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Turners Coachways Van Hool EX16 YJ67CXO is seen here heading out of Heathrow Airport Central Bus Station working the 041 to London.
DSC_2239 - AC 4815 H1 - Neoplan N1218HDL Cityliner - Ukrpas Trevel (FlixBus) - Frankfurt, Stuttgarter Straße 10/05/25
There’s only one way to flix this….Fight…..
A dispute has reared between Stagecoach and FLiXBUS over access to Aberdeen bus station.
FLiXBUS has claimed that Stagecoach, without warning, announced that the intercity coach operator cannot be given any further slots to pick up and drop off passengers as part of its expansion plans. Stagecoach does not own the bus station but they have a mandate to run it.
FLiXBUS reports it is now being forced to operate from the street as it cannot have some stops in the station and some outside. This now sees passengers carrying suitcases and other luggage on the street, which it says is ‘totally unacceptable’. Following a health and safety assessment, FLiXBUS reports Stagecoach informed the company that its slots at the station would be withdrawn.
FLiXBUS Managing Director, Andreas Schorling, said: “Stagecoach has an ownership stake in Scottish Citylink which is a direct competitor to Flixbus and operates some of the lines for them. There is a glaring conflict of interests when it comes to their management of the bus station.”
FLiXBUS’s legal adviser Professor Peter Watson of PBW Law has now intimated by letter to Stagecoach at their Inverness HQ that a formal complaint will be submitted to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) should the matter not be immediately resolved.
Professor Watson said: “Stagecoach and its associated company Citylink are in a dominant position insofar as the operation of the Aberdeen bus station. Our clients’ inability to provide further services for which there is demand has the effect of restricting competition and frustrating customer demand. Our client has suffered loss and will continue to suffer loss as a direct result of Stagecoach’s actions. Our client considers the situation requires, in the public interest, a full and open investigation by the CMA.”
Mr Schorling added: “We will be informing Scottish Transport Minister Mr Kevin Stewart, MSP of our actions. And as he is the local MSP we are certain he will also appreciate the appalling manner in which our passengers are being treated in Aberdeen by Stagecoach. We also know Mr Stewart and his Scottish Government colleagues are huge supporters of getting people out of their cars and back into public transport.”
FLiXBUS’s partnered Scottish company McGill’s to provide regular coach services, up to hourly by the summer, for Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee and Stirling. This is all part of FLiXBUS’s plans to build the largest intercity coach network in the UK. The collaboration will by summer see 25 coaches on the FLiXBUS-McGill’s partner network.
McGill’s CEO Ralph Roberts, who is also President of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: “We cannot see a return to the days where a city is being treated as a personal fiefdom. We fully support the government in their green initiatives, and we all want to see more people choosing to travel by bus’.
Stagecoach however rejects what it describes as inaccurate statements made by FLiXBUS.
A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: “The picture presented is misleading and does not reflect what is a safety and capacity issue.
“We have been in discussions with FLiXBUS since early March on their proposals for the summer season. It is untrue that FLiXBUS would have slots withdrawn. Bus stations do have limits on capacity and there are important safety concerns that need to be addressed. There is an existing dispute resolution process which is available to FLiXBUS.
“As the manager of the bus station, we have a responsibility to ensure that customers, staff and vehicles can move safely and effectively within the station. This means that we must monitor the capacity of the station and consider the impact on safety and traffic congestion when evaluating requests for additional departures. We recognise the duty to manage the relationship with all third-party operators in a fair manner and we reject the suggestions of anti-competitive intent.
“We have endeavoured to have a constructive dialogue with FLiXBUS at all stages, including detailed discussions about how their proposed journeys could be safely accommodated within the bus station. We have suggested amendments to their proposed schedules to facilitate easier access to bus stands and we remain open to further discussions with FLiXBUS to address their concerns.”
As an outsider looking in I can kind of see both sides of the argument. The bus station in Aberdeen isn’t the largest by any means and it is very busy. So I can accept the argument that it was indeed close to capacity. You also need to accept that coaches will happen to be on stances for longer than your typical service bus so it means more juggling for available space.
However at the same time, it seems to be a sheer coincidence that’s it’s FLiXBUS that has tipped the capacity over the edge, says a deeply cynical me. Remember that FLiXBUS had only just started using the bus station for its Glasgow - Aberdeen route and this issue has reared its head when it sought to increase the journeys on this service plus add an Aberdeen-Edinburgh route. Both these FLiXBUS routes compete with Citylink/Megabus.
So FLiXBUS has reverted to using on street stops in the Granite City, which is less than ideal it has to be said. I hope that a resolution can be found.
Here 0623 (SJ22HBA) sets out for a journey to Aberdeen.
DSC_6297 - OU22 ZXF - Neoplan N2216SHDC Tourliner - Hearns Coaches (FlixBus) - Hammersmith, Lower Level Bus Station 24/07/22
Route 023, Flixbus
Ridleys Coaches, Warwick West Midlands
Volvo B11R Jonckheere SHV
BV18XZR
Buckingham Palace Road, Grosvenor Gardens
I've not been to Victoria Coach Station for a long time and had forgotten how busy it is! Gone are the Megabuses (shame) but there is still plenty of variety to be seen despite almost every National Express coach being a Levante 3/3a (shame). It makes the other stuff stand out I suppose!
Belle Vue OY23CXW Neoplan Tourliner seen at John Dobson Street, Newcastle working Flixbus service 073 (15/05/23)
DSC_1306 - 55008 - KX13 HYY - VanHool TDX21 Altano - Stagecoach Warwickshire (Flixbus; Megabus.com - Megabus Europe Livery) - Victoria, Elizabeth Street 10/09/16
DSC_3501 - 0566 - SG24 UHX - Yutong GT12 - McGills (FlixBus) - Glasgow, Buchanan Bus Station 25/04/25
DSC_2467 - D38 - BV23 NNM - Volvo B13R/Volvo 9700 - Newport Transport (FlixBus; Welsh Dragon) - Heathrow, Central Bus Station 29/08/23
Captured in London is Fernhill Travel of Winkfield Yutong GT12 YD73FPJ on Flixbus work complete with England adornment on the rear.
L'un des nombreux Irmãos Mota Atomic de 7 ème Génération de Auto Viação Feirense pour le comptes des lignes Flixbus
Portugal
Appareil photo : Canon 4000D + 18 55mm Objectif
Seen in Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester on Flixbus duty is Euro Coaches of Yate, Bristol, Volvo 9700 bodied Volvo B13R BV73MRO.