Scottish Citylink Citylink Get Thumbs introduces free weekend travel newslink Up From Passengers for kids Citylink services continue to be a incredibly positive about almost every side Scottish Citylink is helping families issue twelve • Spring 2009 popular choice with the Scottish of the business. Many respondents found in Scotland beat the credit crunch by public thanks to there reliability, our staff to be courteous and helpful, whilst offering free weekend travel for children. many commuters enjoyed the FREE wi-fi comfort and the helpful attitude of The new Family Day Ticket will mean that children service that allowed them to access the their customer-focused staff. SPORTS accompanied by a fare-paying adult will travel for Citylink teams up Internet and send and receive emails.” free on Saturdays and Sundays. Another key benefit highlighted by The ticket applies to children up to the age of 15 passengers was the guarantee of a seat for and is valid on all Citylink services across Scotland. with Scotland the journey, something that they couldn’t be sure of when travelling by train. The number of families choosing to travel by coach Great news for Scotland’s rugby fans. Scottish Citylink and Stagecoach has increased in the past year with the number of One passenger, Mr Grant Turnbull, was have teamed up with Scottish Rugby to bring fans throughout Scotland children travelling on Citylink’s services up 8% on so pleased with Citylink that he has a great new way of getting to and from Murrayfield on match days. last year’s figures. allowed some of the information from his questionnaire to be used in the company’s The new Family Day Ticket is subject to a limit It’s called Sportslink. marketing material. of two children per fee-paying adult. Two adults Available to Scottish Rugby members passing them by on the Sportslink. travelling with four children from Glasgow to Mr Turnbull, a Civil Servant at Jobcentre and match-day ticket holders, it Quick and easy, Sportslink takes Edinburgh could pay as little as £16.80 for six seats. Plus said: “I’m delighted with what I get could save you pounds on petrol and you direct to Corstophine Road, A recent survey has identified that many parking, and save you the time and Murrayfield. And because you’re not for my money. I don’t have the pressure of Tickets must be booked in advance from Citylink’s of their passengers are extremely happy the headache of driving to and from driving home after the game, you parking in the city centre and I save myself website, ticket office or call centre and are valid with the punctuality of the state of the Murrayfield, the home of can enjoy a half-time drink! pounds on a monthly rail pass or petrol. only for same-day return journeys. Scottish Rugby. art coaches and also believe that the What’s more, by using Sportslink, And if that wasn’t good enough I can sleep affordability of their services is a key factor VisitScotland has adapted its marketing tactics Traffic can be heavy in and around you’ll be doing your bit for the at night safe in the knowledge that I’m Edinburgh, especially on match days. environment by helping to reduce in the success of Citylink. in light of the current economic situation, to helping the environment.” While others are wasting time stuck congestion and pollution on encourage more UK visitors to holiday at home. Stephanie Docherty, Operations Manager in traffic jams or trying to find that our roads. More inside... elusive parking place, you could be for Citylink said: “I’m delighted that the Philip Riddle, Chief Executive of the national vast majority of those who responded to tourism organization said: “It is great to see Scottish the self completed questionnaires were “Nice warm Citylink encouraging families to get out and explore coach, very Scotland this summer. The current economic Citylink comfortable. situation means that more Scots will be thinking of Return of the Prodigal Son as holidaying at home this year, and they are certain Friendly driver, good launch new to have a great time whether they fancy the buzz Tom Wileman Returns to Citylink journey and on time. of our big cities, or the beauty and tranquility of website! Keep it up.” Scotland’s countryside.” It’s going to be an interesting 2009 for Tom Wileman. The New Year saw his return from south of the border to take up the full time post of Managing Director of The Family Day Ticket is one of a number of Citylink, based out of their Buchanan Bus Station headquarters in Glasgow. tickets offers currently available from Scottish Citylink. Other popular offers include the Super Tom made the move to England in May 2006 “I wanted our vehicles to interact and Singles ticket, which offers journeys from Glasgow to take up the position of Regional Director engage with the public. In order to do this we to Edinburgh for as little as £1, and the Explorer North West with Stagecoach Group. With instigated a series of beautifully designed, Pass, which allows coach travel all over Scotland specific responsibility for Cumbria, Lancashire fully wrapped buses, which included and Merseyside operations Tom was informative stories and timelines on the for a flat rate. responsible for changing the perception of livery. This not only improved awareness of Stagecoach, throughout the region, the Stagecoach brand but also enticed new Citylink is Scotland’s leading coach company with a by working closely with iconic passengers onto our buses that otherwise comprehensive network linking over 200 towns and brands such as Liverpool may not have used our services.” cities and offering more than 400 services every day FC, Everton FC, Aardman Tom’s return to his beloved Glasgow will no on comfortable, modern coaches. Animations (producers of Wallace and Gromit) doubt see him introducing similarly inspired and the estate of Eric initiatives to attract new passengers onto Citylink coaches in Scotland. Citylink are delighted to launch a Morecambe. new look website that introduces fresh, vibrant and clean design elements to their brand. Tom said: “With T In The Park, Homecoming The informative, time sensitive site Scotland and the possible increase in British will also bring visitors regular news Scottish Citylink Coaches Limited features on everything Citylink, whilst tourism in 2009, there is huge potential for the new Businesslink, Leisurelink Buchanan Bus Station, Killermont Street, Glasgow G2 3NW increasing passenger numbers this year.” and Eventslink sections will help passengers understand fully the tel 0141 332 9644 fax 0141 332 4488 email [email protected] benefits of travelling by coach. The Perfect Match Citylink, Macmillan Cancer - Scottish Citylink and Scottish Rugby Care and Stephen Hendry Scottish Citylink, Scotland’s premier coach company, has teamed up with Scottish Rugby, the driving force behind the sport in Scotland, to introduce a reduced priced match-day travel ticket Launch Charity Partnership for all supporters visiting Murrayfield Stadium. Citylink and 7 times World Snooker Hendry was faced with the challenge of restricting Champion Stephen Hendry recently his opponent to winning less than 5 points, in the came together to launch a campaign to one off frame, with Citylink promising to boost the help raise funds for Macmillan Care, the sum collected should he succeed. leading charity in helping improve the On the day Hendry was quietly lives of those living with cancer. confident:“My highest break is 147 so I hope to restrict Nicola’s The Scottish snooker legend put his weight behind visits to the table. However I can’t the campaign to raise much-needed funds for the be complacent as one slip could charity, which relies on voluntary donations for lose Macmillan Care much needed Despite Nicola’s impressive 99% of its income. cash and humiliate me in front of performance Citylink has promised to add to the Tom Wileman, Managing Director of Citylink the good people of Glasgow.” funds raised at the said: “2008 was tough for many people and as a Gift for Hendry made a promising start end of the campaign. result many good causes may suffer in 2009. I think before taking pity on Nicola Macmillan Care do an incredible job and in order to and positioning a number of Stephanie Docherty, raise enough money as we can for them, we wanted balls over pockets for her to Operations Manager at a true Scottish sporting superstar to increase the sink, enabling her to rack up a Citylink believes that profile of the charity campaign that we launched reasonable score and fulfil a passengers on their just before Christmas. In Stephen Hendry we had lifetime’s ambition. services can play their part that superstar.” throughout 2009: “Collection teams will visit all our Nicola said: “I’m a massive snooker fan and main coach stations throughout the year and I want And to launch the campaign Hendry took part Stephen is a living legend. I just couldn’t believe as many people as possible to make a contribution - in a ‘Charity Snooker Frame Challenge’ with that I was actually playing him and to pot a few was A penny or a pound it all counts.” Citylink’s Marketing Executive, Nicola Campbell, phenomenal, even if he did help me out a bit.” in the vestibule of the Buchanan Bus Station, on Killermont Street, in Glasgow. It’s hoped that the ‘Sportslink’ ticket initiative will Supporters on the 900 service between Glasgow Scotland hero Southwell said: “The Sportslink deal encourage supporters to enjoy a great day out, and Edinburgh can alight at the Murrayfield stop provides an easy and affordable way for supporters without the expense of petrol and parking, whilst on Corstorphine Road. Supporters arriving from to play their part.” saving them the time and other destinations, to Edinburgh, To receive their 20% discount on matchday hassle of driving too and will then be able to catch shuttle Scottish Citylink Partner services supporters simply quoted a matchday from the ground. bus/coach services too and from Scotland hero promotional code (emailed to them/advertised on the stadium’s Corstorphine With stadium parking space the Citylink & Scottish Rugby websites) through with The Gathering 2009 Southwell said: Road stop. at a premium it’s also hoped “The Sportslink deal normal booking routes or simply showed their that the ‘Sportslink’ ticket Gordon McKie, CEO of Scottish matchday ticket at Citylink sales shops. Scottish Citylink are delighted to will surely leave spectators gasping in awe at the strength and dexterity will have an impact on provides an easy and Rugby said: “Scottish Rugby is announce a partnership with The needed to compete at the highest level. excessive congestion around affordable way for committed to improving the Gathering 2009, to provide transport the stadium. supporters to play match-day experience for for the many thousands of visitors who Over 120 clans will be in attendance, supporters wherever possible, and will enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime event with the centrepiece of the weekend Tom Wileman, CEO of their part.” the ‘Sportslink’ ticket fits perfectly in Edinburgh, on Saturday 25 and Sunday being the fantastic Clan Parade, when Scottish Citylink said: “Many with our objectives.” 26 July. up to 8,000 people and pipe bands will adults are used to driving march along the famous Royal Mile to games in their own cars, Stephanie Docherty, Operations The weekend is set to be the greatest before an Historic Pageant at despite the cost of parking and the inconvenience Manager at Citylink said: “In these difficult financial international clan gathering in history with Edinburgh Castle. an expected attendance of over 40,000. of heavy traffic before and after the match. We times supporters will find the coaches convenient Of course Citylink will be there every believe that if we can show supporters that public and good value for money.” And Scottish Citylink will provide a reliable, step of the way to assist the public in transport is a credible alternative, and a benefit to affordable and accessible service into Edinburgh As part of the launch of the ‘Sportslink’ ticket what is undoubtedly one of the greatest the community, then perhaps supporters will begin for the two day Scottish festival, featuring weekends in Scottish history. scheme Hugo Southwell and Ross Ford, from to change their habits and consider alternative the best of Scotland past and present. And to mark the occasion Scotland’s Scotland’s RBS 6 Nations squad, were on hand to match-day transportation.” premier coach operator will be Tom Wileman, Managing Director of Citylink said: welcome one of Citylink’s 15-metre long vehicles Visitors will get the chance to witness a host of spectacular and fascinating events including giving a 30% discount, on all standard fares, to “The Gathering is the signature event of Homecoming Many of Citylink’s state-of-the-art vehicles are (currently the largest coaches in the UK) to performances by Scottish and international Gathering 2009 ticket holders, who travel to Scotland 2009, and we are delighted to support a fitted with air-conditioning, toilets and have Murrayfield, on Tuesday 17th February. musicians, readings from international best-selling and from Edinburgh between 20th-31st July. defining moment in Scotland’s social history. And special lifts for wheelchair passengers, making The players were fearless in their attempt to hoist authors and a Highland dance championship for all Ticket holders will receive a Citylink promotional we’re convinced that our services will make it as travel not only affordable, reliable and clean, code, entitling them to their discount, on easy as possible for people to be a part of it.” the coach aloft in celebration of a perfect levels. If that’s not enough The Highland Games, but fully accessible. receipt of their Gathering 2009 tickets. sporting partnership. featuring 12 of the leading international athletes,