Dave Thompson MSP

• · Brand new vehicles to be introduced later this year as part of new contract
• · Short-term improvements also delivering better service for customers
• · Move follows recent fares freeze for Skye passengers
• · Operator continues to work closely with Skye MSP Dave Thompson

Coach operator Scottish Citylink announced that it is to make a significant investment in its services between Glasgow and Skye.

The coach company has committed to delivering brand new vehicles for the route later this year through the introduction of a new contract.

Scottish Citylink is currently evaluating bids from a number of coach operators and details of the company selected as the preferred bidder will be announced in due course.

Four brand new vehicles – as well four coaches that are between 1 and 2 years old - are to be introduced on the route over the summer.

The news follows an announcement in December, in which Scottish Citylink said it had frozen fares for customers using its services to and from Skye.

As confirmed last week, Scottish Citylink Managing Director Elizabeth Esnouf recently met with Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch to confirm that, along with its sub-contractor, it has completed a series of short-term improvements to the route. These include refurbishment of three vehicles, further customer service training and a commitment to meet with accessibility panels to look into possible solutions to the challenges of accessibility on the route for customers with special mobility requirements.

The result has been an improvement in customer feedback in the last couple of months although it is recognised that further improvements can be made.

As a result, the company has now also taken the decision to invest further in the longer-term future of the route through the introduction of the new contract which is expected to be in place later this year.

Elizabeth Esnouf said: "This announcement is great news for the many people who rely on this service. We know it’s important for local communities to have good transport links and we are pleased to be taking these steps to further improve our services on this route.

“As well as the short-term improvements that we have made, we look forward to making even more positive changes to the route later this year for our existing customers and we believe we can encourage even more people to choose our greener, smarter coach services in the future.

Dave Thompson said: “This is a real boost for local people in Skye and Fort William. It is vital that our communities have good quality coach links and I am delighted to hear this positive news about the route. I very much look forward to helping launch the new vehicles when the time comes and hope that local people will continue to make good use of these important coach services.”