Perth-based Megabus yesterday revealed plans to significantly increase its European network and establish its first depot on the Continent.
The company, part of the wider Stagecoach public transport group founded by Perth sibling entrepreneurs Sir Brian Souter and Ann Gloag, yesterday said it was launching a new network of routes serving the Benelux region.
The move will see the budget operator establish its first European operating hub after agreeing a sharing arrangement with existing operator Bell tours at Sint-Pieters-Leeuw near Brussels.
The firm is creating 20 jobs in Belgium and also investing around two million euros in six new coaches to service the new routes linking Brussels with Luxembourg, Lille and Rotterdam.
Megabus first entered the European market in 2012 and already operates services to around 100 destinations, with plans to increase frequency and connections in the months ahead.
However, the Belgium venture will be the first time the company has established its own private service hub on the Continent.
Company managing director Elizabeth Esnouf said: “This will be our first base in mainland Europe and gives us scope to operate these new services, as well as increasing the frequency on a number of our existing routes to and from Brussels.
“We have been operating in Belgium for a couple of years now, and we are seeing an increasing number of people choosing coach travel for long journeys.
“We’re pleased to be able to offer even more travel options to people living and working in Belgium, and visitors to the country.”
Megabus launched in the UK in 2003 and expanded its services to North America in 2006. It has created more than 1,400 jobs in the past 10 years.