Changes to bus timetables across the north-east will come into effect next week with bosses saying some services have been scrapped or altered due to the oil and gas downturn.
Stagecoach North Scotland announced its new timetables following a public consultation in March which was attended by 600 city residents eager to give feedback.
And last night the operator announced a string of changes which will run from Monday.
Service 80 from Aberdeen Airport to Kirkhill Industrial Estate via Dyce Rail Station will be withdrawn altogether as a result of low passenger use following decline in the oil and gas industry. There will also be an amended Stonehaven to Aberdeen route through Portlethen.
The frequency between Portlethen and the city will be revised to every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday with an hourly service on Sundays.
There will also be a new X7 route between Stonehaven and Aberdeen which increases the frequency of fast and direct journeys between Stonehaven and Aberdeen to three buses per hour Monday to Saturday.
Local services in Stonehaven will also be revised with the introduction of a new service 4 which will replace existing service 106.
Service X17 will begin serving more of the expanding Prime Four Business Park in the morning and evening peaks.
A new 220 service from Kingswells will connect to Westhill and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Monday to Friday.
The new £15.2million Craibstone Park and Ride will welcome service 37 (Inverurie – Kintore – Blackburn – Aberdeen) up to every 30 minutes.
From the same date, service 727 will stop serving the Park and Ride. Instead, in response to the requests of customers and stakeholders, the 727 will return to its previous serving Dyce Drive in both directions as the bus travels to and from Aberdeen Airport.
Mark Whitelocks, managing director, Stagecoach North Scotland said: “Unfortunately some of our changes, whilst reflecting lower patronage levels as the economy has declined as well as changes in social habit with more home working and online shopping, reducing the number of trips people take, are a result of needing to provide more time for journeys.
“Congestion continues to be one of our most significant challenges in operating services reliably.” New timetables are available online at stagecoachbus.com
