11/08/2006

Responding to today’s Competition Commission announcement Tom Wilemen, Managing Director of the Stagecoach-Scottish Citylink joint venture, said:

“We are disappointed at the provisional findings of the Competition Commission.

“It is a bizarre decision, which is out of step with the majority of evidence presented to the Commission by a range of independent parties.

“While we welcome the Commission’s findings on the Edinburgh-Glasgow corridor, they have completely misunderstood the inter-city transport market in the rest of Scotland.

“We feel the findings are also inconsistent with a number of previous Competition Commission inquiries into the Scottish public transport market.

“The fact is that the joint venture has delivered the biggest improvement to the inter-city coach network in Scotland in decades, offering better links, faster services, and value-for money fares.

“It has signalled the return of the coach as a real alternative to the train. It also supports Government moves to tackle congestion and make public transport a viable and attractive option for motorists.

“Coach travel is a real lifeline for thousands of pensioners, students and tourists. The remedies being considered by the Commission could put the future of coach services in Scotland at serious risk.

“We are seeking an urgent meeting with the Competition Commission to discuss its report and we will provide a detailed response to the Commission in due course.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Steve Stewart, Head of Media and Public Affairs, Stagecoach Group
Tel: 01738 442111 or Mobile: 07764 774680

NOTES TO EDITORS

On 12 September 2005, a new joint venture was created to operate the Scottish services of Stagecoach’s megabus.com and Motorvator, and Braddell PLC’s Scottish Citylink.

Stagecoach acquired 35% of the share capital of Scottish Citylink Limited (“Citylink”) in return for transferring certain rights to the Motorvator and megabus.com operations in Scotland. Braddell PLC owns the remaining 65% of Citylink’s share capital.

The joint venture operates services under the megabus.com and Scottish Citylink brands, and is the leading provider of express coach services in Scotland.