Scottish Citylink has signed a deal with ‘Cummer Commercials Ltd’, trading as Citylink Express, which will allow it to enter the Irish intercity coach market. The completion of this deal signals the beginning of the company’s plans to develop an integrated national intercity coach network in Ireland based on their very successful model which currently operates in Scotland.

Citylink’s first route will be the Galway – Dublin – Dublin Airport corridor but plans are in place to roll out services on other main intercity corridors within the next 12 months. Jim Burke, who set up Citylink Express in 1994, has achieved considerable success with his Galway – Dublin – Dublin Airport service and he will continue to have a significant involvement in the operation of the service.

"This is great news for customers," says Allen Parker, managing director of Citylink. "Citylink will be offering value for money fares and improved access to information and reservations. We are also committed to offering a quality alternative to an increasingly discerning travelling public."

During Spring 2003, Citylink customers will benefit from a €650,000 investment in a new on-line sales and reservation system. Journey planning and seat reservations will be available on-line 24 hours a day and passengers will be able to print out their own e-ticket. Customers will also continue to have the options of using the telephone to book tickets, buying tickets on-board the coach or buying tickets at appointed agents. The ability to guarantee a seat will give particular reassurance to the increasing numbers of customers who use a coach service to get to Dublin Airport as part of their wider travel plans.

Scottish Citylink currently provides over 400 long distance coach services around Scotland every day. The company is part of the Metroline Group, a major provider of bus services in London, and is a wholly owned division of the global DelGro Corporation. The DelGro Corporation is a focused land transport group providing bus, taxi and car rental services. The organisation employs over 10,000 people and has operations in the UK, Ireland, Singapore, China and Malaysia.

Today’s move is a further indication of Metroline’s commitment to developing services in Ireland. The company already operates Aerdart, which is a fully integrated link between Dublin Airport, the DART and the suburban rail network. Aerdart began operation in April 2001 and, so far, €2 million has been invested in the venture.

Citylink fully supports the recent statement made by the Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, which cited his plans to liberalise the public transport market in Ireland. "We are now eagerly awaiting the creation of a level playing field to enable us to fully realise our investment plans and further demonstrate our commitment to providing quality transport solutions," says Allen Parker.

Citylink is also calling on the Irish Government to quickly complete it’s proposed regulatory review of the intercity market and to introduce an environment which facilitates private sector involvement.

"We are part of a major international transport group which is serious about expanding in Ireland," says Allen Parker. "We are here for the long term and have much to offer with considerable experience in the operation and marketing of both bus and coach services. We believe that increased competition in the public transport market is great news for the customer and we look forward to providing them with a national network of coach services in Ireland in the years to come."

For further details, please contact:
Breda Brown
Brown Media
Tel: (01) 491 4829 or (086) 2487120