University bus deal drives £1.7m savings for staff and students

A unique partnership forged between the University of St Andrews and Stagecoach has celebrated its second anniversary by marking £1.7 million in cost savings for staff and students.

Introduced by the University in November 2022 as a cost-of-living measure with carbon-cutting benefits, the 75% off bus discount scheme proved so successful it was also extended to include local bus operator Moffat & Williamson last year.

Now, two years on from its inception, the discount has also recorded its highest level of ticket sales and new sign-ups, while the incentive for staff and students to take the bus has cut carbon emissions by an estimated 1,325 tonnes – over a third (34%) compared to equivalent car journeys.

Since the scheme began bus users have travelled 22 million kilometres, made over 670,000 journeys and purchased almost 50,000 tickets.

The unique discount scheme – subsidised by both the University and the bus operators – comes at a time when the UK higher education sector is encountering severe financial headwinds due to a drop in enrolments by overseas students, long-term stagnation of government-sanctioned fee levels in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK, and sustained inflationary pressures.

Last month St Andrews informed staff it was facing a deficit of £4.4 million and was working to address this via a range of measures, including freezes on recruitment and vacancies. Despite the funding shortfall, St Andrews has pledged to continue to invest in key projects that directly support staff and students and meet the University’s strategic objectives of becoming a more sustainable and socially responsible institution.

Principal Professor Dame Sally Mapstone said: “The sector is facing some of the biggest challenges in its history, but St Andrews will remain committed to investing in people and areas of our activity fundamental to our strategic goals.

“By forging this unique partnership with Stagecoach and Moffat & Williamson we have delivered a bus discount travel scheme that significantly benefits our staff and students and their household budgets. The initiative has also reduced our carbon footprint and helped reduce traffic congestion in St Andrews.”

Commenting on the second anniversary of the partnership with St Andrews, Stagecoach East Scotland Commercial Director Sarah Elliott said: “The unique partnership with the University of St Andrews demonstrates the opportunity for modal shift and carbon reduction when different sectors work together with a common goal.  We’re committed to connecting communities to employment, education, healthcare and for leisure opportunities and it’s a fantastic achievement that so many staff and students have switched to bus travel for their journeys through this scheme.

“We continue to invest in our network too – with fully electric vehicles planned for key routes in and around St Andrews in the spring, so we hope to convert even more people to carbon-free travel, for less, in 2025.”