said Ian McInnes, Strategic Planning Director for National Express.

The coach company is launching 'Campus Hoppa' from Friday 12 October to Sunday 2 December. The service will run twice daily on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for eight consecutive weekends and will include two stops in Birmingham, three in Nottingham, one in Loughborough and two in Leicester. The Campus Hopper is designed to be better value and quicker than getting the bus, taxi or train. For example, travelling from University of Birmingham to Nottingham Trent, Clifton Campus by bus and train would take 122 minutes and cost £18.60, the Campus Hoppa takes 85 minutes and costs just £11. (Based on average cost - see notes to editors)

"This new service is an excellent initiative by National Express and will no doubt prove popular with students and staff." said Aniete Islong, Marketing Manager of the student union at the University of Leicester.

This new initiative is part of National Express' campaign targeting the student market, which includes a major advertising, marketing and PR campaign to promote its £1 funfares. The company is also investing in other initiatives throughout the academic year, including appointing 'student brand ambassadors'.

The 'Campus Hoppa' serves the University of Birmingham, Aston University, Nottingham Trent University, University of Nottingham, Loughborough University, De Montfort University and the University of Leicester.

For more details of the 'Campus Hoppa' routes and fares visit http://www.nationalexpress.com/destinations/campus_hoppa.cfm.

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact (MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY):

Sara Jenkins, Beth Zaltzman or Nicola Walker, IAS Smarts: 0121 456 3199
Joy Williams, National Express: 0121 423 8716

Notes to editors:

Tickets can be bought online at www.nationalexpress.com. Customers can request to have their ticket emailed to them or sent by text message (the customer then shows either the printed email or text message to the driver when boarding the coach).
Alternatively customers can ring 08717 818 181 (effective from 1 October) to purchase tickets.
Note: customers will be unable to buy tickets directly from the driver. If they wish to purchase a ticket at short notice, then each stop will have the ticket hotline number displayed, which customers can ring and then be sent a ticket by text message.