Is it a bus, is it a train? No, it's supercoach

Published on Monday 5 July 2010 18:00

WITH the promise of cramped seats, stale sandwiches and broken air conditioning, the long-distance coach journey has never been the most comfortable way to travel.

• One of the new coaches on show in Glasgow yesterday. Picture: Complimentary

Now, a new service is attempting to shake up the experience with what promises to be the most luxurious commercial fleet of coaches in Britain, rivalling trains for speed.

Citylink Gold will offer non-stop travel between Glasgow and Aberdeen, with complimetary snacks and drinks on coaches that have leather seats, mahogany table trays and free wifi.

A second route will link Glasgow and Inverness, with a single stop in Aviemore.

The services, from next Monday, are primarily aimed at business travellers who currently drive or take the train, especially those forced out of their first-class seats by shrinking corporate travel budgets.

Citylink Gold's average fares will undercut first-class train tickets, while journey times are on a par with rail.

Scottish Citylink, jointly owned by Perth-based Stagecoach and Singapore transport group ComfortDelGro, said the pilot could be extended to cities such as Edinburgh if successful.

Stagecoach chief executive Brian Souter said it was "absolutely the right time" to launch the service, despite impending and far-reaching spending cuts.

He said: "It's a recession-led opportunity. A lot of businesses do not allow people to travel first class any longer. They are pushed into standard class where it is not always very good to work."

Single fares start at 4 and are expected to average around 18, with returns costing up to 45.

Single tickets on other Scottish Citylink and Stagecoach Megabus services on the routes average some 11.

Transport experts said the service could fill a gap in the market, but its success would depend on the roads staying clear.

David Gray, professor of transport policy at Robert Gordon University's Aberdeen Business School, said: "It is quite brave, but Brian Souter is not afraid to test the market and withdraw if it is not successful, such as the Fife-Edinburgh Yellow Taxibus service five years ago.

However, other initiatives, such as Megabus, have worked.

"Rail is relatively expensive for passengers, but this service will depend on business passengers using it and roadworks not holding up the coaches."

Brian Masson, projects manager at the Centre for Transport Research at Aberdeen University, said: "It is good to see Citylink invest in the luxury market because this is an area where the bus industry has been slow to respond to consumers' needs.

"Coaches were previously seen as aimed at the cheap and cheerful student market, where price was the key and journey time did not matter.

"For business people, if travel time is kept to a minimum and it can be used productively, why would you want to take your car? It removes the stress of driving and finding a parking space."

Gavin Booth, chairman of Bus Users UK, the passenger watchdog, said: "Citylink Gold could well open up new markets and attract more passengers to discover that express coach travel today is a very serious alternative to the train or car."

A spokeswoman for train operator ScotRail said: "We welcome all public transport initiatives that offer customers more choice."

BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT TARTAN?

BOLD and brave - that was the reaction from fashion experts to Citylink Gold's specially designed tartan, which will adorn staff uniforms and seatbacks.

It was created and manufactured by Perth-based House of Edgar, whose previous designs include a national tartan for Estonia.

Stylist Lindsay Campbell said: "It is great that companies are using our heritage for their image, although this particular tartan is very strong."

Of the tartan suits to be worn by the drivers, she added: "You may be a little confused as to what is a seat and what is the driver.

"But it is certainly recognisable, bold and fun. It may even feature in some tourists' snapshots." .