Bus ‘guru’ proposes changes to timetable

AN OBAN pensioner has come up with a plan to improve bus services in the area and is now looking for support from the community council to take matters forward.

Known affectionately as the ‘bus and train guru’, David Gallant can often be seen using public transport around the area. For a long time he has advocated changes in the timetabling to improve services.

Importantly, Mr Gallant wants to make changes without an increase in costs to the council.

Speaking before a community council meeting, Mr Gallant said: ‘Minor improvements can be made to morning services and to some afternoon services without any extra costs.

‘The morning improvements mainly effect Catalina Avenue and the afternoon improvements mainly effect Park Primary School.

‘It is also possible to provide a bus service to McCaig’s Tower using slack time on bus route 417.

‘In the evenings, there are buses from Soroba to Dunollie but none from Dunollie to Soroba. This needs to be reversed because there is much greater demand for evening buses from Dunollie to Soroba than the other way round. This can be done without any extra subsidy for bus 401. Other improvements will have to wait until more funding is available

‘It is on Sundays that the biggest improvements can be made with no extra cost. At present buses to North Connel and Benderloch run hourly which is the same frequency as Mondays to Saturdays.

‘By running these buses less frequently, improvements can be made elsewhere.

‘In addition, Sunday buses that terminate at Benderloch from Soroba wait 18 minutes at Benderloch before going back to Soroba. This is a waste of resources.

‘By more efficient scheduling, the available driver hours can be used to provide services to areas that have no Sunday buses at present.’

Mr Gallant has produced details of how these changes will impact 16 locations.

He said: ‘I would like all members of the community council and Argyll and Bute councillors for our area to look at my proposals and let me know whether they are for or against the proposed changes.’