101/102 Edinburgh–Dumfries Explained

Routes 101 and 102 are bus routes that operate between Edinburgh and Dumfries.[1] [2]

History

In 2018, the bus route was operated at a cost of £390,000 per year and was used by over 185,000 people per year. The cost was covered by SWESTRANS, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, the Scottish Borders Council, and the Midlothian Council.[3] The route was threatened with cutbacks or withdrawal when Midlothian Council announced in May 2018 that it would withdraw its funding of £135,000.[4] In July 2018 the council announced that the route would be retained after it reached an agreement to reduce its yearly contribution to £35,000.[5] As a result, evening services on the routes were withdrawn.[6]

In January 2020, complaints were made against Stagecoach about the reliability of the route.[7]

In July 2022, the route was once again threatened with withdrawal. The costs of operating the route had increased by 86% since the previous contract was awarded in 2018. The route was set to be withdrawn in August 2022.[8] [9] [10] [11] Later that month, the council announced that the route would be retained until March 2023.[12] [13] [14] In December 2022 it was announced that the route had been tendered but no suitable long term operator had been found.[15] [16]

In February 2023, it was announced that the route would be taken over by Houstons Coaches but that two return journeys would no longer run. The service will now have ten return journeys between Edinburgh and Biggar with four continuing to Dumfries. On Sundays, four return journeys will run.[17] [18] [19]

References

  1. Web site: Milmine . Shannon . 2022-07-12 . South Lanarkshire Conservative group commits to saving Clydesdale bus service . 2022-07-13 . Daily Record . en.
  2. Web site: Midlothian MSP continues fight to protect local bus services . 2022-07-13 . www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com . en.
  3. Web site: Temlett . Stephen . 2018-03-09 . Funding fears for Dumfries bus route . 2022-07-05 . Daily Record . en.
  4. Web site: 2018-05-14 . Fight goes on to save under-threat bus service through Borders . 2022-07-05 . The Southern Reporter . en.
  5. Web site: 2018-07-02 . Bus service 101/102 is retained . 2022-07-05 . Scottish Borders Council . en.
  6. Web site: Anderson . Joseph . 2018-09-26 . Council rules out taxi service idea for Borderers affected by bus cuts . 2022-07-09 . Peeblesshire News . en.
  7. Web site: Knox . David . 2020-02-04 . Anger after watchdog only gives warning to 101/2 bus company . 2022-07-05 . Peeblesshire News . en.
  8. Web site: Faulkner . Alice . 2022-06-30 . "Crucial" bus service from Dumfries to Edinburgh is cancelled sparking concern from MSPs . 2022-07-05 . Westsound . en.
  9. Web site: Farr . Jacob . 2022-07-04 . Devastated Edinburgh locals 'cut off' as vital bus service is set to be scrapped . 2022-07-05 . edinburghlive . en.
  10. News: 2022-07-05 . Protest planned along threatened Dumfries to Edinburgh bus route . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-07-05.
  11. Web site: Farquharson . Gregor . 2022-07-20 . Success for Lanarkshire campaigners as lifeline bus given six month extension . 2022-12-27 . Daily Record . en.
  12. Web site: Temlett . Stephen . Traynor . Sian . 2022-07-22 . Vital Edinburgh bus service saved after huge uproar from local community . 2022-10-21 . edinburghlive . en.
  13. Web site: VanReenen . Danyel . 2022-10-21 . Edinburgh bus campaigners’ last chance to save lifeline route . 2022-10-21 . edinburghlive . en.
  14. News: 2022-07-20 . Threatened Dumfries to Edinburgh bus route secures funding lifeline . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-12-23.
  15. News: 2022-12-22 . Fresh solution sought for Dumfries to Edinburgh bus service . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-12-23.
  16. Web site: Pringle . Michael . 2022-12-27 . Campaign to save vital Lanarkshire bus service hits another bump in the road . 2022-12-27 . Daily Record . en.
  17. News: Victory for Clydesdale campaigners who fought for the 101/102 bus service . en-GB . GlasgowWorld . 2023-02-20.
  18. News: 2023-03-31 . How campaigners saved the Dumfries to Edinburgh bus service . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-04-01.
  19. News: 2023-01-24 . New operator found for Dumfries to Edinburgh bus service . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-04-01.

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