Leader: Lothian Buses fine

Standing before her was one of the UK's best public transport companies, with an unblemished record, which has been forced to operate in the most trying of circumstances for reasons beyond its control. Trying to run an efficient bus service throughout the chaos caused by Edinburgh's tramworks must have been practically impossible.

Yet one of the main reasons for the Commissioner's very existence is to act as the champion of the unfortunate passenger, who, for instance, gets left shivering at a bus stop for a ride that does not show up.

In the event, Miss Aitken got a tricky decision exactly right.

Lothian Buses can have little complaint about what amounts to a slap on the wrists when compared to the fine of almost 400,000 which could have been levied.

A 10,500 fine will do nothing to damage a company with a turnover of 120 million, but it will act as a clear warning shot across its bows. The firm knows that in the highly unlikely event of a repeat appearance at a public inquiry it will almost certainly not be treated so leniently.

At the same time, a punishment any tougher would have seemed unduly harsh to a company with an exemplary record, which has had to deal with levels of traffic disruption that would drive any motorist around the bend.

It may only have been a single complaint that sparked the public inquiry, but that will have been one more than new managing director Ian Craig wanted.

The bottom line, as the Commissioner pointed out, is that while there is sometimes nothing you can do about running late, there is little excuse for running early.

That is exactly what one in every seven buses checked by inspectors over two weeks during February and March did, after extra slack was built into their timetable.

Passengers will be reassured by the decisive action which Mr Craig has taken, ordering alarms to be installed in all drivers' cabs which will buzz to warn them when they are running ahead of schedule.