Services to go as tram work takes toll on Lothian buses

Published on Saturday 12 July 2008 01:13

EDINBURGH'S main bus operator is making £1 million of cuts to services because tram roadworks have led to a fall in passengers.

Lothian Buses said some loss-making routes would be axed and Sunday services removed on others from late September. Some early morning, late evening and night buses will be discontinued.

Passenger numbers have fallen 5 per cent fall this year, cancelling out the increased popularity of bus travel elsewhere as motorists faced a sharp rise in fuel prices. The company says further cuts may be needed over the next two years while tram work continues.

Lothian Buses predicted the roadworks would hit operations but has been surprised at the extent at which passengers have deserted Princes Street, the city's main bus artery.

The city council, which may be left to fund replacements for the axed services, said there had been no reduction in people coming into the city centre this year.

Other Scottish bus firms, including First, which also operates in Edinburgh, said passengers had increased. First said numbers were also up in Glasgow, by 4 per cent in June compared to a year ago, while Stagecoach reported an across-the-board 2.9 per cent rise this year.

Lothian Buses said growth had ground to a halt despite profits increasing by a fifth to nearly 6 million in 2007 and passenger numbers going up for the tenth successive year to 114 million.

Pilmar Smith, Lothian Buses chairman, said: "As much of the profits from the 'good' services are no longer being earned, we cannot continue to support the same quantity of loss-making services we previously did."

Ian Craig, managing director, said the passenger reduction was in line with figures from major stores that have seen sales hit harder in Princes Street than elsewhere. They are understood to include Marks & Spencer.

The city council is responsible for the tram project and owns Lothian Buses. Trams and buses will run as a joint operation from 2011. Dave Anderson, the council's director of city development, said: "We will look at Lothian Buses' proposals for service changes and the options available."