56-756: West Coast Motors (legally incorporated as Craig of Campbeltown Limited ) is a bus, coach and ferry operator, based in Campbeltown , Scotland. The company also operates under the name Borders Buses in the Scottish Borders and formerly under the Glasgow Citybus brand in Greater Glasgow . The founding of the company dates back to 1921, when Jack Craig commenced a bus operation in Campbeltown. In 1935, William Craig convinced
112-677: A management buyout . As the Scottish Bus Group broke up, the number of private operators working Citylink contracts increased. Park's, West Coast Motors and Rapsons were now major contributors, while the former SBG companies now owned by Stagecoach ( Fife Scottish , Western Scottish , Bluebird Buses ) began operating their own Stagecoach Express network. In 1993 Scottish Citylink was sold to National Express . At that time, cross border services to England were replaced by National Express services, leaving Citylink with Scottish domestic services, and co-ordinated timetabling and ticketing
168-614: A Citylink livery but with the distinctive Ulsterman lettering, Ulsterbus provided coaches for services between Derry or Belfast to Birmingham and London via towns in Dumfries and Galloway. This route was also operated by Dodds of Troon and Western Scottish . Citylink itself was privatised in August 1990, operating under the Clansman Travel & Leisure holding company after being purchased by its management and employees in
224-463: A busy fishing port . The 2018 population estimate was 4,600 indicating a reduction since the 2011 census. Originally known as Kinlochkilkerran (an anglicization of the Gaelic, which means 'head of the loch by the kirk of Ciarán '), Campbeltown was renamed in the 17th century as Campbell's Town after Archibald Campbell ( Earl of Argyll ) was granted the site in 1667. Campbeltown Town Hall
280-431: A fairly low key annual gathering aimed at promoting the wealth and variety of original music across the area, which started in 2009. The festival is held during the last weekend of May and is open to anyone interested in performing. On Friday 16 June 2006, First Minister Jack McConnell flew to Campbeltown to officially open Campbeltown's new 'Aqualibrium' Centre. Aqualibrium, designed by Page\Park Architects , replaced
336-616: A fleet of More than 200 buses and coaches (excluding the Borders Buses operation). Campbeltown Campbeltown ( / ˈ k æ m b əl t ən / ; Scottish Gaelic : Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain or Ceann Locha ) is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute , Scotland . It lies by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre Peninsula . Campbeltown became an important centre for Scotch whisky , and
392-459: A fleet of around 60 vehicles. As well as operating local bus services, West Coast Motors has, since 1986, operated long-distance express services on behalf of Scottish Citylink . West Coast Motors mainly serve the route between Glasgow and Campbeltown, but also operate on other routes, serving Dundee , Edinburgh , Fort William , Oban and the Isle of Skye . In May 2008, the company refused to sign
448-485: A joint venture on 12 September 2005. In return for 35% of the company, Stagecoach transferred rights to operate select Megabus and Motorvator routes in Scotland to Scottish Citylink and sub-contracted as an operator, while ComfortDelGro maintained a majority 65% stake. Following Stagecoach's takeover by a DWS -managed investment fund, it agreed to sell its Megabus retail platform and customer service business as well as
504-658: A new contract to operate Scottish Citylink routes in the Highlands , and launched a series of routes in competition. Two months later, the services were withdrawn, with a new contract drawn up between the two companies. West Coast Motors resumed operation of Scottish Citylink services in September 2008. As of April 2023, West Coast Motors operates the following services on behalf of Scottish Citylink: As of March 2020, West Coast Motors operate bus and coach services from eleven depots. As at August 2024, West Coast Motors operates
560-579: A report by the Scottish Agricultural College as the rural places in Scotland most vulnerable to a downturn. The "vulnerability index" ranked 90 Scottish locations according to factors associated with economic and social change. The West Highland Telegraph was extended to Campbeltown in 1865 when the Universal Private Telegraph Company opened a telegraph office. The first telephone exchange
616-563: A small number of local dairy farmers to take over the running of the Creamery failed in early December 2019. The milk produced in Kintyre is now transported by road tankers to Lockerbie and Mull of Kintyre Cheddar is no longer available. By early December 2019, CS Wind UK had declared 22 jobs redundant. The Scottish government was working with the company to search for long-term solutions. Preliminary discussions did not produce optimism about
SECTION 10
#1732798686583672-474: Is a " protected locality " for Scotch Whisky distilling under the UK's Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 . The folk song titled "Campbeltown Loch, I wish you were whisky" is based on the town's history in this industry. As with the rest of Scotland, Campbeltown experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. The nearest official Met Office weather station for which online records are available
728-467: Is at Buchanan bus station in Glasgow, where many of its services start and terminate. Citylink itself does not operate or own buses in its own right, although one owned and operated by Stagecoach West Scotland carries CityLink accreditation to satisfy licensing conditions. The two-tone blue and yellow colour scheme is still used, though its application and style have changed over the years. From 2004,
784-498: Is at Campbeltown Airport/ RAF Machrihanish , about 3 mi (4.8 km) west of the town centre. The lowest temperature to be reported in recent years was −12.9 °C (8.8 °F) during December 2010. Campbeltown boasts a museum and a heritage centre . The museum has a varied collection of items from Campbeltown's past, and prehistoric items excavated from sites around Kintyre, such as axeheads, jewellery and combs. The 19th-century building, by John James Burnet , also houses
840-543: Is linked to the rest of Scotland by the A83 (to Tarbet ) and A82 (from Tarbet to Glasgow ). Bus service is provided by West Coast Motors , who also operate services to Glasgow for Scottish Citylink . Ferries sail from Campbeltown to Ballycastle in Northern Ireland , operated by Kintyre Express. The service, which runs to Ballycastle every Friday to Monday during summer months and on Mondays and Fridays during
896-539: Is the Scottish Borders , which is covered by West Coast Motors , though they have no regular express service. Citylink also operates in the Republic of Ireland, operating between Dublin , Galway City , Clifden , Cork and Shannon . Scottish Citylink Coaches was formed in 1985 during the reorganisation of the Scottish Bus Group to co-ordinate and manage the long-distance express services operated by
952-646: The Campbeltown single malts . At one point it had over 30 distilleries and proclaimed itself "the whisky capital of the world". However, a focus on quantity rather than quality, and the combination of Prohibition and the Great Depression in the United States, led to most distilleries going out of business. Today only three active distilleries remain in Campbeltown: Glen Scotia , Glengyle , and Springbank . Campbeltown
1008-509: The Royal Mail to allow him to commence an overnight road service from Campbeltown to Glasgow , in lieu of transporting mail by ship. The company remained a Royal Mail contractor until October 2011. In 1950, the business purchased Dickies of Tarbert, along with the service between East and West Loch Tarbert Piers. In 1955, haulage company West Coast Transport was formed. After purchasing James McPhee Haulage and Ramsays Haulage in 1963,
1064-449: The West of Scotland Football League Division 4 which largely comprises clubs based in the Greater Glasgow and Inverclyde areas, requiring the Campbeltown team to make a round trip of over 200 miles (320 km) for away fixtures most weekends. Argyll FM is a local radio station based in Campbeltown on 106.5, 107.1 and 107.7. In May 2012 Campbeltown and Dunoon were jointly named in
1120-683: The "Gold" brand for services between Glasgow and Aberdeen or Inverness . The Citylink Gold brand is similar to the Stagecoach Gold brand used by Stagecoach bus subsidiaries, and offers a more luxurious service with leather seats, free wi-fi and extra services aboard. The service is also intended to provide quicker journeys than the regular bus routes which may service significant numbers of smaller towns and settlements along their routes, though may stop at those towns or settlements deemed to be important to serve. With Citylink Gold, passengers are offered free tea, coffee, cold drinks and snacks on
1176-465: The "Scottish" prefix) and has expanded to provide services from Galway to Shannon. Ownership of Scottish Citylink was transferred from Metroline plc to Bradell plc, another subsidiary of ComfortDelGro, on 31 December 2004. Following Stagecoach's launch of Megabus and acquisition of the Motorvator brand in 2003 and 2004 respectively, Stagecoach and CostaDelGro agreed for Scottish Citylink to become
SECTION 20
#17327986865831232-729: The Competition Commission's draft findings grew in Scotland and the joint venture received support from across the political spectrum in the Scottish Parliament In early 2008, certain routes, which were at the time already contacted out to Park's , were divested to comply with the ruling. Today many of the services are operated by Stagecoach subsidiaries Stagecoach East Scotland , Stagecoach Highlands and Stagecoach West Scotland . Some services are operated by Edinburgh Coach Lines, Shiel Buses and West Coast Motors . In May 2023, West Coast Motors became
1288-541: The Falcon South-West brand running between Plymouth and Bristol Airport to Scottish Citylink. In return, its shareholding increased to 37.5%, with ComfortDelGro decreasing theirs to 62.5%. As part of an original plan to merge with rival intercity coach operator National Express, Stagecoach had agreed to sell its shareholding to ComfortDelGro to satisfy Competition & Markets Authority demands, however this deal fell through. The company's current head office
1344-502: The Megabus and Motorvator brands in Scotland. Despite being a minority shareholder, Stagecoach appeared to have assumed operational control. Stagecoach staff replaced much of the former Citylink management, while Stagecoach's Scottish subsidiaries began operating many of the routes formerly operated by subcontractors displaced from Citylink work. Citylink service numbers, timetables and routes were also sacrificed in favour of Megabus where
1400-639: The Registrars office and Customer Service Point for Argyll and Bute council and has plaques or exhibits related to famous Kintyre people: for example, William McTaggart and William Mackinnon . Near the museum is the cinema known as the Wee Picture House , a small but distinctive Art Nouveau building of the Glasgow School dating from 1913 and believed to be the oldest surviving purpose-built cinema in Scotland. These buildings are on
1456-425: The business was re-branded as Borders Buses. Re-branding saw the introduction of a new cream and red corporate livery, with a blue stripe along the length of the vehicle. Some vehicles operating on key routes have since received route-specific branding, based on the corporate livery. Glasgow Citybus was purchased by West Coast Motors in 2006. The company operates local bus services in Glasgow and Dunbartonshire , with
1512-926: The business was sold to British Road Services in 1966. In 1970, McConnachie's was purchased, resulting in West Coast operating all services in the Kintyre area. In 1982, McColls of Benderloch was purchased, along with the Oban to Benderloch and Easdale services. In 1986, Stag Garage of Lochgilphead was purchased, along with services to Ford , Kilmartin and Ormsary . In 1999, West Coast Motors purchased Oban & District Buses . In 2004, West Coast Motors commenced operating in Bute and Cowal , after taking over services from Stagecoach , along with depots in Dunoon and Rothesay . In 2006, service between Oban and Dalavich
1568-499: The coach. As of May 2019, Five return services per day in each direction on routes from Glasgow to Aberdeen and four return services from Glasgow to Inverness, additionally, three Edinburgh to Inverness return services and also four Edinburgh to Aberdeen return services, all now designated as Citylink Gold. Fares have remained the same with Super Singles available on the routes as they were whilst under standard Citylink branding. The Citylink Gold services are as follows: The Gold service
1624-452: The extent of Citylink's operations in Scotland, there are notable geographical regions, including large urban areas, that have poor or no connections with the network. These tend to be areas served by subsidiaries of Stagecoach , which operate their own comprehensive network, to destinations such as Ayrshire ( Kilmarnock , Ayr and Irvine ), Fife ( Kirkcaldy , Dunfermline and St Andrews ), Aberdeenshire and Moray . A notable exception
1680-522: The first operator on the Citylink network to operate mirrorless coaches. The company introduced six brand new DAF-powered Irizar i6s tri-axle coaches on routes to Fort William, Skye, and Campbeltown. In February 2024, Scottish Citylink launched its own app with built in coach tracker, both on Android Play store and also on the Apple app store, free to download. As of April 2024, Scottish Citylink operates
1736-420: The following routes. A variety of companies operate services on behalf of Scottish Citylink. The main operators are; Some smaller private operators also operate duplicate and additional journeys, as well as standby rolls at major interchanges. These include Ratho Coaches, Simpsons of Rosehearty, Fishers Tours, Hairy Haggis Coaches of Bathgate, McLean's of Airdrie and D&E Coaches. In 2010, Citylink launched
West Coast Motors - Misplaced Pages Continue
1792-458: The future stability of the company. The Unite union indicated that while CS Wind had been profitable, it was not receiving an adequate number of orders to sustain full employment. The plant was shut down in 2019 and production shifted to CS Wind's cheaper Vietnam plant in Phú Mỹ . Campbeltown is one of five areas in Scotland categorised as a distinct malt whisky producing region , and is home to
1848-462: The island of Great Britain (if the port of Mallaig is not counted as a town). It has the population of a large village, but lays claim to its town status based on its port and its central close grid of streets. Its position near the end of a long peninsula makes for a time-consuming road journey, and to some extent the area relies on sea and air transport, like the Inner Hebrides . However it
1904-673: The late 1970s, with vehicles wearing a simple but striking blue-and-white livery with bold Scottish fleetnames in the SBG corporate logo style. Subsidiary companies operated Citylink vehicles on express services originating from their operating area, and where long-distance services spanned one or two operating areas, the routes were shared between the companies. The level of involvement of the subsidiary firms in providing Citylink work varied with size and geography. Central Scottish , Strathtay Scottish , Kelvin Scottish and Clydeside Scottish were
1960-555: The local economy," according to the Scottish government. A report in October 2019 had raised warning signs for the economy of Argyll & Bute; the report also suggested that up to 70 jobs at CS Wind UK could be lost but did not specify a time frame. Both companies confirmed the prediction of job redundancies, leading the Scottish government to hold an emergency summit in November 2019 to discuss steps that might be taken for improving
2016-400: The local economy. Participants included Argyll & Bute Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, trades unions and local employers. After the summit, a "working group" was formed in late November 2019. The number of dairy farms supplying Campbeltown Creamery reduced from 147 to 28 and the number of dairy cows fell from 6600 to 2500. Consequently, the Creamery became unviable. A plan by
2072-415: The main urban areas of Scotland. Services also operate to Northern Ireland , with a connection via the ferry link between Cairnryan and Belfast , and there are seasonal workings to Blackpool . In all, over 200 destinations are served by Scottish Citylink within Scotland, using about 90 coaches provided by operators local to the 'destination' area, carrying over three million passengers annually. Despite
2128-479: The old Campbeltown swimming pool, which was previously closed due to safety concerns; the centre houses Campbeltown's library (with the old building being the museum only), swimming pool, gym, conference centre and 'Mussel Ebb' Cafe. The Kintyre Camanachd are a local shinty team that belongs to the Camanachd Association . The local amateur football team, Campbeltown Pupils AFC, are members of
2184-547: The only public transport link available. One vehicle was owned to satisfy licensing conditions, but this was operated as part of the Western Scottish fleet. Citylink itself did not operate any vehicles, but a uniform two-tone blue and yellow livery was introduced for coaches operating Citylink services, with the subsidiary's corporate fleetname displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle. Previously, only cross-border services had adopted some form of corporate look in
2240-485: The operating companies faced heavy competition from Megabus and Motorvator , both subsidiaries of Stagecoach . In September 2005 ComfortDelGro and Stagecoach agreed to a joint venture to provide express coach services in Scotland, ending the competition between the two operators. Under the terms of the agreement, Stagecoach gained a 35% shareholding in Scottish Citylink and in return granted certain rights to
2296-516: The other SBG subsidiaries, particularly the Western Scottish and Eastern Scottish services from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London and the south. By combining the SBG express network, Citylink became the largest operator of long-distance express services within Scotland, and from Scotland to England and Wales. With the main hubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh, many services to the Highlands and Islands were in some cases vital to rural areas as
West Coast Motors - Misplaced Pages Continue
2352-478: The previously widespread Scottish Gaelic , an enclave of Lowland Scots speech surrounded by Highland Scottish speech. Campbeltown is twinned with Kümmersbruck , Bavaria , Germany. Scottish Citylink Scottish Citylink is a long-distance express coach operator in Scotland and Ireland (where it operates as Irish Citylink ) and formerly England (where it operated as Stansted Citylink). The company
2408-558: The sale of Scottish Citylink. Scottish Citylink was subsequently sold to Metroline , the London-based subsidiary of ComfortDelGro , for £10.3 million in August 1998. In 2002, the company began trading in the Republic of Ireland, acquiring Cummer Commercials, which operated on the Dublin to Galway route (and also traded as CityLink Express). The route has since been rebranded to the yellow-blue Citylink livery (although without
2464-614: The smaller contributors as no major city or destination lay within their main operating regions. Indeed, Clydeside marketed its own express services within its area as Clydeside Quicksliver with its own distinct brand. As the Scottish Bus Group prepared for privatisation, Citylink franchises were no longer exclusive to the SBG subsidiaries. Private companies such as Rapsons Coaches of Inverness, Henry Crawford Coaches of Neilston, West Coast Motors of Campbeltown , Skye-Ways and Park's of Hamilton were awarded Citylink contracts and provided vehicles of their own for this work. Also seen using
2520-594: The two brands overlapped. In March 2006 the Competition Commission launched an investigation and ruled that the joint venture substantially reduced competition and that evidence suggested it led to higher fares on some routes. Stagecoach immediately criticised the ruling, stating that a period of further consultation would cause uncertainty among passengers and leave vital services in limbo, while jeopardising Scotland's intercity coach network and its ability to compete with both train and car Criticism of
2576-601: The waterfront, as is a 14th-century Celtic cross that also served as a mercat cross . St Kieran ( Ciarán of Clonmacnoise ) lived in this area before the town existed. A cave named after him can be visited at low tide, as can the cave on nearby Island Davaar where pilgrims and tourists go to see a 19th-century crucifixion painting. Campbeltown also hosts the annual Mull Of Kintyre Music Festival, which has seen acts ranging from up-and-coming local bands to well-established groups such as Deacon Blue , The Stranglers and Idlewild perform. The Kintyre Songwriters Festival,
2632-527: The winter months, commenced in 2011. In 2006 a foot passenger ferry operated by Kintyre Express ran between Campbeltown and Troon every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with a crossing time of one hour in calm weather. By 2007 this ferry no longer ran, although the vessel can be chartered privately. Starting 23 May 2013, Caledonian MacBrayne began operating a ferry service across the Firth of Clyde to Ardrossan , calling at Brodick on Saturdays. Campbeltown
2688-483: Was built in the former premises of the Co-operative Society’s laundry. Two 150 h.p. oil fired engines drove the generators built by Ruston and Honsby. The street lighting in the town was converted from gas to electricity in 1936. Campbeltown Airport is near the town, and has a scheduled service to/from Glasgow International Airport on weekdays and some summer Sundays. The town is the westernmost town in
2744-399: Was completed in 1760. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution opened Campbeltown Lifeboat Station in 1861. The present building dates from 1996. In addition to the benefits of distilling, and whisky tourism, there were two major employers in 2018, Campbeltown Creamery and CS Wind UK, who provided "a substantial portion of the Campbeltown area’s high skilled jobs and are a vital part of
2800-480: Was formed as a subsidiary of Scottish Transport Group in March 1985. It is operated as a 63/37 joint venture between ComfortDelGro and Stagecoach . Scottish Citylink operates an extensive network of long-distance express services within Scotland, operating 19 routes linking the cities of Glasgow , Edinburgh , Aberdeen , Dundee , Stirling and Inverness , as well as linking some rural Highland communities to
2856-577: Was introduced between the two operators. During this period, Citylink took a stake in West Coast Motors, purchased Skye-Ways Coaches and also Highland Country Buses, which was an offshoot of Highland Scottish . With the privatisation of British Rail , in 1997 National Express won the ScotRail franchise. The Mergers & Monopolies Commission ruled this would give National Express a monopoly on long-distance services in Scotland and ordered
SECTION 50
#17327986865832912-647: Was linked to Machrihanish by a canal (1794 – mid-1880s) that was superseded by the Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway , which closed in 1932. The railway, which was originally built to serve the Machrihanish Coalfield , ran from Campbeltown railway station to Machrihanish railway station . Campbeltown is one of the few communities in the Scottish Highlands where the Scots language predominated in recent centuries, rather than
2968-610: Was opened by the National Telephone Company in the early 1900s. It was modernised in 1939 with the introduction of direct dialling and went digital in 1991 following the upgrade of the Lochgilphead exchange. Electricity for domestic consumption arrived on 17 October 1935 when the Campbeltown and Mid Argyll Electric Power Company’s new power station in Glebe Street was inaugurated. The power station
3024-441: Was purchased by West Coast Motors. The sale included 45 vehicles, and both depots at Berwick-upon-Tweed and St. Boswells . Later in the same year, Perryman's also took over several services from First Scotland East . The remainder of First 's operations in the Scottish Borders , including the depot at Galashiels , as well as outstations at Hawick , Kelso and Peebles , was sold to West Coast Motors in March 2017. In July 2017,
3080-541: Was purchased from L.F. Stewart & Son, along with Kilberry and Skipness services from D & E Henderson Hiring. In January 2008, the City Sightseeing franchise in Glasgow was purchased, followed in 2009 by the Kintyre Express ferry operation. Kintyre Express later commenced operating a ferry service from Campbeltown to Ballycastle , in 2011. In June 2013, Bowman's Tours on the Isle of Mull
3136-708: Was purchased, along with 10 vehicles, and was renamed West Coast Tours . In November 2013, the company acquired Fairline Coaches in Glasgow, along with 16 vehicles. On 12 June 2023, West Coast Motors took over the Tighnabruaich-Otter Ferry and the Tighnabruaich local service from Tighnabruaich Service Station, giving West Coast Motors full dominance on mainland Argyll, excluding Garelochhead Coaches in Lochgoilhead and express operators. In February 2016, Perryman's Buses of Berwick-upon-Tweed
#582417