Timetables to make return to bus stops

DUNDEE City Council said it will reinstate printed timetables at bus stops this month.

The schedules were removed due to disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic and while real-time updates are displayed at bus shelters, these are vulnerable to technical failures and vandalism.

West End councillors Michael Crichton and Fraser Macpherson welcomed assurances that printed timetables are on their way.

Mr Macpherson said: “Although real-time bus information is working at bus shelters, paper timetables have been out of date since the bus companies altered services at the start of the Covid-19 health emergency. We have continually raised this and it has dragged on far too long.”

Mr Macpherson added: “The city council has maintained the position ‘instability’ in the bus network has made providing new timetables at bus stops difficult but we have now been advised it will finally start giving bus passengers accurate timetable information at bus stops from later this month.

“There have been several false starts, so Michael and I are pleased this saga is finally at an end.”

Mr Crichton said: “If more people are to be encouraged to use public transport, having accurate bus timetable information is vital.”

Council team leader for parking and sustainable transport, John Berry, said: “We are targeting the timetable information to be ready for display by August 15.”

He added: “We will provide printed information on selected stops only. Locations will be decided in due course, but we will consider a number of factors when making our decision.”

The situation is in contrast to neighbouring Perth and Kinross where the timetables have been updated continually since September 2020.

A Dundee City Council spokesperson said: “The pandemic brought unprecedented disruption to bus services, leading to a period where bus operators have had to adapt quickly and often to the many challenges they have faced.

“These challenges are still being faced, but as greater stability returns, the council will start providing printed information at bus stops from mid-August.

“Throughout the continuing uncertainty around many bus timetables the council, with the agreement of the bus operators, has encouraged passengers to use apps and websites for up-to-date and accurate information.”

According to bus operator Xplore Dundee, approximately 35,000 passenger journeys are undertaken by Dundonians every day.

The council says the printed timetables were originally removed from bus stops because of disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.