NATIONAL Express have announced that they are to suspend its national network of scheduled coach services from this weekend.

The inter-regional coach operator say that it is “no longer appropriate” to continue their coach services and are to halt all travel on its services from 11.59pm on Sunday January 10, 2021.

National Express have said they intent to resume its service “as soon as the timing is right”, with a provisional restart date of Monday 1 March.

Chris Hardy, managing director of National Express UK Coach: “We have been providing an important service for essential travel needs.

“However, with tighter restrictions and passenger numbers falling, it is no longer appropriate to do this.”

All journeys before Monday January 11 will be completed to ensure any passengers making essential journeys are not stranded.

All customers whose travel has been cancelled will be contacted and offered a free amendment or full refund.

Chris Hardy added: “As the vaccination programme is rolled out and Government guidance changes, we will regularly review when we can restart services.

“We plan to be back on the road as soon as the timing is right and have put a provisional restart date of Monday 1 March in place (subject to change).

“The whole team at National Express worked incredibly hard throughout 2020 and I want to thank them for their efforts as we pause our services.

“We will now make sure we are ready to get back behind the wheel as soon as the nation needs us again.”

Regular updates will be provided through the National Express website, social media channels and customer emails.