One of the largest bus operators in the UK today (31st October 2005) launched another of its highly successful bus enhancement initiatives in Inverness.  Working with the Scottish Executive and Highland Council, Stagecoach Group Plc is undertaking a three-year KickStart scheme on four key routes within the city to improve services linking Old Hilton, New Hilton, Milton and surrounding areas to Inverness city centre.

Under the terms of this three-way partnership, Stagecoach and Highland Council have jointly committed £883,000 to the Inverness city KickStart campaign, which aims to be completely self-financing within three years. This investment has been used to purchase 7 new state-of-the-art, easyACCESS low floor buses which will be identified by the InverGo branding. The vehicles will also have the latest “green" environmentally friendly engines along with CCTV to give increased security for added passengers. Improved infrastructure is being introduced at many bus stops on the corridor.

This innovative Stagecoach scheme originated in New Zealand and has already proved successful elsewhere in the UK. The trial KickStart scheme in Perth saw a 70 per cent increase in usage on one main route following its launch in October 2000 and in New Zealand it delivered approximately 30 per cent passenger growth as a result of a similar method. It is anticipated that this KickStart scheme will deliver similar results and will be a real boost for current and potential bus users in the area.

Brian Souter said: “This is a successful initiative which will undoubtedly make a big difference to passengers in the Hilton, Milton, Inshes and Crown areas of Inverness. Our partnership with the Scottish Executive and Highland Council has enabled us to introduce these improvements much quicker than we would have been able to do independently. Furthermore, it demonstrates the joint commitment by all parties involved to making public transport an easy and pleasant alternative to the car."

To mark the beginning of the service enhancements Stagecoach and Highland Council jointly launched KickStart at Inverness Castle.

The improved Stagecoach service will operate to a revised timetable as of 31^st October 2005 and increase the frequency on routes 4, 5, 6 and 55. Service 4 will operate up to every 30 minutes serving Inshes retail park and Raigmore Hospital on all journeys. Routes 5/5A/6/6A and 55 have been revised to offer an improved frequency of up to every 10 minutes to Inverness city centre. Route 6A will also operate in the evenings and on Sundays linking Hilton, Milton and Draikes to Beechwood Carlton Bingo and Vue Cinema. Passengers with mobility problems and / or buggies will particularly benefit from the new low-floor vehicles when they travel.

Highland Council’s Chairman of Transport, Environmental and Community Services, Charlie King, said: “I am delighted that Highland Council won all of the bids which we submitted to the Scottish Executive. This is a tribute to the excellent partnership that we enjoy with the bus operators and to the hard work put in by all parties. The improved bus services and new vehicles will be an important asset to the growth areas in and around Inverness and I wish them every success".

Lisa Henry, Marketing Manager, Stagecoach East Scotland concluded: “This KickStart initiative is an exciting project which benefits from high-profile marketing to promote the services and increase patronage. We urge people to take advantage of the telemarketing scheme we will be using in the area. It will give people the chance to discuss prospective passengers’ current travel choices, their satisfaction with existing bus services and offer seven days’ free travel to encourage them to try the bus".