A battle has broken out between two rival transport firms over access to Aberdeen bus station.
Budget intercity coach operator FlixBus has threatened to take its complaint against Stagecoach Group to the Competition and Markets Authority.
According to German company FlixBus, Perth-based Stagecoach is using its long-term lease to run the bus station in Aberdeen to squeeze out its rival on routes to other Scottish cities and beyond.
Meanwhile, Stagecoach has accused FlixBus of “misleading” passengers.
New kid on the block
FlixBus is a relative newcomer to the UK transport scene but has ambitions to build the largest intercity coach network in Britain.
It entered the market in 2020, with its official launch coming in April 2021.
The firm later teamed up with Scottish company McGill’s to provide regular coach services north of the border – including from Aberdeen to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee and Stirling.
It started operating out of Aberdeen bus station earlier this year.
But its coaches now leave the Granite City from a bus stop on Littlejohn Street.
The company claims it has been forced onto the street after Stagecoach pulled the plug on it being given any more slots at the bus station.
It makes no sense to have different departure points, FlixBus said, adding: “This now sees passengers carrying suitcases and other luggage on the street which is totally unacceptable.”
‘There is a glaring conflict of interest’
FlixBus went on to say its managing director, Andreas Schorling, had received an email from Stagecoach citing a health and safety assessment as the reason behind its decision.
Mr Schorling said: “Stagecoach has an ownership stake in Scottish Citylink, which is a direct competitor to FlixBus.
“There is a glaring conflict of interest when it comes to their management of the bus station.”
FlixBus legal adviser Peter Watson of PBW Law has written to Stagecoach to say a formal complaint will be submitted to the CMA “should the matter not be immediately resolved”.
‘Dominant position’
Mr Watson said: “Stagecoach and its associated company Citylink are in a dominant position in so far 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.”
FlixBus has “suffered loss and will continue to suffer loss” as a direct result of Stagecoach’s actions, Mr Watson said.
He added: “Our client considers the situation requires, in the public interest, a full and open investigation by the CMA.”
Mr Schorling said: “We will be informing Scottish Transport Minister Kevin Stewart 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.”
McGill’s chief executive 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 all want to see more people choosing to travel by bus.”
What did Stagecoach have to say?
Stagecoach insisted it had “endeavoured to have a constructive dialogue with FlixBus at all stages”, including detailed talks about how proposed journeys could be safely accommodated at the bus station.
It also said it was open to further discussions to address any concerns.
A spokesman for the company added: “We reject the inaccurate statements made by FlixBus.
‘Bus stations do have limits on capacity and there are important safety concerns.”
Stagecoach Group
“The picture presented is misleading and does not reflect what is a safety and capacity issue. It is untrue that FlixBus would have slots withdrawn.
“Bus stations do have limits on capacity and there are important safety concerns.
“We recognise the duty to manage the relationship with all third-party operators in a fair manner and reject the suggestions of anti-competitive intent.”
Transport Minister Kevin Stewart said: “While this dispute is a matter for the commercial bus operators involved, I’d encourage them to collaborate with each other and liaise with their local authority to reach a resolution and minimise any adverse impacts on passengers.”
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