Bus operator Stagecoach have confirmed the date for timetable changes across Perth & Kinross, Dundee and Angus as 13th May 2024. The date follows further consultation with Perth & Kinross Council officers to evaluate the original proposals and the extensive feedback received from the community.
Although a four week extension to original proposals was discussed, a shorter period was agreed so that timetable changes within the three council areas could take place at the same time, minimising disruption for bus passengers who may otherwise have experienced two timetable changes during the course of the month.
Douglas Robertson, Managing Director, Stagecoach East Scotland commented: “We’re extremely grateful for the feedback received from the community regarding our original service proposals, the process allowed us to focus our attention where customers identified travel challenges and we could establish the best use of resources.
“Our collaboration with Perth & Kinross Council transport officers has also led to further adjustments to our proposals and we’re confident that the new timetables better reflect the service usage we’ve experienced, whilst also reinstating certain key journeys and travel options based on the feedback we’ve received from those who rely on public transport.
“Whilst we would never want to implement any service cuts, like any business, we need to be able to cover the cost of operating the bus network to remain sustainable in the longer term. Rising operating costs and low passenger numbers on numerous corridors meant that the shortfall simply was not sustainable any longer and we needed to take action.”
The revised plans would replace service 16 in the Carse of Gowrie with extended service 39, which will provide an hourly link between Ninewells Hospital and Perth Royal Infirmary. Though the X7 will be withdrawn between Dundee and Perth, the revised 39 service retains a low floor bus service between Perth and Dundee and the two hospital sites for most communities in the area, with journeys to Errol and Glendoick up to every 2 hours on this route.
Within North Perthshire, due to low usage, most Monday – Saturday daytime journeys will be withdrawn on services 23/27 with service 34/34A providing partial replacements as these services will extend beyond Stanley to Bankfoot, Birnam, Dunkeld up to every hour and to Ballinluig (for connections to Pitlochry) and Aberfeldy up to every two hours. This will provide new journey opportunities for communities between Luncarty, Bankfoot and Dunkeld and service 24 will be revised to provide connections at Ballinluig from services to Perth/Aberfeldy.
The timetable for service 4 operating to Bertha Park will be revised and following customer feedback received, certain early morning journeys will be maintained for peak travel and service 34C will also be extended to serve Bertha Park on Sundays.
Services 14/14A will be revised to continue offering links throughout the day to Pitcairngreen, Almondbank and West Mains Avenue whilst also offering new links to Dobbies and the new Huntingtower View development.
Councillor Grant Laing, Leader of Perth and Kinross Council, said: “This new timetable from Stagecoach offers residents in Perth and Kinross a different service than what is currently in place; however, the new times and routes that will be available will make it easier for people to travel around much of Perth and Kinross without having to come into the city to transfer to another service. I want to thank everyone who took the time to respond to Stagecoach; your views have been taken into account and have had a real impact on the decisions made regarding our bus services going forward.
“I’m also pleased to be informed that the type of bus being used on the hospital route through the Carse will be far more accessible and easier for people to get on to. It is incredibly important, particularly in our rural areas that the service is made as accessible as possible for people who have mobility issues, or they simply will not be able to use it.
“Nationally bus services are not as well used as they could be and the fact is, if they continue to be underused then we will see more and more services disappear. I urge residents to look at the new timetables and see if there are routes on offer that they can utilise, even once or twice a week would make a difference.”
The National Entitlement Card (NEC) offers a national travel scheme providing free bus travel Scotland-wide for older people, disabled people including mental health conditions (mental illness, mental disorder and personality disorder) and under 22-year-olds. For more information visit National Entitlement Card and Free Travel Passes - Perth & Kinross Council (pkc.gov.uk)
Anyone struggling with the cost of living can contact The Perth & Kinross Council Welfare Rights Team who can provide advice on what support and services are available to help you. More information can be found at Benefits and advice - Perth & Kinross Council (pkc.gov.uk)
New timetables from 13th May will be published later this month but the bus company have summarised the main changes to take place.
Service change summary:
1/1A/2/2A
Minor changes to the daytime timetables Monday – Sunday; evening timetable revised to incorporate North Muirton.
4
Monday – Saturday revised timetable. Sundays now covered by 34C.
5/6
0745 from Mill Street Monday – Friday retimed to operate five minutes earlier.
7/7A/7B/7C
Revised timetable and route. Journeys between Scone and City centre now operate every 15 minutes (up from every 20 currently) Revised route will omit Scone Park & Ride (bus some journeys on 57 will connect this site with Perth city centre).
Service between City centre and Broxden Park & Ride revised including some journeys now via Aviva. Some journeys will continue beyond Broxden to service Hillend.
8/8S
Revised timetable to operate up to every 30 minutes via existing route. Early morning and some evening journeys will be replaced by service 7B, operating via Broxden Park & Ride.
9
Minor changes to the daytime timetable Monday – Sunday; evening timetable withdrawn, replaced by 1A & 2A. Connections now available to PRI from North Muirton without changing bus.
14/14A
Monday – Saturday revised timetable, some additional journeys now serve Huntingtower View near Dobbies. Additional journeys on service 14A extend to Almondbank. All services will operate along A85 between Tesco and Almondbank. Sunday service replaced by some journeys on service 15.
15/15A
Revised Monday – Sunday timetable. Some additional Sunday journeys will operate via Pitcairngreen and Almondbank.
16/16B
Service replaced by service 39/39A, see details below. 16B renumbered 39B.
18
Withdrawn and replaced by journeys on service 7.
23/23A/23X/27/27X
Most Monday – Saturday daytime journeys withdrawn with service 34/34A providing partial replacements. Some remaining journeys will operate at slightly different times.
24
Revised timetable to provide connections at Ballinluig from services to Perth/Aberfeldy.
34/34A/34C
Monday – Saturday revised timetable and route; service extends beyond Stanley to Bankfoot, Birnam, Dunkeld up to every hour and to Ballinluig (for Pitlochry) and Aberfeldy up to every two hours. Service between Blairgowrie and Spittalfield withdrawn.
Sunday journeys on 34C revised to operate via Bertha Park.
39/39A/39B
As originally proposed, service between Arbroath and Ninewells will operate every 30 minutes Monday – Saturday during the day. These journeys will extend to Invergowrie, giving this area a 30-minute service.
One journey per hour will extend from Ninewells to Perth Royal Infirmary to retain a link for the Carse to both hospital sites using a low floor bus. These journeys will operate via villages in the Carse currently serviced by route 16/16X. For most communities this will retain the existing hourly frequency; Errol and Glendoick will be served approximately every two hours.
Some journey opportunities from Kingoodie to Ninewells and Dundee will also be maintained.
Monday – Saturday evening journeys, and Sunday journeys that were numbered 16B will be renumbered to 39B, operating between Perth bus station and Dundee bus station.
57/57A//57U
Minor changes to Monday – Saturday evening timetables; extra journeys added between Perth and Blairgowrie have been added on a Saturday.
Some journeys now operate via Scone Park & Ride.
70
0640 service from Inveralmond bus depot Monday – Friday extends to Bertha park arriving at 0738.
X7
Service between Perth Royal Infirmary and Dundee bus station will be withdrawn and partially replaced by revised service 39/39A.
.jpg)
-1.png)
Feb 2024
Feb 2024
-1 3x2.jpg)
Feb 2024
Feb 2024
Nov 2023
.png)
.jpeg)
.png)
 and Kelly Jones (right).jpeg)
.jpg)
