(27/11/05)
Coach Operator launches challenge to First Scotrail as inter-city travellers get real alternative to the train

Inter-city coach services are to challenge the train across Scotland from tomorrow (28 November 2005) as passengers benefit from more frequent services, faster journey times and excellent value fares.

The improved services follow the creation in September of a joint venture by transport groups Stagecoach and ComfortDelGro to operate the Scottish services of megabus.com, Motorvator, and Scottish Citylink.

The company hopes the new and more competitive coach services will also help to cut congestion by attracting Scots motorists out of their cars.

Passengers taking the coach will benefit from:

• Services up to every 10 minutes at peak times on the key Edinburgh-Glasgow commuter route – beating First ScotRail’s timetable of trains every 15 minutes – with four coaches an hour during the rest of the day.
• New faster services linking Aberdeen and Inverness with Glasgow and Edinburgh
• Hourly fast services linking Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth park and ride and Glasgow
• Hourly fast connections between Perth Park and Ride and Edinburgh
• Fast services every two hours linking Inverness and Edinburgh
• Simplified timetables with standard hourly services linking Dundee, Perth, Stirling, Cumbernauld and Glasgow.
• Hourly standard services between Perth, Milnathort, Kinross, Dunfermline and Edinburgh
• Standard services every two hours on the Inverness-Pitlochry-Perth-Edinburgh route
• Guaranteed seats compared to overcrowded peak time trains
• Seat prices up to 300% cheaper than the train
• The flexible option of web and phone booking or walk-on fares

Tom Wileman, Managing Director of the joint venture, said: “This is the biggest improvement to inter-city coach services in years and marks the return of the coach as a real alternative to the train in Scotland.

“For too long many commuters have had to choose between expensive train services and the stress of driving on congested roads as they make the daily trip to and from work.

“By offering a simpler timetable and faster, more frequent journeys, with excellent value-for-money fares, we believe the coach can compete head on with the train and the car. The big test for First Scotrail is whether they are up to the challenge and are prepared to cut their ticket prices to give customers the kind of low-cost fares our coach passengers will enjoy as standard.”