A new minibus service could be launched between Ratho and the city centre under plans set to be considered by Edinburgh councillors.
If approved, council staff will begin a trial service to supplement the existing Lothian 70 service between Ratho and Gyle Centre.
It comes just as the Lost Shore surf resort outside the village announced a new bus service partnership with bus company Ember between the resort and George Street.
Lost Shore also said that they would prefer that the council sets up a public transport link to the city centre, and said their new bus would not replace the need for one.
Transport convener and Labour councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “It’s clear that there’s a real push within that community for more improved connectivity, for more options.
“In my perspective, it’s good to see works continue in that space, and we’re doing what we can within the constraints we have financially to see what we can do to solve these problems.”
The proposal is set out in a report outlining what the council plans to do about its subsidised bus routes to be discussed at Edinburgh’s Transport and Environment Committee next week.
The report outlines that there could be a loss in fare revenue for the 70 due to the new service, which could mean the council has to offer a higher subsidy to the Lothian service.
Several bus routes that are not commercially viable are funded by the council to varying degrees, in order to widen access to public transport.
A review of the council’s bus subsidy regime has found it to work effectively, and that it contained costs well.
However, council officers said that Covid had caused some issues for the subsidised services, and council transport staff sometimes felt there was a need to modify services which had been contracted. Subsidy for the 18 and 38 bus services, which run from the airport in the west to the north and the south of the city, are recommended for continuation.
During peak hours, the services are both profitable, but outside the peak the council provides Lothian with funding to keep buses running.
The subsidy for the routes totals around £275,000 per year, and these services run at the ‘very limit’ of operating loss.
The 13 bus service between Craigleith and Lochend, currently run by McGill’s, had faced severe difficulties in keeping to time due to congestion to the east of the city centre. The route is being examined and the service may have to be re-tendered depending on what changes to the route, including curtailing it were to be made.
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter
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