Stagecoach staff busy at Highland drop-in;
A STEADY stream of bus users braved cold, wet conditions on Wednesday to attend a four hour drop-in session at the Spectrum Centre in Inverness to chat to Stagecoach Highlands staff about planned timetable changes.
It was part of a public consultation running until Thursday December 19.
Then all feedback will be reviewed before the schedules are finalised, registered and made operational from Monday February 10.
The bus operator says it has completed an analysis of current travel trends in order to make a series of improvements to the local bus network in Inverness and the Black Isle. The routes operated have been simplified which has also made it easier for non-existing bus users to plan their journey by bus with confidence.
Feedback received at community council meetings has also been used to shape the plans.
Stagecoach marketing manager Kim Masson said : “The majority of people dropping in were seeking to clarify the new routes rather than to complain.
“People were very positive and in the city nowhere will be worse off.”
Gilmar Green (63) of Muir of Ord was concerned that the service to Dingwall was going down to three a day, and it would take longer to get to Inverness as the buses were taking in Kiltarlity. He said: “I suggested some buses from Dingwall going to Inverness go via Conon and Muir of Ord instead of the A9 via Tore and they said they would look at this.
“The Stagecoach staff were really helpful.”
One happy customer was Douglas Menzies (73) from Inshes Park. He said: “We are going back to a 30 minute service to the city centre rather than hourly, with the only difference that the bus will no longer go to the hospital as few passengers were apparently using this.”
Bus users can also give feedback via email no later than Thursday, December 19 to nscotmarketing@stagecoachbus.com.
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