The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Battle between bus rivals gathers pace in the Granite City
Budget bus operator FlixBus has delivered another salvo in an increasingly bitter row with Stagecoach Group over access to Aberdeen’s bus station.
The firm claims Stagecoach, which operates the bus station, is shutting it out.
But Perth-based Stagecoach insists the decision to deny FlixBus access is because of safety and capacity issues. It is also mulling possible departure slot changes.
The two companies are in competition on routes from Aberdeen to other Scottish cities and beyond.
FlixBus is a relative newcomer to the UK transport scene but has ambitions to build the largest intercity coach network in Britain.
The German company started operating out of Aberdeen bus station earlier this year. All of its coaches now leave the Granite City from a bus stop on Littlejohn Street.
It declined the offer of some slots at the bus station but did not want to end up with different departure points.
Last month FlixBus threatened to take its complaint against Stagecoach to the Competition and Markets Authority. Stagecoach fired back, saying it had “endeavoured to have a constructive dialogue with FlixBus at all stages”.
This included “detailed talks” about how proposed journeys could be safely accommodated at the bus station, Stagecoach said, adding it was open to further discussions to address any concerns.
In an update yesterday, FlixBus said its passengers were still having to embark and disembark in the street.
The company revealed it has requested an urgent meeting to seek the support of Aberdeen City Council to
“ensure residents are being offered a full and fair choice of services from their local bus station”.
Jack Irvine, an advisor to the firm, said: “We keep hearing about Stagecoach having health and safety issues inside the bus station and that’s why they won’t give us slots. How about the health and safety issues of us being forced on to the street?”
FlixBus has yet to see the “supposed” health and safety concerns Stagecoach has about letting its rival into the bus station, Mr Irvine said.
Andreas Schorling, managing director for FlixBus in the UK, said: “Despite Stagecoach’s claims we are ‘in discussions’, officials have made no effort to consult with us or find a resolution in the last two months, and in fact refused a dispute resolution. Operations staff from our coach partner McGill’s offered a meeting, but Stagecoach declined without explanation.”
Mr Schorling added: “We have evidence that Aberdeen bus station’s
utilisation is not maximised. In fact, it is being used largely as a parking facility for buses and coaches, rather than as a pick-up point for passengers.”
This is a “deliberate misuse” of the space to keep out competitors, the UK MD claimed.
McGill’s chief executive Ralph Roberts, who is also president of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: “This situation could have been resolved amicably and swiftly. I am hopeful we can still achieve this.”
A spokeswoman for Stagecoach said: “As the local community in Aberdeen will know, the bus station is smaller than others and, therefore, we must make safety a priority to avoid overcrowding of both people and vehicles.
“We are, therefore, continuing to carry out the recommendations from our safety review.
“A further meeting is scheduled for June 14 when we will agree the new departure slots available, following the redesign of
Union Square bus station. Operators will be informed of slot availability after that meeting.”
The spokeswoman added: “FlixBus have continued to publicly complain about the situation but have not been in touch with us for over a month. It is also normal for buses to stop and allow passengers to board from the street in the form of bus stops and bus shelters, which is common across the UK.”
A spokesman for the local authority said: “The bus station is privately owned and operated and, as such, the council does not have any control on its operation. At the same time, bus stations should be open and available on a fair basis to all operators.
“We are aware Stagecoach is working with FlixBus, but there are capacity limitations at Aberdeen bus station. We have worked closely with FlixBus on finding a suitable alternative location, and have an upcoming meeting planned to further consider the matter.”