747 Aberdeen Airport–Peterhead Explained
The 747 was an airport bus service which ran from Peterhead to Aberdeen Airport via Ellon.
History
The route was extended south starting on 21 January 2019 to also serve Montrose and Stonehaven, replacing the existing 107 service that operated between the two towns. The extension was added along with a new service, the 757, following public timetable consultations in September 2018.[1] [2] [3] The routes were the first to use the newly opened Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.[4] The new services operated on an hourly frequency and used Alexander Dennis Enviro200 single-decker buses.[5]
Passenger levels on services 747 and 757 were lower than expected. In August 2019, Stagecoach announced that it would withdraw service 757 completely and revise the route of the 747 to serve Balmedie.[6]
In April 2020, following continued low passenger numbers, the 747 service between Montrose and Aberdeen Airport was withdrawn. The 107 between Montrose and Stonehaven was reinstated, and the southern terminus of the 747 reverted to Aberdeen Airport.[7] In April 2021, the service was suspended.[8] This was part of wider service cuts caused by a reduction in subsidies from Aberdeenshire Council.[9] In September 2021, the council announced that the majority of cut services were to be reinstated in October; however, the 747 service would not be reinstated due to low usage.[10]
Name
The 747 and Jet 727 were named after the Boeing 7x7 series of aircraft.
Route
The route formerly ran from Montrose to Stonehaven along the A92 before joining the A90 north of Stonehaven and continuing north to Kingswells Park and Ride and Aberdeen Airport. It then continued to Ellon, with some journeys continuing to Cruden Bay and Peterhead.[11] Prior to withdrawal, the service only operated between Aberdeen Airport and Peterhead.
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Two new bus services to start on AWPR in January . Stagecoach . 7 May 2021 . 2 January 2019.
- Web site: 2018-09-06. Proposals for AWPR bus service announced. live. 2021-07-04. Buchan Observer. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210625063522/https://www.buchanobserver.co.uk/business/proposals-awpr-bus-service-announced-258025 . 25 June 2021 .
- Web site: 2018-09-18. Airport link to 'miss out' communities. live. 2021-11-05. The Scotsman. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20211105232911/https://www.scotsman.com/business/airport-link-miss-out-communities-579043 . 5 November 2021 .
- Web site: Haslam . Dale . Stagecoach launches first bus service on Aberdeen bypass . Evening Express . 7 May 2021 . 21 January 2019.
- Web site: Stagecoach launches two new services on AWPR . Coach & Bus Week . 7 May 2021 . 29 January 2019.
- Web site: McCann . Lee . Stagecoach to put brakes on Aberdeen airport service . Evening Express . 7 May 2021 . 6 August 2019.
- Web site: Kuc . Morag . Aberdeenshire and Moray timetable consultation . 7 May 2021 . 7 February 2020. Buchan Observer.
- Web site: 2021-04-06. Bus service changes. live. 2021-09-29. Aberdeenshire Council. https://web.archive.org/web/20210929120720/http://publications.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/dataset/b63536bb-19aa-4889-84a4-0a13eb11f4ed/resource/f17293a5-c19f-48ed-a7ed-98a168299a2a/download/supported-service-revisions-financial-year-2021-2022.pdf . 29 September 2021 .
- Web site: Porter . David . Supported bus services to be withdrawn across Aberdeenshire . Grampian Online . 7 May 2021 . 6 April 2021.
- Web site: Hempseed. Ross. 2021-09-28. Buses supported by Aberdeenshire Council to be reintroduced. live. 2021-09-29. Evening Express. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210928112109/https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/additional-funding-to-reintroduce-supported-bus-routes-in-aberdeenshire/ . 28 September 2021 .
- Web site: Dorward. Mandi. 2019-01-09. New Bus Services for AWPR. live. 2021-07-04. North Kincardine Rural Community Council. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190644/https://www.nkrcc.org.uk/new-bus-services-for-awpr/ . 9 July 2021 .
