A revised timetable – restoring a threatened bus service linking Dunblane and Stirling to Crieff and Perth – will be published in the coming weeks.
Stagecoach said this week that it had added weekday journeys to the 15A service in the morning towards Stirling and in the afternoon back to Crieff.
It follows consultation carried out on a revised timetable which showed the 15A, which takes in Greenloaning and Braco as well, was to be reduced to once every two hours.
The timings would have meant the buses at either end of the day serving commuters, and pupils going to Dunblane High School, would have been cut.
Concerns were aired over the proposed dropping of the service from Crieff, leaving at 7.40am, and the service leaving Stirling at 3.30pm. The changes had been set to come into effect from October 31.
Customers however made their views known and Stagecoach have now restored the services in the light of these responses.
One bus user, mum-of-three Krissy Scott, had set up a petition which attracted almost 400 signatures and encouraged people to fill in a Stagecoach survey.
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Ms Scott had pointed out that there were around 20 schoolchildren from Crieff, Braco and Greenloaning who regularly travelled by bus to Dunblane High School on the 15A service.
She added: “This will have a massive, detrimental effect on its large number of current bus users – not just our children.
“Upon phoning Stagecoach to raise my concerns, I was told there was a difficulty in recruiting bus drivers – not that the 15A service wasn’t viable, busy or being used.
“Ironically, the 8am bus is always packed. We as a community consider the 15A to be a lifeline service.”
A spokesperson for Stagecoach East Scotland said this week: “Following consultation we have added a weekday journey in the morning towards Stirling, and a weekday journey in the afternoon back from Stirling.
"Revised timetables will be published on our website in the coming weeks.”
Dunblane Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache said this week: “I am delighted that Stagecoach have reconsidered their decision over this vital link for school students and commuters.
“We must increase the public use of public transport and not increase reliance on the car. This change of heart is very welcome “
