Transport watchdog says bus service is 'dire'

TRANSPORT giant FirstGroup's bus service in Aberdeen has been condemned as "dire" by Scotland's transport watchdog.

A public inquiry into the First Aberdeen bus service in the city was told that the services were among the least punctual in Britain and run consistently late.

In her opening address, Joan Aitken, traffic commissioner for Scotland, told the hearing: "Something has got to be done to make buses better in Aberdeen as they are not good – they are pretty dire actually."

The traffic commissioner ordered the inquiry after complaints about the bus service, and Bob Dorr, managing director of First Aberdeen, admitted at the hearing that services were frequently late. He said the company had made a number of route and timetable changes on 21 March which he hoped would make a difference.

Punctuality figures on FirstGroup's website show Aberdeen buses are the least likely to leave their starting point on time, falling well below the company's 95 per cent target rate.

The inquiry's findings will be published later this year. The commissioner can impose a fine, reduce the number of vehicles First can run on its services or suspend or revoke a licence for routes.