Controversial X7 bus service’s award status raises some eyebrows

A controversial hospital link bus service that has faced criticism in Perth and Dundee has won a top award.

The X7 service, which runs from Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI) to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee as part of its route, was given the Best Bus Service at the 2015 Scottish Transport Awards.

Stagecoach launched the X7 Coastrider route in 2011, providing a link between Dundee and Aberdeen. The route was extended to Perth last year.

Andrew Jarvis, Stagecoach East Scotland’s managing director, said: “This award is a real credit to the hard work of our employees who deliver these services to our customers all year round.

“Thousands of people a week rely on the X7 service as an affordable and reliable transport solution and we look forward to attracting even more people on to our greener, smarter services in the future.”

But Perth City South councillor Willie Wilson has been scathing about the service and yesterday decried the award.

He said: “I am amazed that this type of bus has received an award considering the vast number of complaints we have received from people travelling between the two cities (Perth and Dundee).

“The judging panel clearly did not look at the service from the perspective of people who have travelled for health reasons back and forward from PRI to Ninewells Hospital and vice-versa.”

Councillor Fraser Macpherson, who represents Dundee’s West End, said: “I have received many constituent complaints about the inappropriate type of coach used on the X7 for the hospital link part of the route.

“The coach simply does not have enough downstairs seating for the many elderly people and for people with mobility difficulties who use the hospital link part of the service.

“I am a little surprised that the judges of this award have not looked at the hospital link aspect of this route, although the X7 does provide a good service to Aberdeen on the non-hospital link part of the route.”