X7 Coastrider Explained

Number:X7 Coastrider
Operator:Stagecoach East Scotland
Start:Aberdeen bus station
Via:Stonehaven, Montrose and Arbroath
End:Dundee Seagate Bus Station
Frequency:Hourly (end-to-end) at busiest times, with some additional services between Aberdeen and Stonehaven operated by Stagecoach Bluebird.

The X7 Coastrider is an hourly bus route between the Scottish cities of Dundee and Aberdeen, via Arbroath and Montrose, operated by Stagecoach East Scotland. The service runs seven days a week.[1]

History

The route was introduced on 12 September 2011 and was initially operated by a fleet of six new Plaxton Elite bodied Volvo B9R coaches.[2] In 2014, Stagecoach purchased eight new Vovlo B11RT Plaxton Elite-i interdeck coaches for the route. These began service on 24 November.[3] At this time, the southern terminus of the service was also extended from Dundee to Perth.[4] The extension replaced route number 333, which operated between Perth Royal Infirmary and Dundee's Ninewells Hospital.[5] [6] A ninth coach was subsequently acquired for the route.[7] In 2020, additional services numbered X7 were introduced between Aberdeen and Stonehaven, some of which continue through Stonehaven, providing an additional town service.[8]

In April 2024, it was announced services 16/B and X7 will no longer operate between Dundee and Perth. On 13 May 2024, these changes took place. An extended service 39 and new services 39A/39B has now replaced them.[9]

Criticism

The introduction of new coaches has been criticised by passengers who claim that they have insufficient space for wheelchair users, and that the steep stairs are hard to climb. The service is used by patients at Perth Royal Infirmary and Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.[10] In response, Stagecoach stated that the vehicles meet Disability Discrimination Act standards and all had a space for a wheelchair user. The company stated in 2018 that the coaches were necessary to meet demand for the X7 service and that low-floor vehicles would have insufficient capacity.[11]

Despite this, in September 2017, the company introduced a service numbered X8 to increase the frequency of service between Perth and Arbroath and "providing an alternative option for customers who may struggle with the stairs on the X7".[12] The X8 route was withdrawn in 2018.[13] [14]

New services 39A/39B and extended service 39 now serves PRI with a low-floor vehicle replacing the X7 between PRI and Dundee.[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Angus X7 . stagecoachbus.com.
  2. Web site: Hilson. Aaron. 2011-09-13. B9 Elites for new Stagecoach X7 service. 2021-05-03. CBW. en-GB. 2021-05-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20210503104518/https://cbwmagazine.com/b9-elites-for-new-stagecoach-x7-service/. live.
  3. Web site: 2014-11-18. Stagecoach invests £2.4m in Coastrider X7. 2021-05-02. CBW. en-GB. 2021-05-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502222432/https://cbwmagazine.com/stagecoach-invests-2-4m-in-coastrider-x7/. live.
  4. Web site: 2014-11-13. New length Elite-i for Coastrider. 2021-05-02. Bus & Coach Buyer. en-GB. 2021-05-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502222433/https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/new-length-elite-coastrider/. live.
  5. Web site: Jackson. Keith. 2008-04-04. New bus service between Perth and Ninewells is just the ticket. 2022-01-28. Daily Record. en.
  6. Web site: 2014-11-19. Perth connections with Dundee are ramped up with new coach service. live. 2021-05-02. Daily Record. en. 2021-05-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505171254/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/hourly-coach-service-booster-perth-4656042.
  7. Web site: 2017-06-24. Changes to bus timetables. live. 2021-05-02. Ian Mollison. en-US. 2021-05-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502222433/https://ianmollison.mycouncillor.org.uk/2017/06/24/changes-to-bus-timetables-2/.
  8. Web site: 2020-02-03. Changes to bus timetable. live. 2021-05-02. Ian Mollison. en-US. 2021-05-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502222434/https://ianmollison.mycouncillor.org.uk/2020/02/04/changes-to-bus-timetable/.
  9. Web site: O'Neil . Sean . 2024-04-05 . Stagecoach releases new timetable in 'victory' for Perthshire after bus cuts furore . 2024-04-27 . The Courier . en-GB.
  10. Web site: Clark. Rachel. 2018-09-14. Harrowing bus tales spark call for change. 2021-05-02. Daily Record. en. 2021-05-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502222434/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/harrowing-bus-tales-spark-call-13242936. live.
  11. Web site: Maher. Ryan. 2018-08-07. Stagecoach urged to improve disabled accessibility between Ninewells and Perth Royal Infirmary. live. 2021-05-02. The Courier. en-GB. 2021-05-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20210515050608/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/701100/stagecoach-urged-to-improve-disabled-accessibility-between-ninewells-and-perth-royal-infirmary/.
  12. Web site: 2017-09-05. New Dundee bus service welcomed. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190521215146/https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/new-dundee-bus-service-welcomed/. 2019-05-21. 2022-01-28. Evening Telegraph.
  13. Web site: Burdge. Richard. Campaigners claim Tayside hospital link service is vital. 2022-01-28. The Courier. en-GB.
  14. Web site: Cargill. Paul. 2018-03-16. Hospital bus cuts a massive blow to X8 users. 2022-01-28. Daily Record. en.
  15. Web site: Service Updates Article . stagecoachbus.com.

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