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Stagecoach launches Anglo-Scots sleeper coaches By MARTIN FLANAGAN Published on Friday 19 April 2013 TRANSPORT group Stagecoach yesterday unveiled an extensive network of overnight sleeper coach routes between Scotland and London, using a fleet of ten specially-designed vehicles costing £500,000 each. Services will begin this summer under the new Megabusgold.com brand and will link London Victoria coach station with 11 Scottish destinations. The first of the new coaches – which were designed and made by Belgian company Van Hool – will replace vehicles on an overnight route Stagecoach runs between Glasgow and London. Prices will begin at £15, with the average price around £40-£45. Perth-based Stagecoach claims journey times will be similar to sleeper trains between Scotland and London. The vehicles have 53 seats that convert into 42 beds, and customers will get free refreshments during their journey, a sleeper kit including an eye mask, a toothbrush and toothpaste. Sir Brian Souter, Stagecoach’s chief executive, who unveiled the first of the coaches at the O2 arena in London, said: “It used to be just pop stars that had beds on board their tour buses – now everyone can benefit. You can go to sleep in one city and wake up in another ready to start the day without having to pay extra for an expensive hotel room.” The coaches will depart from or call at Aberdeen, Aviemore, Cumbernauld, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Ferrytoll park and ride in Fife, Glasgow, Inverness and Perth. News of the new services came as the Office of Fair Trading launched an investigation into the sale of Aberdeen-based rival FirstGroup’s operations in Redditch and Kidderminster to The Diamond Bus Company

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OPE Wins a contract valued at £3.3 million to supply Stagecoach Group plc with a mix of 33 Solo's and Versa's for delivery in 2013. Chris Wise, Commercial Director, commenting on the order said, "This repeat order results from the good reliability, fuel efficiency, and both driver and passenger acceptance of this and its predecessor model in a variety of demanding operating conditions. The Cummins-Voith driveline is new to Optare and is being fitted at the specific request of Stagecoach. It further demonstrates our ability to meet a wide range of specific customer requirements in terms of vehicle drivelines, whether it's, alternative fuels, hybrid, full electric or conventional diesel".

"Moreover, since the joint venture was formed in 2009, the sightseeing bus industry has become even more competitive as new sightseeing bus operators have commenced business in New York and other companies have announced firm plans to do so shortly. Stagecoach North America, City Sights and Twin America disagree with the position of the Department of Justice and the New York Attorney General and believe their action is unnecessary." The company serves about two million tourists a year and makes about $100m in revenue a year, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement. The attorney general said the lawsuit was an important step towards restoring competition and protecting tourists from being overcharged. "The iconic double-decker Gray Line and City Sights buses are seen all over New York City, but few people know they are run as a monopoly," he said. However, Stagecoach, which has a market capitalisation of £1.74bn, insists Twin American and the joint venture parties have continued to work with authorities and the hike in prices in 2009 were a reflection of increased labour, fuel and other costs. Twin America and the joint venture parties plan to defend their position and take action to protect their interests, Stagecoach added.

Stagecoach Group has lashed out at the federal and New York State government for initiating legal proceedings against its tour company Twin America over claims it has been 'anticompetitive'. Twin America - a joint venture between Stagecoach North American and City Sights - was formed in 2009 by the merger of companies, City Sights and Gray Line New York, which operate sightseeing bus tours in New York City. The government has accused the company of being a monopoly and eliminating competition. Stagecoach, which owns 50% of the voting rights and 60% of the economic rights of the venture, said it was disappointed at the view taken by authorities. "New York has a vibrant and highly competitive tourist attraction market," the company said in a statement.