11/09/2009

Transport group Stagecoach and veterans’ charity, Poppyscotland are offering free travel for veterans attending Remembrance Day ceremonies in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The megabus.com service will be available to all ex-Servicemen and women (and their families) living in Scotland.

More than 8,000 veterans are expected to attend the main Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London on 8 November. The Queen, religious leaders, politicians, representatives of state and Forces representatives will gather to pay their respects to British and Commonwealth servicemen and women who died in conflict.

Scotland’s national remembrance ceremony will take place on the same date, at the Stone of Remembrance, near Edinburgh Castle. The event will also mark the end of the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal, which last year raised £2 million for veterans in need.

Glasgow’s remembrance service will take place at the Cenotaph in George Square, attended by dignitaries and veterans from the city and surrounding areas.

Poppyscotland Chief Executive, Ian McGregor, said: "This service, generously provided by Stagecoach, will provide veterans with an opportunity to pay their respects to their fallen comrades at three of the UK's main remembrance services - an opportunity which, for some, might not have otherwise been possible."

The free travel offer to London, Edinburgh and Glasgow is available on megabus.com journeys from Aberdeen, Aviemore, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverkeithing, Inverness, Kinross, Perth, Pitlochry and Stirling*.

Operations Manager for megabus.com, Ian Laing, said: "We are indebted to our Servicemen and women for the sacrifices they have made, along with their comrades, over many years and many conflicts.

"It is only right that we help them remember those who were lost in action and we are pleased to be able to do so by providing travel to the Remembrance Day services."

Veterans wishing to access the service should call 0131 550 1557. They will be required to provide their Service details and confirm the megabus.com service they wish to use. Timetable information is available at www.megabus.com/uk, or by calling 08705 505050.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

For veterans attending the London ceremony, the megabus.com offer applies to travel booked between Friday 6 November and Monday 9 November.

For those attending the services in Glasgow or Edinburgh, the offer applies to travel booked between Saturday 7 November and Sunday 8 November.

* Direct travel to London is served by megabus from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee and Perth. People wishing to travel to London from Aviemore, Pitlochry, Stirling, Inverkeithing and Kinross should connect to one of the above locations for the onward journey. All journeys are free.

Poppyscotland supports veterans and their families in Scotland in need. Money raised through the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal and year-round fundraising activities is spent in the following ways: Providing direct financial assistance to individuals Funding advice services, including war pensions appeals Supporting organisations that deliver specialist services to veterans Supporting the employment of veterans with disabilities

For more information visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk

Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs 30,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services.

megabus.com is the UK's market-leading inter-city coach service. Offering high quality travel with fares from just £1, megabus.com carries around 2 million passengers a year on a network of services covering around 40 locations nationwide in the UK. Full details of routes, timetables and fares are available online at www.megabus.com.

For further information contact:

Poppyscotland
Leigh Howieson, PR Manager
Tel 0131 550 1580 Mob 07766 475886
Email l.howieson@poppyscotland.org.uk

Stagecoach
Lindsay Reid, Corporate Communications Manager
Stagecoach Group
10 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 5TW
Phone: 01738 442111 Fax: 01738 443076 Mobile: 07500 446896
Email: lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com