Lothian Buses announces cuts to rural services

A SLEW of changes to bus timetables and routes has been announced by Lothian Buses – beefing up nighttime and Sunday services but cutting back on some outlying routes.

All change: City buses. Picture: Alex Hewitt

From March, a new night bus will link the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh to Ocean Terminal, with bus numbers 8, 11, 16, 21 and 47 also getting new Sunday services.

Capacity is being increased on the No 29 service, with ­additional services during the week and Saturday on Nos 23, 27, 29, 41, 63 and 113.

However, bus services are being withdrawn in Mid­lothian and East Lothian, with the No 43 to Barnton being axed entirely due to a lack of demand.

Mayfield will no longer be served by the No 29 bus and the No 37 will now only serve Penicuik on alternate journeys.

The No 44 will also have its route simplified and will not serve Tranent.

Other buses are being rerouted in places to make up for lost services.

Lothian Buses staff will also be on hand in the Tranent and Midlothian areas over the coming weeks to help explain the changes to passengers, and at an event at Penicuik centre on March 14.

Sarah Boyd, Lothian Buses head of operations, said: “Our changes reflect our continued commitment to our customers at a time when more and more people are relying on public transport to travel around ­our city.”