New luxury coach route to launch in Scotland

09 Jul 2013

•New 'Gold' services to launch between Edinburgh and Aberdeen
•Tickets now on sale at www.megabus.com

Stagecoach has announced that it is to launch a new luxury coach service in Scotland.

From 19 July, a new Citylink Gold service will operate - on state-of-the-art vehicles - between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, with four departures in each direction Monday to Saturday and three services each way on Sundays. Most services will also call at Ferrytoll Park&Ride, Kinross Park&Ride, Perth Broxden and Dundee.

The new route is being operated through Scottish Citylink, a joint venture between Stagecoach and international transport group ComfortDelGro. Tickets for the new services can be booked at www.megabus.com

The services will operate on state-of-the-art coaches which boast luxury leather seats, power sockets, free Wi-Fi and a toilet. The specially designed vehicles have 54 seats.

Customer service hosts will provide passengers with first-class at-seat rail-style service, with complimentary hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and snacks.

The launch follows the success of the existing Citylink Gold services which link Glasgow with Aberdeen and Inverness.

Elizabeth Esnouf, Managing Director of Stagecoach's UK Coach division said: "Our current Citylink Gold services in Scotland have proved extremely popular so we are delighted to be expanding the network. This new link between Edinburgh and Aberdeen will provide customers with a new luxury travel option.

"More and more people are making coach travel their number one transport choice. These new services offer a comfortable and stress-free journey that takes passengers right to the heart of the city and lets them enjoy luxury travel at affordable prices."

Scottish Citylink launched its existing Citylink Gold services in 2010. Research carried out in 2011 showed that, during the first year of operation, 36% of passengers previously travelled by car, with 31% previously taking the train.

The survey showed that 94% of customer said that Citylink Gold offered value for money while nine out of 10 passengers were satisfied/very satisfied with the punctuality of the service.

For further information about the new services or to book tickets visit www.megabus.com or by www.citylink.co.uk

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact: Stagecoach Group Communications on 01738 442111 or email: media@stagecoachgroup.com

Notes to Editors:

All bookings are subject to a 50pence booking fee

More information on the 2011 Citylink Gold customer research can be found at http://www.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2011/2011-07-07-a.aspx

STAGECOACH GROUP

•Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The Group employs around 35,000 people, and operates bus, coach, train, and tram services.
•Stagecoach is one of UK's biggest bus and coach operators with around 8,000 buses and coaches. Around 2.5 million passengers travel on Stagecoach's buses every day on a network stretching from south-west England to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The Group's business includes major city bus operations in London, Liverpool, Newcastle, Hull, Manchester, Oxford, Sheffield and Cambridge. Low-cost coach service, megabus.com, operates between around 60 towns and cities across the UK.
•Stagecoach is a major UK rail operator, running the South West Trains, Island Line and East Midlands Trains networks. It has a 49% shareholding in Virgin Rail Group, which operates the West Coast inter-city rail franchise.
•Stagecoach also operates the Supertram light rail network in Sheffield.
•In North America, Stagecoach operates around 2,900 buses and coaches in the United States and Canada. Megabus.com serves more than 100 cities in North America. Stagecoach is also involved in operating commuter and transit services, contracted bus services, charters, sightseeing tours and a small number of school bus services.

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