Ryder Cup 2014: Stagecoach becomes bus provider

STAGECOACH, Britain’s biggest bus operator, has won the contract to provide the buses for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in September.

Stagecoach have won the contract to provide buses for the Ryder Cup in Gleneagles this year. Picture: Ryuder Cup 2014

The Perth-based transport giant will provide a fleet of 150 double decker buses to take golf fans to and from Ryder Cup park and ride sites at Perth, Stirling and Kinross during the week of the event.

Richard Hills, Europe’s Ryder Cup director, said: “It is a huge operation to transport in the region of 45,000 people to and from the golf course every day during the week of The 2014 Ryder Cup. Visitors to the event will be able to enjoy a comfortable and pleasurable journey from their Park and Ride base.

“We are delighted that Stagecoach, a company with its roots firmly in Scotland, will facilitate these transfers and ensure the smooth arrival and departure of the spectators at Gleneagles.”

A Stagecoach spokesman explained: “The majority of the operation will be managed by Stagecoach East Scotland which is based in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. However, vehicles will also be provided by Stagecoach’s regional bus companies across the UK. Stagecoach also delivered a successful transport operation at The 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales.”

Robert Montgomery, managing director of Stagecoach UK Bus, said: “It’s a great honour to have been awarded the contract to operate the bus services for the Park & Ride sites for The 2014 Ryder Cup. We’re delighted to be involved in such a prestigious, global sporting event which has not been held in Scotland since 1973.

“Stagecoach has wide-ranging experience of providing transport services for major sporting events including the 2012 London Olympics, the 2010 Ryder cup in Wales, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone over a number of years and many more.”

He added: ““We will be calling on the significant resources of our regional companies within our UK Bus division to help ensure the success of the operation and we look forward to enhancing the experience for the spectators who play such an important role in the event.”