People who want to get to work, hospital appointments or just socialise over the festive period will be able to take advantage of new bus routes.
West Lothian Council has awarded a number of contracts to support the local commercial bus network during the festive period.
Each year the council invests funding to ensure residents have bus services over the festive period, which has a particular benefit to those working.
The council has historically provided an additional level of local bus provision on Christmas Day, Boxing Day plus January 1 and 2 January.
Around 80 per cent of the bus network is provided by commercial companies who, generally, do not operate on these dates. The subsidised bus network is also reduced leaving gaps in the network.
The festive service will provide a two hour service between 7am and 7pm with services designed as a hybrid approach using a basis of the commercial market amending and joining services to ensure as wide a coverage as possible.
Services to St John’s Hospital are an important part of the service, with access to health care and essential work travel being the main focus.
The Council Executive approved the council’s £46,700 investment that will provide the following services on Christmas Day and January 1:
X22 Shotts – Edinburgh via Whitburn, Blackburn, Seafield, Livingston Village, Livingston Centre, Dedridge East, Mid Calder, East Calder & Wilkieston.
X25 Blackridge – Livingston via Armadale, Bathville, Bathgate, Deans North, Ladywell East & Alderstone Road
26 Fauldhouse – Livingston via Whitburn, Bathgate, Bents, Stoneyburn, Loganlea, West Calder & Polbeth.
X27 Whitburn– Edinburgh via Blackburn, Seafield, Eliburn – Livingston Centre, Dedridge East, Mid Calder, East Calder & Wilkieston
X28 Bathgate – Edinburgh via Deans North, Knightsridge, Craigshill, Dedridge East, East Calder & Kirknewton
X38 Linlithgow – Edinburgh via Winchburgh
However following passenger feedback, a bus service will now include Greenrigg and Bridgend.
Commercial local bus operators will operate reduced services on Boxing Day and January 2.
Council officers have held discussion with local us providers and Lothian County has confirmed an intention to operate a limited service on December 26.
This service is expected to be lower than a Sunday however sufficient to ensure people can access St John’s Hospital and Livingston Centre for the main part of the day. On Sunday 2 January, Lothian Country, at this stage, also plan on operating a normal Sunday service. McGill’s Scotland East has indicated that they will not be operating on any of the festive dates.
Nicola Gill, West Lothian Council’s passenger transport manager said: “It is important that people can access important services, such as Health care, visit friends and family and attend their work and the Festive Bus Services aims to provide that support to local people during a time when the main commercial bus service winds down.
“We are pleased to be able to support these services that people rely upon.”
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