FlixBus and Transport Made Simple partner up
A new partnership between FlixBus and Transport Made Simple (TMS), formerly known as Vectare, has been revealed.
TMS is to add five new FlixBus specification Yutong GT12 coaches to the network, with its first routes due to go live in mid-April.
“We identified that express coach services were the obvious next phase of growth for TMS” – Peter Nathanail, Managing Director of Transport Made Simple
Peter Nathanail, Managing Director of Transport Made Simple, said: “We identified that express coach services were the obvious next phase of growth for TMS, and FlixBus was the standout option for our ambitious and tech-driven team.
“Joining FlixBus as an operator provides high-quality, year-round stability, adding a valuable dimension to our rapidly developing portfolio. We advocate for a multimodal approach to transport, so we’re looking forward to connecting coach services to some of the many local bus services we offer.”
“Joining FlixBus as an operator provides high-quality, year-round stability” – Peter Nathanail
Founded by university friends Peter Nathanail and Dominic Kalantary as Vectare, TMS has experienced extraordinary growth since launch in 2016, and now operates 200 vehicles.
“It’s easy to see a synergy between our companies as young, growing businesses with a digital-first strategy” – Andreas Schörling, Managing Director of FlixBus UK
Andreas Schörling, Managing Director of FlixBus UK, commented: “Transport Made Simple has a forward-thinking approach to coach and bus travel, utilising advanced technology solutions to develop an exceptional group of transport businesses in a very short space of time. It’s easy to see a synergy between our companies as young, growing businesses with a digital-first strategy.”
The partnership with FlixBus has been enabled by the recent expansion of the TMS Group, including the acquisition of Simonds, based in Diss, Norfolk, which has a 96-year history of operating high-quality coach services.
Operations will also be run by the Nottingham depot of Transport Made Simple’s Central Connect division, which delivers school and local bus services across the East Midlands, Essex and Hertfordshire.
“The addition of TMS as an ambitious, innovative operator can only accelerate our mission to build the largest coach network in the country, as we double in size this year. This growth, alongside our positive outlook, is set to position us for market leadership in the industry,” Schorling concluded.