Category: News

We will try and arrange a meeting at the earliest opportunity with Paul Mclennan.

Transport Minister Keith Brown today met East Lothian Council leader Paul McLennan and First Group’s Neil Barker to discuss changes to bus services in the area.

The Minister offered his support to East Lothian and Midlothian councils in finding a way forward for areas affected by First Bus’s decision to withdraw some services across the region.

With First Bus confirming that their disappointing decision comes after years of poor trading and rising fuel prices the Minister met with Cllr McLennan to discuss options for the future.

Transport Scotland will be made available to assist East Lothian and Midlothian in finding solutions and the Minister will also discuss service provision with First and Lothian buses.

Following the meeting with the Minister First Bus will also provide information to the council on the services being withdrawn to help them develop alternative plans.

Continue reading An opportunity for RELBUS to influence rural bus services for the better?

Peter Armstrong (Relbus Chair) gave a summary of RELBUS’s year:-

Most of the work has been relating to complaints, but RELBUS have managed to hold meetings in Dunbar, Haddington and East Linton. Meetings have also been held with Paul Thomas from First and Richard Perryman. Both were keen to help, for example Mr Perryman will be looking at reintroducing the hourly 253 service in the summer and also extending bus routes to serve the newer housing developments in Dunbar.

RELBUS has lost a few committee members and is therefore looking to increase membership and find new committee members. It was noted that no-one from the various Community Councils wanted to join the Committee.

Gavin Booth of Bus Users UK (the Scotland representative of the UK independent bus users organisation) gave a brief introduction about Bus Users UK:-

The organisation has been around for 25 years and work to get a good deal for bus passengers, who could join as an individual or a group.

He then outlined what was important in a successful bus service …

To read the full note of the meeting click Relbus AGM DRAFT Note of Meeting

We’ve been sent the following which heralds Firstbus service closures and changes in the pipeline as announced today. We’ve not digested the implications fully, but it is certain to cause uncertainty and upheaval for passengers and not least for staff at Firstbus who will be losing their jobs as a consequence.

Relbus has to date not been consulted on these proposals. We are actively considering a response.

First bus closures: Full details of affected routes

Continue reading Early warning of Firstbus closures

We are putting the finishing touches to the programme for the RELBUS AGM.

We’ve invited along local councillors, ELC transport officers and MSPs so do come along.

Non-members can join on the evening.

If any of you are able to join the committee, this will help share the burden of managing membership and lobbying for better rural services.