Stagecoach North Scotland has launched a £1.1m fleet of 8 brand new buses to operate between Inverness and Elgin.
They will operate on route 11 (Inverness-Inverness Airport) and route 10 (Inverness-Elgin). They have leather seats, luggage racks, free wi-fi, vehicle tracking and USB ports.
Route 11 carries 250,000 passengers each year and will transform the experience of taking the bus to the airport as bespoke luggage racks have been designed to accommodate those travelling with suitcases.
Service 11 connects Inverness to Inverness Airport up to every 30 minutes and also extends to Nairn where it connects with service 10 to Elgin and Aberdeen. In August 2018 the service was revised to serve the new housing development at Tornagrain.
Service 10 operates from Inverness to Aberdeen and in November 2017 the company spent £2.85m upgrading the coaches on this route.
At that time the timetable was enhanced on the section of route between Inverness and Elgin to provide more service 10 journeys and 5 of the brand new low floor easy access buses unveiled today will operate on service 10 between Elgin and Inverness.
One of the new buses was unveiled at Inverness Airport by David Liston, Managing Director for Stagecoach North Scotland with the deputy Lord Provost of Inverness, Coullior Bet McAllister.
David Liston, Managing Director, Stagecoach North Scotland said: “This investment is all about delivering better bus services in our area. We are committed to encourage more people to travel by bus and the new fleet will bring our investment in Moray and the Highlands to £3.85 million in brand new vehicles in the past 12 months.”
“We are delighted to be working with Inverness Airport to launch our new fleet and will continue to work together to encourage people to connect to the airport by bus ensuring our bus timetables are designed around the most popular flight arrival and departure times.”