The Anonymous Widower

FirstGroup Adds Leeds-based J&B Travel To Growing Coach Portfolio

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Route One.

These two paragraphs add more detail.

J&B Travel of Leeds is the latest coach business to be acquired by FirstGroup.

The operator, which has been established for more than 40 years, has a fleet of 15 vehicles, with work including home-to-school, private hire and FlixBus contracts.

 

But in some ways, the most significant thing not mentioned is that FirstGroup have now acquired seven coach firms.

• AndersonTravel in London
• EnsignBus in London
• J & B Travel in Leeds
• Matthews Coaches in County Monaghan, Ireland
• Tetley’s Coaches in Leeds
• York Pullman in Harrogate, Hull, Leeds and York

Note.

1. MatthewsCoaches are about halfway between Dublin and Belfast.
2. Three of the English acquisitions are in Yorkshire and two are in London.
3. Leeds isn’t far off being halfway between London and Central Scotland.

This looks like the first part of a master plan.

• Leeds and County Monaghan could be ideal refuelling points for zero-carbon coaches.
• Ferrybridge, just South of Leeds is getting a hydrogen-fired power station.
• Ferrybridge is a big site with a motorway service station on the M1.
• Wrightbus are building an electrolyser at Ballymena, which is 81 miles from Matthews Coaches.
• Wrightbus have said that Dublin and Cork would be an ideal route for a hydrogen coach.
• Wrightbus have said that Heathrow and Gatwick would be an ideal route for a hydrogen coach.

This plan could be built-on with routes to various cities and attractions.

I have some further sorts and questions.

Could The First Obvious Routes Be Run By Hydrogen Coaches?

From what Wrightbus have indicated, I would rate the obvious routes as.

• Dublin and Belfast – 103 miles or 206 miles round trip
• Dublin and Cork – 107 miles or 340 miles round trip
• Leeds and Glasgow – 224 miles or 448 miles round trip
• Leeds and Edinburgh – 222 miles or 444 miles round trip
• Leeds and London – 197 miles or 396 miles round trip

Note.

The longest route is 714.5 km.

It would appear that, if the hydrogen-powered coach had a range of 1,000 km. all routes would be possible.

December 30, 2025 Posted by AnonW | Design, Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | Belfast, Coaches, Dublin, Dublin And Belfast Coach Service, Dublin And Cork Coach Service, First Bus, FirstGroup, Hydrogen-Fired Power Station, Hydrogen-Powered Coaches, Leeds, London, London And Leeds Coach Service, London And Scotland Coach Service, M1 Motorway, Wrightbus Contour Coach, Wrightbus Hydrogen-Powered Coach | Leave a comment