Stagecoach announces free weekend bus travel in some parts of Aberdeenshire throughout January
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First Bus and Stagecoach will offer free travel across Aberdeen city and the Aberdeen Commuter Zone part of the Shire every weekend in January.
Both operators are reinvesting the savings from the introduction of the new bus gates in the city to benefit customers.
The offer is a direct impact of the improvements both operators have seen thanks to the new bus priority measures in Aberdeen with the new bus gates already speeding up journey times for over 600,000 people each month in the city centre.
Both First Bus and Stagecoach committed to reinvesting savings made from the new measures to directly benefit customers and this offer could be the sign of things to come if bus priority measures are further enhanced throughout Aberdeen.
The free travel offer is designed to provide just that by reducing costs at a time of year when finances can be tight for many while encouraging more people to use the bus and increase footfall in the city centre.
The new bus priority measures are already reducing pollution and congestion in the city centre, while slashing journey times by up to 25 per cent, with bus passengers seeing an improvement in punctuality and reliability.
Graeme Macfarlan, Commercial Director for First Bus Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer free travel across all First Bus routes in Aberdeen throughout January and the subsequent benefits that will bring to people travelling around the city.
“We understand January can be a difficult month for people for many different reasons and we felt this offer was a great way to reinvest the savings we are seeing from the new bus priority measures in the city centre while also encouraging more people to take the bus more often.
“Sustainable, reliable and affordable transport is a cornerstone of making any city centre a success and we will continue to play our part alongside our investment in zero emission vehicles with nearly 50 now in operation across the city each day.”
David Beaton, Managing Director for Stagecoach North Scotland, said: "This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to working together as local public transport providers to ensure a bright, clean, and prosperous future for Aberdeen.
"Through providing free travel on our city services and within the Aberdeen commuter zone, we hope to give the city centre a boost during a challenging time of year, both for customers and local businesses, whilst encouraging modal shift to more sustainable forms of transport."
Free bus travel will be available on the following dates in January: 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28.
For Aberdeenshire, the Aberdeen Commuter Zone covers Inverurie, Ellon, Kemnay, Kintore, Banchory Oldmeldrum, Westhill, Portlethen and Stonehaven.
Concession card holders will still be required to scan their card during the offer period.
