31/01/2007

Responding to today’s Competition Commission announcement, a spokesman for the Stagecoach-Scottish Citylink joint venture, said: “We continue to fundamentally disagree with the Competition Commission’s enforced divestment of some services.

"There is no support in Scotland for these perverse proposals and the Commission is clearly a remote body that is out of step with public opinion.

“We hope that in this latest round of consultation the Commission will finally listen to the groundswell of opposition to its proposals from MSPs, local authorities, passengers and members of the public.

“The Commission’s plans will dismantle a high-quality, value-for money and integrated network and replace it with a disintegrated collection of routes to the detriment of customers who rely on lifeline inter-city coach services.”

ENDS

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