| Caledonian Express was the National Express operation set up after the acquisition of Stagecoach's coaching operations in Perth. It was established to take the fight to Scottish Citylink.
It swiftly carved a niche for itself against what proved to be a complacent operation. Within six months it grabbed 50 per cent of the Anglo-Scottish customers - once the creme de la creme of Scottish coaching - a similar amount of the internal Scottish services and 80 per cent of the cross-border market. Small wonder that Scottish Bus quickly sold the company to National Express for little more than a song. |
A Caledonian Express/Stagecoach liveried vehicle in Stirling 640x425 159.124C_721.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Dundee - the Caledonian Express office 640x421 Dundee_nxoffice.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Grampian 57 (542 GRT) was an MCW Metroliner saloon (type HR131/10) in Caledonian Express livery 640x421 151.018C_727.jpg 1990-03-01 00:00:00 |
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Stagecoach 411 (HSP 593W), a Volvo B58-61 with Duple Dominant III bodywork. 640x421 157.353C_752.jpg 1990-02-01 00:00:00 |
Stagecoach CGM 288C and KBD 715D 640x421 002.191C_752.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Stagecoach WVO 855S and 9492 SC in Perth depot 640x421 116.166C_752.jpg 1990-05-01 00:00:00 |
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Stagecoach/Magicbus 407 (LUA 250V) was new to Wallace Arnold. It was a Volvo B58-61/Plaxton. 640x423 157.243C_707.jpg 1989-10-29 00:00:00 |
Sutherland 16 (DSD 933V) 640x421 121.304C_803.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Sutherland 16 (DSD 933V) was hired from the Scottish Bus group to provide vehicles so that National Express could compete within Scotland with Scottish Citylink. This followed the purchase of the Stagecoach coaching operations, to enable the company to concentrate on stage operations. Six months later, Scottish Citylink was taken over by National Express after iy lost half its London market - and half its Scottish market - to National Express' Caledonian Express system. 640x421 121.303C_803.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
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Sutherland Coaches F110 SSE, a Volvo B10M/Ikarus pictured in Perth bus station 640x437 157.326C_733.jpg 1990-04-01 00:00:00 |
Sutherland Coaches quickly responded to the call for extra coaches to boost the Stagecoach fleet when National Express took over its Perth operations. This was one of the vehicles regularly used - F110 SSE, a Volvo B10M/Ikarus 640x421 157.326CA_733.jpg 1990-04-01 00:00:00 |
Sutherland F109 SSE in a soggy Edinburgh bus station 640x421 157.419C_803.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
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Sutherland F110 SSE, a Volvo B10M with smart Ikarus bodywork, pictured on early Caledonian Express operations 640x421 157.421C_803.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services 4009 SC was originally B169 BFE with Highwayman. The Neoplan N216H later was re-registered again, becoming B652 XTS. Here it is seen in the Walnut Grove, Perth, depot. 640x421 152.016C_753.jpg 1990-02-01 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services B660 XTS, sporting the short-lived Caledonian Express-Stagecoach livery, was new as B683 DVL, and later sported the identity 2412 SC. It was pictured in Walnut Grove, Perth, depot. 640x417 152.011C_721.jpg 1990-02-28 00:00:00 |
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Tayside Travel Services B860 XTS 640x421 152.012C_732.jpg 1999-04-01 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services C892 CSN 640x441 159.113C_721.jpg 1990-02-28 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services C892 CSN, a DAF MB230 with Duple 320 bodywork 640x420 159.111C_721.jpg 1990-02-28 00:00:00 |
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Tayside Travel Services C895 CSN 544x480 159.118C_723.jpg 1990-02-01 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services C895 CSN seen in Inverness 834x548 159.114C_724.jpg 1990-03-20 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services D441 CNR in Glasgow Buchanan Street bus station 640x459 157.312C_728.jpg 1990-02-01 00:00:00 |
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Tayside Travel Services D443 CNR and E93 VWA in the depot at Perth 640x421 200.130C_753.jpg 1990-02-01 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services D448 FSP in Stagecoach colours after sale to National Express for its Caledonian Express operations, seen in Stirling before it was repainted. 640x421 scan0001.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services E 91 VWA, a Neoplan Skyliner in Caledonian Express colour, pictured in Aberdeen bus station. 453x480 200.119C_732.jpg 1990-05-01 00:00:00 |
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Tayside Travel Services E 92 VWA 539x480 200.129C_752.jpg 1990-05-01 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services E 92 VWA, parked outside the National express headquarters at Ensign Court in Edgbaston shortly after it had had a starring role in the filming of a television advert to promote the new company north of the border. 640x421 200.127C_752.jpg 1990-05-01 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services E91 VWA shortly after acquisition with the Stagecoach long-distance services. It is seen wearing the Super Stagecoach livery in Edinburgh. 640x421 200.116C_708.jpg 1989-10-30 00:00:00 |
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Tayside Travel Services F449 PSL in Tayside Travel Services ownership masks Kelvin Scottish ULS 615X. The Tayside vehicle was a Volvo B10M-60. 640x421 157.245C_708.jpg 1989-10-29 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services F449 PSL was a 1989 Volvo B10M/Plaxton new to Stagecoach, Perth. It is seen in Caledonian Express/National Express colours 640x423 scan0008.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services FCP 660W in Perth bus station 640x421 fcp660w1C_716.jpg 1999-11-30 00:00:00 |
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Tayside Travel Services in Stirling bus station 250x166 157.311_729.jpg 1990-05-19 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services JSR 43X and 4009 SC 640x421 152.019C_752.jpg 1990-02-01 00:00:00 |
Tayside Travel Services VSR 187 (D447 FSP) in Leeds (Wellington Street) coach station 640x421 157.374C_766.jpg 1990-09-01 00:00:00 |
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United AEF 30Y was a Bova Europa Rapide coach which passed to Durham Travel Services as their 22. Here it is on extended loan to Tayside Travel Services to boost the National Express/Caledonian Express identities in Scotland while the old Stagecoach vehicles were repainted. 640x423 150.087C_732.jpg 1990-02-28 00:00:00 |
