The new timetable for bus services supported by East Lothian Council will begin operating on Sunday, 6 April following a tender process and extensive public consultation.
Many of the changes have been introduced in direct response to the consultation which took place last autumn.
The Council subsidises some bus services on routes where commercial bus operators would not be able to cover their costs and no alternative route exists. The Council may pay a commercial operator to cover a whole route, or part of a route at a particular time of day, if a need is identified.
The new changes provide additional journeys between several locations, along with more weekend and evening services on some routes.
120 service - East Coast Buses
Dunbar to North Berwick - Monday to Sunday
There will be an increase in journeys with 14 running from Monday to Saturday and six on a Sunday. Previously eight journeys a day ran from Monday to Saturday. The 120 service will absorb a large part of the 130 Town Service, providing links to local residents.
121 service - East Coast Buses
North Berwick to Haddington - Monday to Sunday
Nine journeys will operate from Monday to Saturday and six on Sunday, another rise in journey numbers, and now including a Sunday service. The new timetable will also deliver later evening services - a common request during the consultation.
123 service - East Coast Buses
Gifford Circle - Monday to Sunday
A Sunday service is being introduced along with a rise in Saturday journeys. The route has been reworked so the bus only travels in one direction which should make the timetable easier to understand.
124 service - East Coast Buses
North Berwick to Princes Street - Monday to Sunday
The service will now terminate at Princes Street rather than Semple Street in line with the changes to the commercial service on this partially supported route. East Lothian Council supports only evening journeys due to poor patronage.
113 service - East Coast Buses
Pencaitland to Princes Street - Monday to Sunday
East Lothian Council supports only evening journeys on this popular service. Changes to the route will affect all journeys which will now terminate at Princes Street rather than Western General Hospital. The service will run from West Maitland Street in Edinburgh to Pencaitland Park. The 113 service has been aligned with other bus connections at Princes Street to provide an opportunity for an easy connection to the Western General.
122 service - Prentice Coaches
Haddington to North Berwick - Monday to Saturday
Further connections between communities have been added rather than the current Gullane Circle service that did not serve North Berwick. Such linking of communities was a key request cited in public meetings and our online survey.
110 service - Prentice Coaches
Elphinstone to Prestonpans Rail Station - Monday to Saturday
This service will work in line with the new 115 service from Prentice Coaches put in place following changes to the Lothian Buses timetable. The route will provide the ‘missing link’ for Prestonpans residents through Ayres Wynd and travel between Prestonpans and Macmerry.
111 service – Prentice Coaches
Haddington to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary - Monday to Saturday
Operating between Haddington and the ERI, the 111 service will return to its previous route using Clayknowes Road and Whitehill Farm Road thereby running through the heart of Stoneybank. This will provide a direct link for residents there to Tesco and, in particular, to the Musselburgh Primary Care Centre.
DRT 109 service - Prentice Coaches
As a result of the tender process, the route has been cancelled due to extremely low patronage.
130 Town Centre service - Eve Coaches
The service has been cancelled due to no tender, but the 120 service will cover most of the areas previously served.
115 service - Prentice Coaches
Prestonpans to Macmerry Business Park - Monday to Friday
The route has been put in place to provide the missing link (Ayres Wynd) following a withdrawal of service 26 from Tranent. This service will link the top and bottom of Prestonpans. The new 115 service will replace the 112 service (Prentice Coaches) with buses travelling to the Macmerry Business Park.
Councillor John McMillan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism, said: “The new supported service timetable aims to give people a wider network of bus coverage and better overall access to public transport in East Lothian.
“The public were widely consulted during the consultation, and we are grateful to everyone who offered their views to help inform the decision-making process.”