Stagecoach East Scotland

[Stan Drews]

Glass houses and all that

Having been involved with it for many years and seeing it from the inside, no need for a greenhouse!

 

[Butts]

Boarded the X60A at Edinburgh Bus Station yesterday Afternoon bound for St Andrews.

A wheelchair user attempting to board on the Forth Road Bridge approach stop caused the service to terminate there. When the driver lowered the gizmo to enable them to board it wouldn't go back up so everyone had to decamp out the Emergency Exit on the other side. Luckily there is plenty of space at that stop to achieve this safely.

From there we were on our own although luckily there are plenty of services to Ferrytoll/Halbeath for an onward connection, or wait for the next St Andrews service. However there were no timetables at the stop.

Suppose theres not much more the driver could do to assist people in these circumstances with forward travel as he had to ensure everyone safely evacuated. Not sure what the official procedure is ?

I got the next service to F/Toll, an X54 to Halbeath and the 787 from there to St Andrews.

For future journeys I will never get a Bus from the Bus Station as due to traffic it takes over 30mins to get out of Edinburgh.

Coming back I got the 787 from St Andrews to the Airport and the 100 to Haymarket to get a Train back to Falkirk. This is really fast (for a bus) 1 Hour 30 mins from end to end. However it's not cheap at £20 = luckily as a Coffin Dodger I don''t have to pay.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Sep 2025 ==

Not been on the 787 before yesterday when I caught it from Halbeath to St Andrews and then St Andrews to Edinburgh Airport (1720 & 2120).

Being a hobbitt must be useful when you get on as it has an extremely low ceiling and just an upstairs apart from a few seats behind the driver.

Worryingly there were only 2 other passengers on both services - it's super quick but will it survive ?

 

[GusB]

A wheelchair user attempting to board on the Forth Road Bridge approach stop caused the service to terminate there. When the driver lowered the gizmo to enable them to board it wouldn't go back up so everyone had to decamp out the Emergency Exit on the other side. Luckily there is plenty of space at that stop to achieve this safely.

It wasn't the wheelchair user who caused the service to terminate; it was the faulty equipment. It could quite easily have been any other "gizmo" on the bus that failed, eg door failing to close properly.

I'm sure that you didn't intend it to come across that way, but it's not the fault of the disabled passenger!

 

[Butts]

It wasn't the wheelchair user who caused the service to terminate; it was the faulty equipment. It could quite easily have been any other "gizmo" on the bus that failed, eg door failing to close properly.

I'm sure that you didn't intend it to come across that way, but it's not the fault of the disabled passenger!

Correct, but they were getting a few "if looks could kill" glances in the aftermath.

 

[GordonT]

Correct, but they were getting a few "if looks could kill" glances in the aftermath.

A sad reflection of the general declining standards of societal behaviour towards minority groups such as disabled people I guess.

 

[Siemens Trains]

A sad reflection of the general declining standards of societal behaviour towards minority groups such as disabled people I guess.

Can't say I remember wheelchairs or prams welcomed on public transport in the past - typically being excluded altogether. Even taxis were never keen to put in much effort at the expense of able-bodied passengers.

 

[overthewater]

It doesn't help those coaches are ten years old, and the "gizmo" and are rarely used, so there not fit for purpose. I can't see them getting new coaches for that route until 2027, since the X59 will be ahead of the que.

Coming back I got the 787 from St Andrews to the Airport and the 100 to Haymarket to get a Train back to Falkirk. This is really fast (for a bus) 1 Hour 30 mins from end to end. However it's not cheap at £20 = luckily as a Coffin Dodger I don''t have to pay.

The £20 fare is for rich American tourists who are clueless.. The much cheaper Stagecoach East Scotland Dayrider is allowed on the route.

 

[Butts]

It doesn't help those coaches are ten years old, and the "gizmo" and are rarely used, so there not fit for purpose. I can't see them getting new coaches for that route until 2027, since the X59 will be ahead of the que.




The £20 fare is for rich American tourists who are clueless.. The much cheaper Stagecoach East Scotland Dayrider is allowed on the route.

I wonder if they give that option on boarding ?

 

[route101]

It doesn't help those coaches are ten years old, and the "gizmo" and are rarely used, so there not fit for purpose. I can't see them getting new coaches for that route until 2027, since the X59 will be ahead of the que.




The £20 fare is for rich American tourists who are clueless.. The much cheaper Stagecoach East Scotland Dayrider is allowed on the route.

Surprised that ticket is valid to the airport.

 

[aaronspence]

The quality of whoever has been installing the speakers/LED screens in the buses really is shocking, was it that difficult to remove the poster before sticking the speaker in? Same with the LED screens, they are covering the posters at the front.




(Image shows a round black speaker placed right in the middle of an advertising poster)

 

[N1]

The quality of whoever has been installing the speakers/LED screens in the buses really is shocking, was it that difficult to remove the poster before sticking the speaker in? Same with the LED screens, they are covering the posters at the front.

The deadline for compliance with the latest scope expansion of PSVAIR (Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 is the 1st October 2025, this covers all vehicles introduced between 1st October 2014 and 30th September 2019, sot they have likely ran out of time to do the job properly and are just putting it in as quick as possible.

​

 

[computerSaysNo]

The deadline for compliance with the latest scope expansion of PSVAIR (Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 is the 1st October 2025, this covers all vehicles introduced between 1st October 2014 and 30th September 2019, sot they have likely ran out of time to do the job properly and are just putting it in as quick as possible.

​

Are there any penalties for non compliance?

 

[N1]

Are there any penalties for non compliance?

Enforced by Traffic Comissioner so the usual penalties of conditions, suspension or revoking of licence. I doubt any of those would be used except for operators literally completely ignoring regulations.

 

[318266]

I doubt any of those would be used except for operators literally completely ignoring regulations.

Can think of a number (especially smaller) operators who seemingly have no idea of them, and another few larger groups with such incredibly lacklustre attempts (e.g. placing the boards in but not setting them up, leading to "Next stop: Middleton Bus Station" displaying on several vehicles in Scotland!) to comply with the very stone cold face of the law!

 

[aaronspence]

The deadline for compliance with the latest scope expansion of PSVAIR (Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 is the 1st October 2025, this covers all vehicles introduced between 1st October 2014 and 30th September 2019, sot they have likely ran out of time to do the job properly and are just putting it in as quick as possible.

​

Yeh thats a fair point I suppose, though im not sure peeling the poster off would have taken long, maybe a case of the person installing it was purely there to do just that job and didn't think outside the box.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Yeh thats a fair point I suppose, though im not sure peeling the poster off would have taken long, maybe a case of the person installing it was purely there to do just that job and didn't think outside the box.

There's still plenty of buses that should have them that don't all over the place

 

[overthewater]

Changes are coming in Late November... Alas there is some cuts and I have to say No19 looks to be no longer a cash cow, plus most of the current 65 is also going and so is Tayport to St andrews.

Have your say on proposed service changes - Consultation now open
17 Sep 2025 to 01 Dec 2025
We are inviting customers to share feedback on a number of proposed service changes planned for late November. Draft timetables and details of the proposed adjustments are now available below, alongside a simple feedback form for you to share your views.

These proposals are designed to improve punctuality, reliability, and connections across our network. They reflect detailed analysis of road conditions, traffic measures such as the pavement parking ban, and feedback from both customers and drivers. They also respond to patterns of passenger demand, helping us to match services more closely to how people actually travel.

By making these adjustments, we aim to ensure services are more consistent, while also creating new journey opportunities and connections for local communities. Continued investment in our fleet – including the introduction of 28 new fully electric buses – means we can also allocate newer, higher-capacity vehicles to busy routes, supporting more reliable journeys.

We want to hear your views before any final decisions are made. Please review the draft timetables and proposed changes, and complete the feedback form by 30th September. Here’s a summary of the proposed changes for the end of November 2025, in some cases services have been renumbered or replaced by an alternative, please ensure you review all relevant timetables for your journey.


Fife area

Services 1/1A/2/2A: The evening and Sunday journeys we operate on behalf of Fife Council are replaced by new services 81/81A & 82/82A.

Service 4A: We’re working to improve punctuality on this service, therefore journeys from Dunfermline will no longer run via John Stuart Gait, (Oakley) and instead will serve Saline turning circle before Steelend. Journeys to Dunfermline will continue to run via John Stuart Gait. 

Service 5: This timetable will be reduced to operate weekday peak times only, continuing to provide connections at Ferrytoll P&R for commuters travelling to Edinburgh. We are also introducing a new express service from Duloch Park, serving Halbeath and Ferrytoll Park and Rides, continuing to Edinburgh, which may provide an alternative option, see the timetable for new X57. Service X55 also operates every 20 minutes along Queensferry Road (Dunfermline/Rosyth) to Edinburgh.

Service 8A: Some journeys will run via A907 and not serve Clackmannan. It is hoped that this service could be more punctual for the vast majority of customers as a result, and Clackmannan retains a 2 hourly service to Dunfermline/Alloa.

Service 19: This frequency of this service will be revised with some timing changes taking place to aid punctuality and will also be operated by newer double deck buses to assist with capacity and comfort.

Service 28: A minor timing change – the Monday to Friday 1825 departure from Dunfermline will be retimed to depart at1835. 

Service 36: We are reinstating the Sunday service between Auchtermuchty and Newburgh with connections onto the 65 to Perth available.

Service 38: The timetable will be revised with an hourly frequency and no gaps during the day to facilitate school journeys, due to customer feedback on current situation.

Service 40: This is a new service which replaces both the 42 between Glenrothes and Cupar and the X54 between Cupar and Dundee. It will serve all stops and provide a more reliable service in North East Fife since the X54 was often delayed travelling in and out of Edinburgh. Service 40 can also provide connections in Glenrothes or Cupar for Edinburgh bound X59 journeys. (The frequency of the X59 service from Glenrothes to Edinburgh is increased to assist with connections). The route of service 40 within Dundee city centre is direct to the bus station for quicker arrivals.

Service 41: The timetable will be revised, particularly on Sunday to include extra journeys between Tayport and Dundee. 

Service 42: This service is partially replaced by the new service 40 between Glenrothes and Cupar and this new service also replaces the X54 between Cupar and Dundee. The 42 will now only operate between Tayport and Dundee with an increased frequency of 20 minutes. For later evening journeys between Tayport and Dundee Monday - Saturday and all-day Sunday please see service 41

Service 42A/42B: Service 42A is renumbered to 42 and will operate between Tayport and Dundee only. The frequency increases to 20 minutes and the late night journey from Dundee to Tayport is also retained. Although we will no longer operate the service between Tayport and St Andrews, other operators run local services on this route on behalf of Fife Council. Service 42B is partially replaced by service 41.

Service 43/43A: Revised afternoon timetable to accommodate school journeys.

Service 46: Following feedback regarding reliability we have retimed the service between Leven and Cupar. We have also altered the route within Dundee, the service will operate straight to the bus station after the Tay Road Bridge.

Service 59: Minor retiming to allow for connections on our revised X59 timetable.

Service 65 The service will extend to Perth Royal Infirmary for all journeys. Journeys will no longer operate beyond Newburgh to Cupar and St Andrews due to low passenger usage on this section of the route. Alternative services are available between Cupar and St Andrews on X24, X59, 787 and Moffatt & Williamson service 64.

Service 81/81A: These are new services which partly replace the evening journeys we operate on behalf of Fife Council on services 1/1A/2/2A. Please see the 1/1A/2/2A timetables for details of daytime journeys.

Service 82 /82A: These are new services which partly replace the evening journeys we operate on behalf of Fife Council on services 1/1A/2/2A. Please see the 1/1A/2/2A timetables for details of daytime journeys.

Service X24: The weekday journey from Glenrothes to Dunfermline at 0800 will be withdrawn due to low usage.

Service X54/X54A
This service is replaced by additional X59 journeys between Edinburgh and Glenrothes, and by new service 40 which will operate hourly between Glenrothes and Dundee. Whilst there will no longer be a through service between Dundee and Edinburgh, connections from North East Fife to Edinburgh are available at Cupar or Glenrothes on the service X59.

Service X55
The frequency for this service is revised during the day time to match customer usage. We are also launching a brand new express service, X57 which will operate from Duloch Park to Edinburgh via Halbeath P&R and Ferrytoll P&R providing additional express journeys to the capital.

Service X56
Revised timetable to co-ordinate with other Edinburgh services. 

Service X57
This is a brand new service between Duloch Park and Edinburgh via Halbeath Park & Ride and Ferrytoll Park & Ride. Please note that service 5 continues to offer peak time journeys from Duloch to Ferrytoll P&R to connect with any express services to Edinburgh too.

Service X58
Revised timetable to co-ordinate with other Edinburgh services.

Service X59/X59A
Service X59 service frequency will be increased to maintain the 20 minute service from Glenrothes to Edinburgh. The hourly extension to St Andrews is also maintained. Other journeys are available to Cupar and Dundee by connecting in Glenrothes onto the new service 40. 

Service X60/X60A
These services are replaced by an extended X61 service. Whilst the extended X61 now runs via Halbeath P&R it will no longer serve Dalgety Bay, however the X58 continues to provide journeys from Dalgety Bay into Edinburgh.


Service X61
This service has been extended to St Andrews, replacing the X60 between St Andrews and Edinburgh. Combined with the X58, this provides two buses an hour from Leven and Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh. As this service now runs via Halbeath P&R it will no longer serve Dalgety Bay, however the X58 still provides journeys from Dalgety Bay into Edinburgh.

Perth 
Service 7B
We’re adding additional evening journeys on Friday and Saturday between Mill Street and Hillend/Broxden due to customer feedback and requests.

Service 65
The service will extend to Perth Royal Infirmary for all journeys. Journeys will no longer operate beyond Newburgh to Cupar and St Andrews due to low passenger usage on this section of the route. Alternative services are available between Cupar and St Andrews on X24, X59, 787 and Moffatt & Williamson service 64.

Service X56
Revised timetable to co-ordinate with other Edinburgh services. 

ServiceUpdatesArticle

www.stagecoachbus.com

 

[Scotrail88]

Changes are coming in Late November... Alas there is some cuts and I have to say No19 looks to be no longer a cash cow, plus most of the current 65 is also going and so is Tayport to St andrews.

ServiceUpdatesArticle

www.stagecoachbus.com

Looks like reducing some express services aswell to match cock requirements.

This must be the next biggest cull in Fife given recent cut backs.

Presume if look to pre Covid and even Glasgow down to 3 v 2 then there must be a sharp drop in requirements.

 

[overthewater]

Glasgow used to be every 15mins for a short period before Covid,

To be fair the number of seats compared to when it used to operate every 20mins is roughly the same. The real surprise is the scraping of the X54 from Glenrothes to Dundee, how times have changed. They used to be extra peak runs in the mornings. Even when the X24 got pulled out of Dundee in 2002 changes they still kept the 30min head way on a Saturday from Glenrothes to Dundee and you still couldn't get a seat! I wonder what happened to the demand?

While the Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh routes seems to have died a death aswell being reduced from 3ph to 2ph, It looks like the new train service to Leven might have caused that. It would seem the kids are still paying for the train instead of getting the bus,

 

[Scotrail88]

Glasgow used to be every 15mins for a short period before Covid,

To be fair the number of seats compared to when it used to operate every 20mins is roughly the same. The real surprise is the scraping of the X54 from Glenrothes to Dundee, how times have changed. They used to be extra peak runs in the mornings. Even when the X24 got pulled out of Dundee in 2002 changes they still kept the 30min head way on a Saturday from Glenrothes to Dundee and you still couldn't get a seat! I wonder what happened to the demand?

While the Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh routes seems to have died a death aswell being reduced from 3ph to 2ph, It looks like the new train service to Leven might have caused that. It would seem the kids are still paying for the train instead of getting the bus

Slightly off topic but Cumbernauld as a network must be up for review.

If Fife cutting due to costs then would expect that to be the same.

 

[Fifescottish]

What’s the point in the X57, it only really serves Duloch Tesco by the looks of it, and after cutting the X52 in August they are now cutting the 5. They have lost the plot!

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

What’s the point in the X57, it only really serves Duloch Tesco by the looks of it, and after cutting the X52 in August they are now cutting the 5. They have lost the plot!

The bizarre thing about the X57 is that it doesn’t start/end at Halbeath. Why on earth is it going from Duloch Park, all the way North up to Halbeath, then presumably back down the M90 southbound to Ferrytoll. A very weird and frankly pointless routing. What shouldn’t be a pointless idea on paper, just so badly executed that it’s become pointless.

The attempt at a ‘simplification’ of this network is what’s so badly done. The X61 idea I’m onboard with, as the route of the X60 is so slow that it’s lost any meaningful benefit. As suggested above, the local journeys along the coast have been lost to the train. The X60 has always felt like one of those routes that is loads of little journeys joined up onto one really long route. To be honest, I’m surprised they didn’t just opt to up the 95 to half hourly and do away with the coach service past Leven, keeping the X58 as it is of course. Not saying this would be a good idea, just one that given the times would certainly save money. Though the X61 choice is probably a wise one over the X60. It does leave Dalgety Bay/Inverkeithing to Edinburgh noticeably short though, even if the train is the obvious winner here.

The 40 just feels like a way of reducing the coach fleet down. Presumably this will be regular single decks? The X59A doesn’t fit well into the Glenrothes timetable either, with a confusing frequency set up. Though this is an issue that was already present.

If I’m reading this correctly, then the X57 gets the LE’s from the X61 and then the X61 gets the Elites from the X60? The loss of the X54 will surely result in Glenrothes losing a few coaches though? The X59 will get some but won’t need them all.

 

[overthewater]

Looking at the scores on the door there will be a reduction of around 9-10 buses/coaches off the road. You have to wonder what Fife council will do now? will it bring back the 94 and kill off the M63?

No one seems to have notice one important point. Most X61 are interwork at peak runs with X27, So how is that going to work? Will we see cut to the X27 at some point?

The attempt at a ‘simplification’ of this network is what’s so badly done. The X61 idea I’m onboard with, as the route of the X60 is so slow that it’s lost any meaningful benefit. As suggested above, the local journeys along the coast have been lost to the train. The X60 has always felt like one of those routes that is loads of little journeys joined up onto one really long route. To be honest, I’m surprised they didn’t just opt to up the 95 to half hourly and do away with the coach service past Leven. Not saying this would be a good idea, just one that given the times would certainly save money. Though the X61 choice is probably a wise one over the X60. It does leave Dalgety Bay/Inverkeithing to Edinburgh noticeably short though, even if the train is the obvious winner here.

You would get a surprise at HOW many tourist and students still use the X60 From Edinburgh for a day trip to the East Neuk, which is probably why that is still kept. Dalgety Bay doesn't really lose out as most of the time X60 just fly's past the Bay and only stops at the train station. They is one winner out of these changes, Halbeath P&R will now get its 10mins freq back at off peak times.

If I’m reading this correctly, then the X57 gets the LE’s from the X61 and then the X61 gets the Elites from the X60? The loss of the X54 will surely result in Glenrothes losing a few coaches though? The X59 will get some but won’t need them all.

Spot on.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Changes with the 19 I'm guessing the 16 plate E400MMCs will probably for this and probably a mix of 19 plates as well

 

[Fifescottish]

The X57 would surely be better running Halbeath P&R - Duloch - Lapwing Dr - A823 - Ferrytoll than this pointless route than nobody will use st the moment!

And the 1/2 change to an 81/82 again, they tried this years ago and it was stupid then and still is!

 

[Megafuss]

Admittedly, I don't know the actual passenger numbers, but reducing the X55 on Saturday daytime from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes seems, on the face of it, shortsighted

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Changes with the 19 I'm guessing the 16 plate E400MMCs will probably for this and probably a mix of 19 plates as well

Could the 19 sustain deckers all the time? Then that would allow Dunfermline to lose its E300’s to Glenrothes for the 40?

 

[GordonT]

I'm surprised that Stagecoach has over the years given up on its Dundee to Glenrothes and Edinburgh "Stagecoach Express" traffic. The lack of a centrally located rail station in Glenrothes made a direct service between Glenrothes and Dundee via the A92 a no-brainer up until a previous change, rather than a "plodder" via Cupar which will take over an hour on the "new 40".

 

[overthewater]

I'm going to play devils advocate here, I think there are "OTHER" reasons why the X54 has been killed off, saying it runs late is rather poor, X58/60 are bigger offenders.

Back in the 90s when the original X54 started your only other choice to travel between Dundee and Edinburgh was Citylink and the fares were higher and every 2 hours you had to change at Perth, So Stagecoach hoovered up a good number of passengers. But now Citylink has upped its game, your also have Ember which is every 30min and take just as long at 2 hours.

The other reason, talk on the grapevine is Stagecoach are planning to get more double deck coaches for the X59 route ( which did interwork with the X54), here problem. If there is high winds on the forth they can just go via Queensferry crossing, If there high winds on Tay bridge what do you do? you would have to start swapping vehicles over.

I'm surprised that Stagecoach has over the years given up on its Dundee to Glenrothes and Edinburgh "Stagecoach Express" traffic. The lack of a centrally located rail station in Glenrothes made a direct service between Glenrothes and Dundee via the A92 a no-brainer up until a previous change, rather than a "plodder" via Cupar which will take over an hour on the "new 40".

Its still a busy corridor, and even when the X26 was running via Cupar it was still possible to do the route in 45mins. Stagecoach just like few other places seems to have lost its way, the network since covid has been dreadful yet the is still a lot of cars running about..

Admittedly, I don't know the actual passenger numbers, but reducing the X55 on Saturday daytime from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes seems, on the face of it, shortsighted

Wait till you notice there is 40min gap in morning peak going into Edinburgh. They could do with some extra runs at night, you can still get full bus leaving Edinburgh.

The X57 would surely be better running Halbeath P&R - Duloch - Lapwing Dr - A823 - Ferrytoll than this pointless route than nobody will use st the moment!

And the 1/2 change to an 81/82 again, they tried this years ago and it was stupid then and still is!

The New 81/82 are not the same as the daytime No1 or No2. The 82 do not operate via Duloch, think of the old D5/D6

 

[aaronspence]

Tayport folk needing to go to Dundee to switch to get to St Andrews seems a bit of a flawed plan unless I've misread those plans. The 99 doesn't even stop at bridge access to make an eaiser connection.