30/09/2010
The aim of the START project is to make it easy to travel to, from and around the Atlantic area regions using environmentally friendly collective modes of transport. This is as important in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland as it is in other partner regions. HITRANS is the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands and we work closely with our local authority partners to identify opportunities that we can deliver to achieve this aim.
The START project has allowed HITRANS to substantially improve the quality of bus services that link Inverness and Elgin city centres with Inverness Airport. In recognition of the need to attract people to choose to travel to and from this major regional transport hub by bus rather than by taxi, hire car or private car the bus must offer an attractive alternative consideration has been given to the quality, frequency, affordability and ease of the bus journey. To make this process seamless the buses operating this route are very high quality with leather seats and luggage racks. They are the latest low floor easy access vehicles and meet the latest European engine emissions standards. Buses to Inverness City Centre operate up to every 30 minutes and every hour to Elgin. To ensure customers know they are catching the right bus they operate from Inverness and Elgin Bus Centre to the Airport and the buses are equipped with real time information equipment. Finally the buses have been given their own distinctive JET brand. Results have been very encouraging and in the 12 months since the START project allowed HITRANS and Stagecoach to extend the service to Elgin passenger numbers for people travelling on the service has grown by a remarkable 35%.
Plans are being developed by HITRANS to install real time passenger information equipment on buses operating in Fort William, Oban and Dunoon as well as a number of long distance coaches that link the Highlands and Islands to Glasgow and Edinburgh. The START project is making it much easier for people to get accurate information on travelling by bus and coach across the Highlands and Islands removing a real barrier to people travelling by these collective forms of travel.
