Stagecoach North Scotland is inviting customers across Aberdeenshire and Moray to provide feedback on new bus timetable proposals planned to commence on Monday 1st May 2017.
Proposed timetables for bus services in Aberdeenshire and Moray are all available online now at stagecoachbus.com. The company is encouraging customers to review the proposals and share their thoughts, whether in support of the revisions, highlighting any concerns or sharing any other ideas customers may have on services offered.
The new Craibstone Park and Ride (Dyce P&R) could see the introduction of two new services from 1st May 2017 with proposals announced for services 37 and X20 to begin serving the £15.2million facility accessed from the A96. For services 37 and X20 there are two proposed timetables for each - one version operating to the current route and the other operating via the Park and Ride. Customers are invited to give their views on both options for the routes. It is also proposed that service 727 will no longer serve the P&R site from 1st May 2017. This is proposed to instead return to its previous route along Dyce Drive allowing customers to connect to the many businesses and hotels in that area.
Service 80 from Aberdeen Airport to Kirkhill Industrial Estate via Dyce Rail Station is to be withdrawn as a result of low passenger use. It is thought the reduction in passenger numbers on this service is as a direct result in the decline in the oil and gas industry.
Changes to the bus services between Stonehaven and Aberdeen are also proposed from 1st May with an amended and more consistent route through Portlethen. The frequency between Portlethen and Aberdeen will be revised to every 20 minutes Monday - Saturday. An hourly service is proposed for Sundays. Customers in Stonehaven will also benefit from the introduction of new X7 journeys between Stonehaven and Aberdeen which increases the frequency of journeys between Stonehaven and Aberdeen to three buses per hour Monday - Saturday (previously 2). Local services in Stonehaven will also be revised.
Service X17 is proposed to serve more of the expanding Prime Four Business Park in the morning and evening peaks from 1st May 2017. The introduction of peak journeys around the business park will make bus travel a more attractive option to those commuting to Aberdeen's only world-class business park.
A revised network for Elgin is also being consulted on with service 33 returning to the previous route offering cross-city connections from Lossiemouth to Pinefield/Manitoba via Elgin. Service 33 will begin serving the areas currently covered by service 31 which is proposed to be withdrawn from 1st May. Services to Burghead are also proposed to change with service 32 being withdrawn but being replaced by service 36 connecting Burghead to Elgin and Dufftown. Service 36 will no longer serve Forres, Kinloss or Findhorn from 1st May. However for customers travelling travelling between Elgin and Forres, it is proposed that there will be 3 buses per hour Monday – Saturday. It is also proposed that service 30 will be withdrawn without replacement due to extremely low passenger use.
Mark Whitelocks, Managing Director, Stagecoach North Scotland said: “We offer a comprehensive network within Aberdeenshire and Moray and our proposals for 1st May come on the back of work we have been doing recently to look at opportunities to improve our reliability in the face of growing congestion, taking into account feedback that we have had on our current services from our customers as well as analysis on the use that our current services have.
"What our customers, and potential customers, think about our proposals is important to us. Following on from the success of public consultation events that we have held in the Highlands, we wanted to give our customers in Aberdeenshire and Moray the same opportunity to comment on our proposals ahead of our plans being finalised and registered. We will be grateful for customers to provide their comments before 10th March."
Proposals include -
Aberdeenshire
• Improvements to bus connections between Aberdeen and Stonehaven. Service X6 will be replaced with new X7 journeys, operated by Stagecoach Bluebird. These will be offered in addition to the X7 journeys operated by Stagecoach East Scotland. Service 7A/7B/7C will be replaced with a simplified 7/7B service - as part of this change the route in Portlethen and Stonehaven will be modified to be more consistent.
• Westhill - Aberdeen service X17 will become a 15 minute frequency at peak times, and a diversion to Prime Four Business Park will be introduced in the peaks.
• Some early morning and late evening journeys on services 10 and 35 to be withdrawn in response to low passenger use currently.
• Service X18 will be replaced by service 217, 218 and 220.
• Inverurie - Aberdeen service 37 will be revised to a frequency of every 30 mins Monday - Friday. There are two proposals for this service - option A operates on the current route and Option B operates via Craibstone Park & Ride. Customers are encouraged to provide feedback on their preferred timetable.
• Alford - Kemnay - Aberdeen service X20 will see some minor timing revisions. Like with service 37, there are two proposals for this service - option A operates on the current route and Option B operates via Craibstone Park & Ride. Customers are encouraged to provide feedback on their preferred timetable.
• Aberdeen Airport service 727 will be revised and will no longer serve Craibstone Park and Ride. There are two proposals for this service - one operates on the current route and the other details the timetable for when Broad Street will close for redevelopment.
• Service 80 - Kirkhill Industrial Estate to Aberdeen Airport will be withdrawn due to low passenger use.
• Service 66 - Peterhead - Stuartfield will reduce in frequency.
Moray
• Service 10 and 35 - as above.
• Service 11/11A will be revised to operate every 30 minutes.
• Service 30 will be withdrawn due to extremely low passenger use.
• Service 31 will be withdrawn and replaced by service 33.
• Service 32 will be withdrawn and replaced by a revised service 36 allowing customers to connect to the New Elgin retail area.
• Service 33 will be revised to operate a 20 minute frequency from Lossiemouth to Pinefield and New Elgin via Elgin. The section of route from Lesmurdie Road to Newmill Road will be withdrawn due to low passenger use.
• Service 36 will operate to a revised route to replace part of withdrawn service 32. The section between Elgin and Forres will be withdrawn. Bus travel between Elgin and Forres can be made on services 10/11/11A.
• Service 34 and 38 will not be revised from 1st May.
The company is holding information events throughout Aberdeenshire and Moray, inviting customers to come along, to view the timetables and speak to local staff. Events are planned to take place in Aberdeen, Portlethen, Inverurie, Westhill and Elgin.
Aberdeen
St Nicholas Square, Aberdeen
2nd March 2017, 10am - 4pm
Garioch Area Bus Forum
(organised by Aberdeenshire Council but representatives from Stagecoach will be in attendance to answer any queries relating to the proposals from 1st May)
Westhill Academy, Westhill
2nd March 2017, 7.30pm - 9pm
Portlethen/Inverurie
Date/venue TBC but will take place during week commencing 6th March. Details will be released by Wednesday 1st March.
Elgin
St Giles Shopping Centre, Elgin
7th March, 9am - 5pm
At the events customers will be able to pass their feedback and gain answers to any questions regarding the proposed schedules.
For those unable to attend the above events, the proposed timetables and network maps are now available to download via "service updates", all feedback is welcomed to nscotmarketing@stagecoachbus.com. All feedback should be submitted no later than Friday 10th March 2017.
Summary of all proposed changes from 1st May 2016
For full details please see the full timetable online at stagecoachbus.com
Aberdeenshire
Moray