07/10/2008

• Almost 30,000 passengers used Bayfast service during trial
• Pilot results show potential for permanent fast ferry service

Stagecoach's fast ferry pilot in the south west of England proved to be a huge success with almost 30,000 passengers using the service during the four-week trial period.

The results of the pilot – which took place between 29 August and 28 September –have shown great potential for a permanent fast ferry service to be introduced in the future.

The £200,000 Bayfast-branded fast ferry operated across Torbay between Torquay and Brixham in Devon and provided up to 15 quarter-hour return trips a day. This offered a significant improvement to journey times between the two locations and proved to be extremely popular with commuter and leisure passengers.

Stagecoach currently provides the only public transport link between Torquay and Brixham – a bus service which carries 4.5million passengers a year. However, due to road congestion, the journey time by bus is 42minutes and can rise to up to 90minutes in the summer tourist season.

The fast ferry pilot was delivered in partnership with Torbay Council and existing harbour facilities were used at Torquay and Brixham to accommodate the 138-seat catamaran.

Brian Souter, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group, said the results showed that people in the area had embraced the new transport link but he added that further partnership working would be required to ensure the introduction of a permanent service.

He said: "These passenger numbers show that the trial was a big hit among commuters and tourists in Torbay and it's extremely encouraging to see that so many people were willing to try a new mode of transport. After the first week, the number of passengers increased dramatically as word about the service spread and people realised the fast ferry is up to six times faster than current land-based alternatives. It's also a greener, smarter travel option than the car.

"The challenge now is to look at the possibility of introducing a permanent fast ferry service in the area. To do that would require strong partnership working and investment in the harbour infrastructure at both Torquay and Brixham to accommodate the craft on a permanent basis. However, all that is possible and we will now consider the best way to take this forward."

Passengers weren't the only ones to benefit from the trial as local businesses reported dramatic increases in sales and footfall.

One Brixham fish shop owner said he'd had a "terrific September thanks to the Bayfast ferry".

Joe Cloutman, Chair of Brixham Chamber of Commerce, said: "On every occasion that I can recall discussing transport issues for Brixham, the option of improving access by sea has always been raised. At last we have trialled a regular, fast link between Torquay and Brixham, in line with this policy.

"I hope that the trial has been of sufficient reward to Stagecoach to make it worthy of a permanent service, in some form, in future years."

Pauline Copik, of Gundry Ships Chandlers in Brixham, added: "A lot of people came to Brixham from Torquay who would not normally come because of the difficult road journey so our shop benefited. I would also use the ferry to shop in Torquay as the parking costs are so high."

Mayor of Torbay Nick Bye said: "The popularity of the ferry during the four-week trial proved to be a huge boost to the Bay's economy contributing to a September spending spree in the town, equivalent to a small cruise ship every day of the week."

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• A total of 29,800 passengers used the fast-ferry during the trial period.
• The Bayfast service was operated using a 32-metre 138-seat RedJet 1 catamaran, on charter from Southampton-based company Red Funnel.
• Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport company with bus and rail operations in the UK and North America. The Group employs around 30,000 people and runs around 12,000 buses and trains.
• In Devon, Stagecoach employs more than 900 people and operates around 300 buses in and around Exeter, Torbay, Newton Abbot, Barnstaple, Bideford, Exmouth, and Sidmouth.
• A photo of the fast ferry is available on request.

For further information contact:

Lindsay Reid
Corporate Communications Manager
Stagecoach Group
10 Dunkeld Road
Perth
PH1 5TW
Phone: 01738 442111
Fax: 01738 443076
Mobile: 07500 446896
email: lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com