Mobico, the transport giant formerly known as National Express, has found itself at the heart of a heated debate in Brighton, even as it celebrates a year of impressive financial growth and strategic transformation. The group’s recent results for 2025 show a company forging ahead internationally, but local challenges in the UK—especially in Brighton—highlight the complexities of adapting to changing city landscapes and resident demands.
Last week, Brighton and Hove City Council announced new coach parking facilities on Stroudley Road, near Brighton Station. This move came after mounting complaints from residents at Old Steine, a central Brighton location that’s long served as a major coach stop. According to the council, the aim was to alleviate noise and congestion at Old Steine, which had become a flashpoint following the devastating Royal Albion fire and the ongoing Valley Gardens regeneration project. These events forced the National Express coach station to relocate from Pool Valley to various bus stops around Old Steine, much to the frustration of local residents.
Gary Farmer, a long-term Brighton resident and former chair of the Brighton Reform group, described the transformation candidly. He recalled that Old Steine was once just a stop for “two or three” local bus routes. But after the fire, “coaches are continuing to use the Old Steine location,” he said, noting that the new Stroudley Road stop “is not a solution.” Farmer reported being told that “there is no intention” for coaches to move to Stroudley Road, citing increased journey times and costs as key obstacles.
National Express, now operating under the Mobico banner, confirmed these operational concerns. A company spokeswoman explained, “We continue to work closely with Brighton & Hove City Council as changes to coach facilities are implemented across the city. While we welcome the new provision at Stroudley Road, operational requirements mean some services are not yet able to relocate, and we will continue to serve customers from Old Steine until further notice. Our focus remains on maintaining convenient and reliable services and we will keep working with the council as arrangements evolve.”
Brighton and Hove City Council, for its part, insists it is committed to resolving the issue. Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet Member for Transport and City Infrastructure, stated, “We’re keen for National Express and FlixBus to begin using the new provision in Stroudley Road for their services as soon as possible. This is a major step toward developing a much-needed transport hub in the city centre. We will continue to work with operators to make this happen.”
The new coach parking on Stroudley Road, installed by the council, is intended to relieve pressure on Old Steine and help shape a modern transport hub for Brighton. Yet, as of late February 2026, coaches have not relocated, and the status quo remains. Community reactions have been mixed. Some residents support the council’s efforts to reduce noise and congestion, while others argue that the new site is simply too inconvenient for both operators and passengers.
Community group Brighton Buswatch weighed in on the ongoing dispute, recognizing the “very complicated and concerning situation regarding coaches in Brighton.” The group welcomed the new facilities at Stroudley Road, expressing hope that “scheduled coach services can use this in short order (whilst still serving Old Steine) for the benefit of customers and continuity.” Yet, Buswatch also stressed the need to retain Pool Valley as a coach facility in some form, to further relieve pressure on Old Steine and the seafront. “We must not forget the importance of coaches for tourism in Brighton and with National Express and Flixbus under our remit, we recognize the importance of these routes to Brighton,” the group said.
The local row comes at a time of major transformation for Mobico itself. The company’s latest financial results, released for the twelve months ending December 31, 2025, paint the picture of a business on the move—literally and figuratively. Mobico reported a 6% increase in revenue, reaching £2.76 billion, and a 9% rise in adjusted operating profit to £198 million, surpassing recent guidance. This strong performance was attributed in part to robust trading in Spain and the launch of the company’s ‘Simplify for Success’ cost program.
Mobico’s Spanish arm, Alsa, stood out with a record performance, delivering a 12% revenue jump to £1.49 billion. Meanwhile, the group’s UK and Germany revenues dipped by 2.1%, a decline attributed to increased competition on key coach routes. Across the Atlantic, Mobico’s US subsidiary WeDriveU secured significant university shuttle contracts, with operating profit rising in the second half of 2025 despite challenges with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) contract.
Phil White, Mobico Group Executive Chairman, summarized the year’s progress: “Mobico delivered further growth in 2025 and meaningful strategic progress, with Alsa achieving another record year of double-digit revenue growth. This offset a challenging trading environment in the UK and operational issues with the WMATA contract in WeDriveU, for which resolution plans are now in progress.” White emphasized the company’s ongoing transformation under the ‘Simplify, Strengthen, Succeed’ strategy, noting, “Most notably, we announced in January an agreement in principle had been reached with the German Rail PTAs which delivers a sustainable business going forwards. UK Coach is also now largely integrated into Alsa which will reduce overheads and realign the business to a more competitive environment. Together with our other initiatives, we expect to deliver £100m of annualised cost savings for the Group by the end of 2026. As a result of these efforts, we expect further growth and progress in 2026 with Adjusted Operating Profit in the range of £195m – £210m.”
However, statutory operating profit fell to £21.9 million from £34 million in 2024, impacted by £176.1 million in one-off adjusting items. These included £52.4 million in contract provisions at WeDriveU and £27.3 million related to changes in Morocco. Despite these headwinds, Mobico remains optimistic, forecasting adjusted operating profit for 2026 between £195 million and £210 million and targeting £100 million in annualized cost savings by year-end 2026.
The Brighton coach parking saga, while local in scale, offers a window into the broader challenges facing transport providers as they balance operational efficiency, customer service, and community impact. As Mobico’s financial results show, the group is adept at navigating change on a global scale. Yet, the situation in Brighton reveals that even the most successful companies must grapple with the realities of local infrastructure, resident concerns, and the ever-shifting needs of cities and travelers alike.
As the council, operators, and community groups continue their discussions, Brighton’s experience may serve as a test case for other cities wrestling with the competing demands of growth, convenience, and quality of life. For now, the coaches remain at Old Steine, the debate rolls on, and Mobico’s journey—both in Brighton and beyond—continues to unfold.