This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Plusbus adds new dimension
17/03/2004
Scotland's first ever national scheme which allows travellers to buy a single ticket for use on both trains and buses was launched today.
The PLUSBUS initiative, which is run by all major bus and rail companies in Scotland, has been developed by the Journey Solutions partnership with support from the Executive.
The scheme enables people to buy rail tickets that also allow all day bus travel within the relevant local PLUSBUS zone.
The zones cover most parts of mainland Scotland. Tickets can be bought for both the start and end legs of journeys from all participating rail stations.
Benefits of PLUSBUS for travellers are:
- Simplicity - one ticket, one price, train and bus, there, around and back
- Convenience - no need to know the exact bus fare or have the right change to hand
- Value for money - the add-on cost to the rail fare is less than the equivalent day ticket in the area and costs less than multiple bus journeys
At Edinburgh's Waverley station today Transport Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"This is a breakthrough in integrated travel. Scotland needs more joined-up public transport initiatives like this to reduce congestion on our roads, grow our economy and improve our quality of life.
"PLUSBUS tickets can be bought for any rail journey that starts or finishes at 22 stations including all Scotland's cities. The scheme gives passengers access to the local bus network for the day. To make it as easy as possible for travellers, rail stations in the scheme will display clear and comprehensive information about the bus services.
"The Scottish Executive's support of the PLUSBUS scheme demonstrates our commitment to delivering integrated ticketing for travellers and making public transport easier to use. I am delighted that the train and bus operators have begun to make joined-up travel something Scottish travellers and our visitors can expect, just as they already do in other parts of Europe."
The PLUSBUS scheme has been developed by the Journey Solutions partnership and is an initiative of the UK Transport Industry aimed at promoting integration between transport modes.
The Executive awarded £50,000 funding to PLUSBUS to provide information display infrastructure at more peripheral rail stations in Scotland last year.
Participating stations are Aberdeen, Ayr, Bathgate, Cowdenbeath, Dumfries, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Elgin, Falkirk (2), Fort William, Glasgow (2), Inverness, Kilmarnock, Kirkcaldy, Larbert, Linlithgow, Livingston N, Perth, Stirling.
PLUSBUS is planned to cover all major stations in the UK. Extensions are expected to continue at each change in the rail timetable. Oban, Montrose and Arbroath are due later this year. Pilot stations for the scheme were Edinburgh Waverley and Perth.
Journey Solutions is supported by the UK Government and its independent advisory body, the Commission for Integrated Transport. It is funded by bus and rail companies and their representative associations, the Confederation of Passenger Transport and the Association of Train Operating Companies.
By the end of 2006, Executive spending on transport will reach one billion pounds sterling per year, of which 70 per cent will be targeted on public transport.