Lochaber Transport Forum hears bus route concerns

Lochaber Transport Forum discussed the area’s bus services at its

May meeting.

Mike Cooper of Highland Council was asked to give an update on the current situation regarding services Stagecoach are giving up from Saturday June 30.

Mr Cooper passed around copies of the two routes which the council is working on to provide continuous cover from Sunday July 1.

Route one is the Stagecoach 44 service, Fort William to Kinlochleven. The council asked operators to give a quote for journeys until Sunday August 19. Shiel Buses will provide a service which mainly operates every two hours.

This is less than at present but budgets had to be re-arranged to provide this cover under contract.

The second route is the Stagecoach 41 service, Fort William to Roy Bridge.

Invitations are open to quote for this service. This is also a short contract until August 19 and closely follows the current timetable.

Highland Council will make the current contracts held by Stagecoach available to re-tender and have them in place for the new school term starting on Tuesday August 21.

Concerns were raised at the meeting about the level of cuts being made to bus services in Lochaber and the type of vehicles that will be used, particularly whether they will be wheelchair accessible.