04/02/2008

Scottish Citylink Coaches Limited, a joint venture between international transport group ComfortDelGro and Stagecoach, today (4 February 2008) confirmed it has completed the divestment of a proportion of its inter-city coach services in Scotland.

A number of Saltire Cross services - which link Aberdeen, Glasgow, Inverness and Edinburgh - have been sold to Parks of Hamilton (Coach Hirers) Limited.

The divestment follows the Competition Commission's confirmation in May 2007 of its earlier ruling in October 2006 that some services on the Saltire Cross network should be divested.

Scottish Citylink is the leading provider of express coach services in Scotland, linking around 200 towns and cities and carrying more than 3 million passengers a year.

Stagecoach owns 35% of the share capital of Scottish Citylink Coaches Limited and ComfortDelGro owns the remaining 65%.

Tom Wileman, Managing Director of Scottish Citylink Coaches Limited, said: "We are pleased that the agreement allows customers to access and book the full range of Scottish inter-city coach services through the citylink.co.uk and megabus.com websites and to benefit from an integrated timetable.

"Coach travel is growing as motorists and other passengers are attracted by better connections and faster and more regular services. We look forward to welcoming even more customers to our package of high-quality and excellent value travel in the future."

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Steven Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications
Stagecoach Group
Tel: 01738 442111 or mobile 07764 774680
email: steven.stewart@stagecoachgroup.com

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, a subsidiary of ComfortDelGro, 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.