Call for First Aberdeen to rethink route withdrawal
Aberdeen MSP Mike Rumbles says locals are not happy about the decision
There has been a call for First Aberdeen to rethink its decision to cut two of its services to Kingswells.
The company have announced they are withdrawing the X40 and 11 routes due to not enough people using them.
On average, three people are using the services per journey.
The operator has put that low number down to the oil and gas slump which means less people are travelling to work.
First Aberdeen Commercial Manager, Daniel Laird, said: “We would like to thank those customers who have supported us on these routes and apologise for the inconvenience this will cause.
“Despite our efforts and commitment it has been impossible to sustain a viable service on the routes at this time.
“First Aberdeen is committed to keeping the routes under review and will respond positively to developments which may lead to viable services in the future.”
A date for the withdrawal will be announced following consultation with the council and other key stakeholders.
Aberdeen MSP Mike Rumbles is calling on the operator to change its mind and improve the route, rather than remove it,
He said: “Improving public transport to and from the town centre is vital for the future of our city and local economy. It’s not just about making a profit for bus companies, they have a responsibility to provide a service for our communities.
“Providers should be thinking outside the box to improve the reliability of the service and encourage people to use public transport.
"Roads in Aberdeen and the Shire have become more and more congested in recent years.
"People are crying out for good and reliable bus services, but they won’t switch if the service is infrequent, slow and undependable.”