Donald MacGillivray outside Shiel Buses’ new premises in Caol.
An Acharacle family-run company has bought Caol bus depot as part of ongoing expansion of its Fort William service. In a deal worth around £250,000, Shiel Buses has acquired the former Stagecoach depot and is now the sole bus operator in Lochaber after recently being awarded council contracts for Roy Bridge and Fort William evening services.
Shiel Buses managing director Donald MacGillivray explained that the company, now in its 40th year of service, has been looking to bolster its presence in Fort William and an investment plan was put in place last year when the company secured the first of its services in Fort William. He said: ‘This year, as Stagecoach has ceased operating in Lochaber, we anticipate an even greater workload and have purchased its bus depot. Stagecoach is a big company and I think that makes it harder to operate in this area.