Bad (but not wholly unexpected) news - and at least Stagecoach publicise these kinds of changes in plenty of time to object, rather that people finding out at very short notice - with proposed timetables too rather than just 'revised route and timetable'
The 5 is a shame, Stagecoach have certainly tried various things with Dulloch Park, it feels like there ought to be a market there (connections for Edinburgh etc)
The X57 number returns as the third completely different Edinburgh route (originally it was an Anstruther service, then a Cowdenbeath route). But no Edinburgh - Dulloch Park service between 15:05 and 18:05?
The 40 returns as the number of a Cupar - Pitlessie route (it was once the twice daily Kirkcaldy - Markinch - Cupar route)
Since service buses have been used on long distance expresses, and given the reliability problems with local Fife journeys dependant on Edinburgh congestion, I can see the logic of the 40. A similar thing was done with the Leven - Largoward - St Andrews route ( being a stand alone 97) before that went back to being an extension of the Edinburgh service
(and the 40 interworks with the 38 at Glenrothes)
The 65? Well, it was the kind of ambitious expansion that people criticise bus companies for not doing, it felt like a missing link on the map, it's a shame that it's not been sustainable in it's current form
Unless I'm missing something, the first two northbound 59s seem to completely miss any connection with the X59, leaving Glenrothes nine minutes before the hourly coach arrives. Is that a mistake/ does it coordinate with the X24 instead? Maybe it's just not a priority but I'd have thought that some connection was not important than maintaining a half hourly service in the other direction?
M&W get a mention for an alternative Cupar - St Andrews bus (in lieu of the 65), but the Tayport - St Andrews link is just a vague 'other operators'
Probably not surprising to see the 42A coming off, Tayport to St Andrews always felt like a strange corridor to sustain two operators (especially with one tendered). At least the twenty minute Dundee service is an improvement (at the obvious cost of the St A link). No Strathkinness service by Stagecoach now
No cuts/diversions attributed to the pavement parking ban though? I'd certainly understood that there were 'issues' in parts of Dunfermline with badly parked cars disrupting bus routes
And also, no tweaks to routes like the Kirkcaldy town services, which seemed to get ripped up and and revised every few years. Maybe they've got it right this time. Same goes for the increased PVR on St Andrews locals (last year?), hopefully these kind of routes are sustainable
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