CPT throws centenary celebration for Edwards

Edwards Coaches has marked its centenary with a celebratory event thrown by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).

The family-owned operator employs around 500 people and has a fleet of more than 200 vehicles. It has a broad work portfolio from local bus services, home to school transport, private hires, corporate contracts as well as its own impressive programme of UK and European holidays.

Based in Llantrisant, Edwards’ is the largest National Express Partner Operator in the UK. It runs the franchise’s coach services in and out of Wales as well as its depot in Avonmouth, Bristol.

Edwards was granted its first operator licence from Pontypridd Urban District Council 100 years ago this May. The business began with charabancs transporting day-trippers to the seaside, the races and to the market town of Pontypridd.

Aaron Hill, Director of CPT Cymru, joined Edwards’ chairman and proprietor, Mike Edwards, and guests to sample a birthday cake at the company’s depot today.

“Edwards embodies the entrepreneurialism of the coach industry. It is a family business that has prospered over the decades by offering a first-class service to schoolchildren, holidaymakers and day trippers alike,” said Aaron Hill. “Coaches are a tremendously important part of the public transport network – a single coach arriving in a town once a day can deliver £1 million of economic value over the course of a year.”

Mike Edwards said: “It is unequivocal that a lot has changed in the world and in our industry over the past 100 years. But fundamentally, we’re doing exactly the same job we did a hundred years ago – moving people from A to B and back again. We are proud to continue to serve our communities and look forward to what the next 100 years will bring.”

• Edwards is holding a Centenary Open Day at its Llantrisant depot on 3 August 2025.