STAGECOACH TODAY CONFIRMED changes to the bus services in Moray that will come into operation on Monday, January 8.
The local bus operator released proposals for public consultation in November 2017 and received over 100 comments from bus passengers in Moray.
Subsequently the operator reviewed feedback received in the consultation – and have now registered their final plans. Timetables for January 8 will be prepared and released to the public by December 18.
A spokesman said: “Customer feedback has influenced the re-introduction of a bus service to Lesmurdie Road in Elgin. A new service 34 will re-instate a bus service to Lesmurdie Road and Fraser Avenue in Elgin, connecting from Tesco and the bus station.
“The introduction of this service is based on feedback the company received from the local community. The introduction of this service was met with positivity from the local community during the consultation to provide a bus connection during the off-peak to this area of Elgin.
“Service 10 will serve Forres Enterprise Park on all journeys providing links for commuters to the park which continues to grow. Service 11 will begin to serve Lochloy in the new year, providing this growing residential area in Nairn with a direct connection to Inverness and Inverness Airport. Connections between Elgin and Inverness Airport will still be available by connecting in Nairn.”
An improvement to service 33 has been made as a result of feedback received in the public consultation to allow customers working in Elgin to return home to Lossiemouth. An additional journey at 11.20pm from Elgin has been included in the final timetable.
Changes being made to the service will improve the reliability of the service overall for the local communities. The service will terminate at Manitoba in Elgin and continue to operate alternatively in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction in Lossiemouth.
Service 38 will be revised to serve Reiket Lane, Pinefield Crescent and Pinefield Parade to continue providing a direct link between Pinefield and Elgin. Services connecting Dufftown and Burghead with Elgin will see minor revisions, with the Burghead to Elgin service number reverting to the 32 service, whilst Dufftown remains the 36 service.
The route service 35 operates when arriving into and leaving Elgin will be revised to improve punctuality on this service. On journeys to Elgin, the service will operate along East Road, Maisondieu Road, Station Road, Hay Road and Alexandra Road to the bus station.
On leaving the bus station, services will operate along Alexandra Road, South College Street and East Road. Customers will be able to board the bus as it arrives in Elgin at the Railway Station and the College to travel onwards to travel towards Buckie and Macduff and Aberdeen.
Mark Whitelocks, Managing Director, Stagecoach North Scotland said: “We are delighted with the level of engagement with the local communities both at our public events and through our online consultation.
“We have been able to review all the feedback and have been able to make a few minor adjustments to our plans as a result of the feedback which will improve the service for regular commuters.”