National Express in talks to buy rival Stagecoach

The companies said the tie-up would make pre-tax cost savings of £35m per year

National Express has bus and coach operations in Britain, and in Ireland, it owns the Dublin Express coach link between the city centre and Dublin Airport.

British transport company National Express is in talks to acquire rival operator Stagecoach Group in an all-share deal, offering scope for cost savings and underpinning their recovery from the pandemic.

The tie-up, which would value Stagecoach at about £445m (€520m), comes as UK government support to help the companies get through the pandemic is due to expire.