Stagecoach East Scotland

[overthewater]

To be fair you have to wonder how stagecoach even thought it could get away winning the contract knowing full will that within a year they would need to replace 50 buses.. At the same time, Rennis, like most company in the area were never know to have newish deckers for the school work.

In relation to Stagecoach there is still Trident in front line service down in England, so unless the tenders really made big money I doubt it's worth all the hassle.

Over the summer they will be some major fleet movements with all the electrics coming, and decker's moving about, Where has the E200MMC which was highlighted got to from last years post.

 

[ajrm]

This requirement for all vehicles operating on service work and school services in Fife to be Euro 5 is going to be a fairly painful transition.

School contracts only, surely?

 

[Ohnolookwho]

School contracts only, surely?

Nope, it may just be School and Tendered runs, but I was led to believe it was for all registered services, and given the Council own both P&Rs and all the Fife bus stations except St. Andrews, they can fairly easily enforce a EuroV restriction on services.

 

[ajrm]

Nope, it may just be School and Tendered runs, but I was led to believe it was for all registered services, and given the Council own both P&Rs and all the Fife bus stations except St. Andrews, they can fairly easily enforce a EuroV restriction on services.

Tendered services was what I meant, sorry.

The restriction is set out in Fife Council's spec for tendered bus services so it doesn't apply to normal registered services.

Interestingly, in this version of the policy (dated 2023)

https://www.fife.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/375214/Terms-and-Conditions-Bus-and-Coach-2.pdf

the Euro V restriction applies from August 2024 until August 2028, at which point it shifts to Euro VI. Perhaps the cut-off date was subsequently shifted by a year?

 

[Stan Drews]

Tendered services was what I meant, sorry.

The restriction is set out in Fife Council's spec for tendered bus services so it doesn't apply to normal registered services.

Interestingly, in this version of the policy (dated 2023)

https://www.fife.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/375214/Terms-and-Conditions-Bus-and-Coach-2.pdf

the Euro V restriction applies from August 2024 until August 2028, at which point it shifts to Euro VI. Perhaps the cut-off date was subsequently shifted by a year?

Yes, they had a years grace, hence the hard line for Aug 2025.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Can anyone write a summary of the Fife Express services when they were at their most extensive (2019?)? I found the below article which talks about an X26 and X57 but doesn't say what those were. Thanks!

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/busines...oach-express-coach-services-from-fife-1311332

New and improved Stagecoach Express coach services from Fife
Coaches now run up to every 4 minutes from Ferrytoll Park & Ride to Edinburgh, after Stagecoach unveiled new and enhanced services across its Express City Connect network.

The changes also see cheaper day return fares on selected routes, as well as an improvement to both the reliability and frequency of services.

The new and improved services started on Monday, July 29, following a review of Stagecoach East Scotland’s network of services, and consultation with customers and local councils.

The award-winning Express City Connect network operates high quality coach services across Fife and into Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Perth and Aberdeen. Feedback showed a demand for a higher frequency of Express services between Fife and Edinburgh, as well as faster journey times.

As a result, there are a number of additional services, faster routes and increased frequencies; new and improved day return tickets have also been introduced for journeys into Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee on the Express network, making Stagecoach’s luxury coach services an attractive travel option for day trippers.

The introduction of services X52, X57 and X61 will increase services between Ferrytoll Park & Ride and Edinburgh to up to every 4 minutes at peak times and services from Halbeath Park & Ride to Edinburgh will run up to every 10 minutes during the day.

Douglas Robertson, managing director of Stagecoach East Scotland, thanked everyone who had given their views during the consultation. He added: “These changes have come about after much discussion and we are satisfied that they offer our customers increased reliability, improved frequency and better value.”

The Express City Connect network provides the latest in luxury coach travel, including features such as free WiFi access, mobile device-charging points, reclining leather seats, air-conditioning, plus some services also have a toilet on board.

Kirkcaldy sees major improvements to Edinburgh, with service X60 now operating up to every 20 minutes during the day and rerouted via Chapel and Halbeath Park & Ride to offer faster journeys and greater choice of boarding points. Customers boarding at Chapel can reach the city centre within 45 minutes, for an introductory price of only £7 return.

Services into Dundee have also been improved, with new links from Kirkcaldy and Leven on service X58. Service X54 will provide hourly low-floor journeys between Ninewells to Cupar and Glenrothes. Combined with services X26 and X58, journeys between Cupar and Dundee will now run up to every 20 minutes. And frequency to Forth Valley Royal Hospital has been boosted, with services X24, X26 and X27 providing up to four journeys per hour.

In addition, a new introductory day-return of £10 for journeys between West Fife and Glasgow will be available, cutting the cost of travelling from Dunfermline by up to £6.

The network has received the accolade of Top Express Operation at the UK Coach Awards four times since 2015, as well as numerous commendations for the successful operation of individual routes and for its marketing campaigns.

For more information about Stagecoach Express services, visit www.stagecoachbus.com.

 

[overthewater]

The service changes information is still in this thread but to keep things simple here it is again: As it stands, that X26 started In 2018, Also there were 12ph between Ferrytoll P&R and Edinburgh currently its 11ph.

Service Changes across Fife, Perth & Kinross, Dundee & Angus from Monday 29 July08 Jul 2019 to 26 Aug 2019


After reviewing our network of services and carrying out consultation with our customers, along with local councils, we are making service changes to our Express City Connect network, as well as some local services across Fife, Perth & Kinross, Dundee & Angus from Monday 29 July 2019.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback during the consultation period. A summary of the changes can be found below, with new timetables available week commencing Monday 8 July.

Summary by area

Ferrytoll P&R

The peak time journey frequency will be increased to 4 minutes to/from Edinburgh, with off peak journey frequency increased to every 5 minutes to Edinburgh. More non-stop journeys will provide faster journeys into the city centre, including off peak journeys for the first time. All services will now stop at Orchard Brae.

Halbeath P&R

There will be daytime frequency increases to offer a journey to Edinburgh every 10 minutes. Evening frequencies will increase from hourly to a half hourly. The Sunday frequency is improved during the day to offer a service to Edinburgh every 20 minutes. Most journeys are now non-stop between Ferrytoll P&R and Orchard Brae to provide faster journeys and service X59 continues to offer an hourly limited stop service from Halbeath. (Other services from Ferrytoll will continue to serve intermediate stops, X55/X57/X58).

Dalgety Bay/Inverkeithing

Routes are revised within Dalgety Bay to offer more coverage of the town. All journeys now operate via Inverkeithing High School.

Dunfermline/Rosyth

A new X52 to Edinburgh Bristo Square via Halbeath Road, Duloch Park and Ferrytoll enhances the journey opportunities between Dunfermline and Edinburgh along with the existing X55.

Glenrothes

The off-peak service to Edinburgh is enhanced to offer 3 departures an hour through the introduction of the X61. The X54 service is revised to operate between Glenrothes and Ninewells only which will be operated using low floor single deck vehicles following customer requests.

Kirkcaldy

Service X58 will continue to serve the coastal areas of Kirkcaldy every hour as present, whereas service X60 is rerouted via Hendry Road and Chapel Level with a much enhanced frequency introduced, offering departures every 20 minutes and offering the fastest journey times from Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh. In the evenings, the X58 and X60 will now offer 2 journeys per hour whilst Sunday daytimes offer a half hourly X60 and an hourly X58.

Introduction of the X58 extension beyond Leven to serve Cupar and Dundee reintroduces direct links to Dundee which were removed last year, but now with much shorter journey times.

Levenmouth

The basic timing pattern of the X58 and X60 to Edinburgh remains as present serving the coastal villages and into the East Neuk. Extending the X58 to Dundee via Kennoway and Cupar offers Leven its first direct link to Dundee for many years and with a fast journey time. This replaces the commercial elements of service 41 as the 41 is withdrawn. Windygates and Cameron Hospital will lose their direct service to Kirkcaldy, although connections are available at Leven bus station, and Cameron Hospital will continue to be served by the 44.

New service X61 (which replaces the X4) creates new links from the inland area of Leven and Windygates direct to Edinburgh via Glenrothes at peak times, with connections available during off-peak periods. The journey times from Leven to Edinburgh are improved.

Cupar

Services to Dundee are enhanced with the addition of the X58 to the existing X26/X54 frequency offering a 20 minute frequency during the day. The X58 also improves the current off-peak 2 hourly service to Kirkcaldy, to provide hourly journeys. Service X54 will now be operated by low floor single deck vehicles operation following feedback from customers.


Service 41: Kirkcaldy/Leven – Kennoway - Cupar
Daytime journeys on Monday – Saturday will be withdrawn. Alternative travel between Kirkcaldy and Cupar is available on the new hourly X58 (see below). Service 44/44A will continue to serve Cameron Hospital. Ceres will continue to be served by the Moffat and Williamson services 41B and 64/64A. (New multi-operator ticketing will be available in this area from early June) No changes are planned to Fife Council evening and Sunday journeys.


Service 53 Glenrothes – Ladybank – Cupar – Tayport - Dundee
This service is renumbered X54 (see below) with minor adjustments to the timetable.

Service 56: Perth – Bridge of Earn – Milnathort - Kinross
The journeys introduced last year between Dunfermline and Kinross will be withdrawn due to poor usage. Connections between Dunfermline and Kinross will be available on the X56 changing at Halbeath Park and Ride. The 1435 journey from Perth will terminate in Glenfarg.

Service X4: Leven – Markinch - Glenrothes
This service will be replaced by the X61 (see below).
Service Type: Commercial.

Service X5: Dunfermline – Ferrytoll P&R - Edinburgh
Service withdrawn but is replaced by the new X52 service (see below) to enhance the Halbeath to Edinburgh frequency.


Service X9: Glenrothes – Halbeath P&R – Ferrytoll P&R - Edinburgh
Service withdrawn but is replaced by new X61 service (see below).

Service X24/X26: St Andrews/Dundee – Glenrothes - Halbeath P&R - Dunfermline – Kincardine – Glasgow
Revised timetable to improve reliability. Early morning journeys to Dundee will operate direct to the bus station no longer serving the rail station or Crichton Street in order to speed up commuting journeys. Braehead will now be served after Glasgow Airport with journeys operating a loop of both - this is to avoid heavy traffic on the way to the airport, which is a more popular journey than Braehead at present.
Consultation Changes: X24 journeys for St Andrews moved to stance 6 at Glenrothes bus station. Revise departure times from Braehead to fit bus station departure slots. Saturday early morning intermediate journey times amended. 0640 X26 Saturday journey from Glenrothes to Dundee added.

Service X27: Leven – Kirkcaldy – Halbeath P&R - Dunfermline – Kincardine – Glasgow
All journeys now serve Forth Valley Hospital at Larbert providing four journeys an hour along with the X24/X26 to and from Glasgow, Cumbernauld and Dunfermline. Additional journeys will be provided to/from Leven. Additional journeys will also be provided in the evening between Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline.
Consultation Changes: 0710 journey from Leven on a Saturday retimed.

Service X37: Chapel – Kirkcaldy – Glenrothes – Pitcairn
Minor adjustments to the timetable.
Consultation Changes: Extra peak journey time added on 1648,1718,1748 journeys from Glen Bruar Place Monday to Friday. Subsequent return journeys will now depart five minutes later.

Service X52: Dunfermline – Duloch Park - Edinburgh
This is a new service running between Dunfermline and Edinburgh Bristo Square via Halbeath Road, Duloch Park and Rosyth at peak times, Monday to Friday. There will three AM and three PM journeys Monday – Thursday with four PM journeys on a Friday. Journeys will run non-stop between Ferrytoll P&R and Orchard Brae in both directions to speed up commuter journeys.
Consultation Changes: Added timing point at Lapwing Drive.

Service X54: Ninewells – Dundee – Cupar - Glenrothes
Revised to operate between Ninewells and Glenrothes only. Low floor single deck vehicles will operate on the route following feedback from customers. Journeys between Glenrothes and Edinburgh will be available using thenew service X61 (see below).
Consultation Changes: Saturday morning journey from Dundee retimed to depart at 0735.

Service X55/N55: Dunfermline – Rosyth – Ferrytoll P&R – Edinburgh
A revised timetable will be introduced to improve reliability and co-ordinate with revisions to other Edinburgh services to maintain a consistent frequency. Travel to and from Bristo Square will now be provided by new service X52.

Service X56: Perth – Kinross – Halbeath P&R – Ferrytoll P&R - Edinburgh
A revised timetable will be introduced to create more evening journeys, improve reliability and co-ordinate with revisions to other Edinburgh services to maintain a consistent frequency.

Service X57: Dalgety Bay – Ferrytoll P&R - Edinburgh
A new service X57 will be introduced, replacing parts of the X60 between Dalgety Bay and Edinburgh along with a revised X58 (See below). The existing morning and evening journey frequency will be maintained at every 20 minutes between Dalgety Bay and Edinburgh and will provide two journeys per hour during the daytime. Some morning and evening journeys will operate via Burntisland to/from Kirkcaldy.


Service X58: Dundee – Cupar – Leven – Kirkcaldy – Dalgety Bay – Ferrytoll - Edinburgh
Service X58 is extended from Leven via Cupar to Dundee to provide an hourly service linking Kirkcaldy and Dundee in around 90 minutes. This service combines with X26 and X54 to offer a 20 minute frequency between Cupar and Dundee.
Consultation Changes: Leven to Dundee stance at Leven bus station changed to stance 6. Early morning timing amendments Monday to Friday to coincide with Ferrytoll departures to Edinburgh. Added stop at Inverkeithing Church Street.

Service X59/X59A: St Andrews – Cupar – Glenrothes – Cowdenbeath (X59A) – Halbeath P&R – Ferrytoll P&R -Edinburgh
A revised timetable will be introduced with additional evening journeys to St Andrews.
Consultation Changes: Journeys for St Andrews now depart stance 6 at Glenrothes bus station. 0830 Glenrothes to St Andrews journey added on a Saturday.

Service X60: St Andrews – Anstruther – Leven – Kirkcaldy – Halbeath P&R – Ferrytoll P&R – Edinburgh
This service will be rerouted in Kirkcaldy to operate via Chapel Level and Halbeath P&R rather than Dalgety Bay, providing a 20 minute journey frequency from Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh via Halbeath offering the fastest possible journey into Edinburgh. An hourly evening, and half hourly Sunday timetable will also be introduced.
Consultation Changes: Route revised in Anstruther. Service to St Andrews will operate via High Street, Crail Road, Toll Road, Fowler Street, Burnside Terrace, East Green, East Shore, Shore Street, St Andrews Road then normal route to St Andrews. The reverse of the route will be followed for services to Edinburgh.

Service X61: Leven - Glenrothes – Halbeath P&R – Ferrytoll P&R - Edinburgh
This new service partly replaces service X54 between Glenrothes and Edinburgh via Cowdenbeath and Halbeath P&R. Combined with service X59, the overall frequency will increase from two journeys an hour to journeys every 20 minutes for much of the day (every 30 minutes on Sundays). This will also replace service X4 between Leven and Glenrothes offering new links from areas of Levenmouth and Markinch into Edinburgh. Journeys will run non-stop between Ferrytoll P&R and Orchard Brae in both directions. Co-ordinated with the X59 & X60, there will be a journey between Halbeath P&R and Edinburgh up to every 10 minutes during the day.
Consultation Changes: Journeys retimed between Leven bus station, Diageo and Windygates.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The service changes information is still in this thread but to keep things simple here it is again: As it stands, that X26 started In 2018, Also there were 12ph between Ferrytoll P&R and Edinburgh currently its 11ph.

I guess it would be very easy to conclude that most of this is dead for good with countless market changes since. Mind you there were plenty of changes made there that I didn’t understand the point of then that I still don’t understand the point of now.

 

[tbtc]

It was (and probably always will be) the high watermark for 'Express' services in Fife - everything scheduled for coach operation unless specified)

Glasgow to Halbeath was every fifteen minutes:
Half hourly to Chapel and Kirkcaldy (X27)
Half hourly to Glenrothes, Cupar, Dairsie (X24 to St Andrews, X26 to Dundee)
Hourly from Glasgow to the Airport/Braehead (X24)
Hourly from Glasgow to Livingston, Ferrytoll and Dunfermline (X51)


Edinburgh was every five minutes to Ferrytoll (half of which continued to Halbeath), which continued as follows:
Every twenty minutes to Dalgety Bay (X57 covered most of the town, X58 continued beyond Kirkcaldy to Leven, Kennoway, Cupar, Dairsie, Dundee)
Every twenty minutes to Dunfermline (X55)
Every twenty minutes to Halbeath, Chapel, Kirkcaldy, continuing hourly to Upper Largo, A'inster, St Andrews (X60)
Every hour to Kelty, Kinross Perth (X56)
Every hour to Glenrothes, Cupar, Dairsie, St Andrews (X59)
Every hour to Cowdenbeath, Glenrothes, Leven (X61)

Dundee was every twenty minutes to Dairsie, Cupar (X26 to Glenrothes, Dunfermline, Glasgow, X54 was buses to Ladybank, Glenrothes, and to Ninewells in the other direction, X58 to Edinburgh via Kennoway, Leven, Kirkcaldy, Edinburgh)

Some of the inter-Fife frequencies were as follows:

Four/hour from Halbeath - Chapel - Kirkcaldy
Four/hour from Halbeath - Glenrothes
Three/hour from Halbeath - Glenrothes - Cupar - Dairsie
Four/hour from Ferrytoll - Kirkcaldy (most via Halbeath and Chapel, one via Dalgety Bay)
Three/hour from Ferrytoll - Leven (one via Glenrothes, one via Chapel, one via Dalgety Bay)

... so lots of connections theoretically available for those prepared to change. That's assuming that reliability was good (given that the X24 was coming from Glasgow Airport, the X58 was running a complicated route from Edinburgh to Dundee via Leven, the hourly service from Glenrothes to Leven was now at the mercy of Edinburgh traffic etc)

However some routes had lower services than before/today:

Balmullo has a faster Edinburgh service now it's the X54, compared to the days when the only through link was the X58 via Leven - the X54 was truncated at Glenrothes in that era)
The St Andrews - Largoward - Leven service was an hourly bus (97), which interworked with the existing 95 to provide a half hourly Lower Largo to Leven bus, drivers essentially doing a loop that went via the coast in one direction and over the hill in the other

One quirk is that the X26 was now the number for what had been the most of the old X24 from Glasgow to Dundee (albeit via Cupar not Ladybank) and the X24 was now the number for what was once most of the X26, (albeit the original X26 had run via Kirkcaldy)

(this is from memory so apologies for any errors, I can't be certain of the Dalgety Bay to Kirkcaldy frequencies as the East Neuk service certainly switched between the Dalgety Bay route and the Halbeath/Chapel route then back again over the years, I think some but not all X27s ran via Cowdenbeath, I can't remember if there were a few local links retained like Cupar to Tayport - it feels like more than six years ago, a different world with no Ember/ Covid etc, the Queensferry Crossing was just a couple of years old, but it was a time when Halbeath had a better fast service to both Glasgow and Edinburgh than a lot of towns in the traditional commuter belt for those cities)

 

[NorthOxonian]

It was (and probably always will be) the high watermark for 'Express' services in Fife - everything scheduled for coach operation unless specified)

Glasgow to Halbeath was every fifteen minutes:
Half hourly to Chapel and Kirkcaldy (X27)
Half hourly to Glenrothes, Cupar, Dairsie (X24 to St Andrews, X26 to Dundee)
Hourly from Glasgow to the Airport/Braehead (X24)
Hourly from Glasgow to Livingston, Ferrytoll and Dunfermline (X51)


Edinburgh was every five minutes to Ferrytoll (half of which continued to Halbeath), which continued as follows:
Every twenty minutes to Dalgety Bay (X57 covered most of the town, X58 continued beyond Kirkcaldy to Leven, Kennoway, Cupar, Dairsie, Dundee)
Every twenty minutes to Dunfermline (X55)
Every twenty minutes to Halbeath, Chapel, Kirkcaldy, continuing hourly to Upper Largo, A'inster, St Andrews (X60)
Every hour to Kelty, Kinross Perth (X56)
Every hour to Glenrothes, Cupar, Dairsie, St Andrews (X59)
Every hour to Cowdenbeath, Glenrothes, Leven (X61)

Dundee was every twenty minutes to Dairsie, Cupar (X26 to Glenrothes, Dunfermline, Glasgow, X54 was buses to Ladybank, Glenrothes, and to Ninewells in the other direction, X58 to Edinburgh via Kennoway, Leven, Kirkcaldy, Edinburgh)

Some of the inter-Fife frequencies were as follows:

Four/hour from Halbeath - Chapel - Kirkcaldy
Four/hour from Halbeath - Glenrothes
Three/hour from Halbeath - Glenrothes - Cupar - Dairsie
Four/hour from Ferrytoll - Kirkcaldy (most via Halbeath and Chapel, one via Dalgety Bay)
Three/hour from Ferrytoll - Leven (one via Glenrothes, one via Chapel, one via Dalgety Bay)

... so lots of connections theoretically available for those prepared to change. That's assuming that reliability was good (given that the X24 was coming from Glasgow Airport, the X58 was running a complicated route from Edinburgh to Dundee via Leven, the hourly service from Glenrothes to Leven was now at the mercy of Edinburgh traffic etc)

However some routes had lower services than before/today:

Balmullo has a faster Edinburgh service now it's the X54, compared to the days when the only through link was the X58 via Leven - the X54 was truncated at Glenrothes in that era)
The St Andrews - Largoward - Leven service was an hourly bus (97), which interworked with the existing 95 to provide a half hourly Lower Largo to Leven bus, drivers essentially doing a loop that went via the coast in one direction and over the hill in the other

One quirk is that the X26 was now the number for what had been the most of the old X24 from Glasgow to Dundee (albeit via Cupar not Ladybank) and the X24 was now the number for what was once most of the X26, (albeit the original X26 had run via Kirkcaldy)

(this is from memory so apologies for any errors, I can't be certain of the Dalgety Bay to Kirkcaldy frequencies as the East Neuk service certainly switched between the Dalgety Bay route and the Halbeath/Chapel route then back again over the years, I think some but not all X27s ran via Cowdenbeath, I can't remember if there were a few local links retained like Cupar to Tayport - it feels like more than six years ago, a different world with no Ember/ Covid etc, the Queensferry Crossing was just a couple of years old, but it was a time when Halbeath had a better fast service to both Glasgow and Edinburgh than a lot of towns in the traditional commuter belt for those cities)

In fairness, the service isn't that much worse now - as you say there have been winners and losers. Ferrytoll actually seems to have seen its frequency remain unchanged (with a few gaps, but not many) - the X55 seems to run four times per hour now and the X59 has an X59A variant doubling its frequency, which has made up for the loss of the X57 and reductions on some services. Halbeath, however, seems to have seen a more noticeable reduction - with a few 15 minute gaps creeping in and only 5 buses per hour which isn't quite turn up and go in the way Ferrytoll is (some users could make use of the Citylinks which call in, but the overlap between park and ride users and concessionary card holders won't be huge, so cost is an issue for most).

I suspect a combination of significant expansion, some towns with poor rail connections (such as Glenrothes), and difficulties with parking in Edinburgh have probably helped Fife keep a stronger Express network than you might otherwise expect. In the long run, improvements to the rail network (like the Leven connection) could chip away at things.

But equally there could be opportunities to strengthen - I wonder if an all day variant of the X52 may be considered at some stage, given the fact eastern Dunfermline seems to have expanded at a rate of knots - and it isn't close to either the station(s) or the X55. Admittedly it's largely car dominated large family homes, who I assume generally either drive for local journeys or use Halbeath/Ferrytoll for Edinburgh, but there's possibly an opportunity there. Kelty also seems to be getting a fair bit of new housing; I wonder if X56 shorts have been considered (as a side effect, that could bump Halbeath back up to turn up and go frequencies)... regardless of any speculation though, I suspect in ten years the Fife express network may well have morphed again into a new pattern!

 

[roadierway77]

But equally there could be opportunities to strengthen - I wonder if an all day variant of the X52 may be considered at some stage, given the fact eastern Dunfermline seems to have expanded at a rate of knots - and it isn't close to either the station(s) or the X55. Admittedly it's largely car dominated large family homes, who I assume generally either drive for local journeys or use Halbeath/Ferrytoll for Edinburgh, but there's possibly an opportunity there.

I'd like to see an all-day X52 but I'm not sure if there would be demand, the few times I've used it (at peak times) it has had good loads but then again I caught the number 5 from Ferrytoll to the Leisure Park last month which runs a very similar route and it was absolutely dead.

 

[overthewater]

It was (and probably always will be) the high watermark for 'Express' services in Fife - everything scheduled for coach operation unless specified)

Glasgow to Halbeath was every fifteen minutes:
Half hourly to Chapel and Kirkcaldy (X27)
Half hourly to Glenrothes, Cupar, Dairsie (X24 to St Andrews, X26 to Dundee)
Hourly from Glasgow to the Airport/Braehead (X24)
Hourly from Glasgow to Livingston, Ferrytoll and Dunfermline (X51)

Edinburgh was every five minutes to Ferrytoll (half of which continued to Halbeath), which continued as follows:
Every twenty minutes to Dalgety Bay (X57 covered most of the town, X58 continued beyond Kirkcaldy to Leven, Kennoway, Cupar, Dairsie, Dundee)
Every twenty minutes to Dunfermline (X55)

Some of the inter-Fife frequencies were as follows:
Four/hour from Halbeath - Chapel - Kirkcaldy
Four/hour from Halbeath - Glenrothes

Minor correction:
* Every 30 minutes to Dalgety Bay (X57 covered most of the town, X58 continued beyond Kirkcaldy to Leven, Kennoway, Cupar, Dairsie, Dundee) X57 extend to and from Kirkcaldy at Peak times only - Odd thing is the X57 was the service that aways run empty.
* 5 /hour from Halbeath - Chapel - Kirkcaldy, Three X60 and two X27.

In fairness, the service isn't that much worse now - as you say there have been winners and losers. Ferrytoll actually seems to have seen its frequency remain unchanged (with a few gaps, but not many) - the X55 seems to run four times per hour now and the X59 has an X59A variant doubling its frequency, which has made up for the loss of the X57 and reductions on some services. Halbeath, however, seems to have seen a more noticeable reduction - with a few 15 minute gaps creeping in and only 5 buses per hour which isn't quite turn up and go in the way Ferrytoll is (some users could make use of the Citylinks which call in, but the overlap between park and ride users and concessionary card holders won't be huge, so cost is an issue for most).

I suspect a combination of significant expansion, some towns with poor rail connections (such as Glenrothes), and difficulties with parking in Edinburgh have probably helped Fife keep a stronger Express network than you might otherwise expect. In the long run, improvements to the rail network (like the Leven connection) could chip away at things.

But equally there could be opportunities to strengthen - I wonder if an all day variant of the X52 may be considered at some stage, given the fact eastern Dunfermline seems to have expanded at a rate of knots - and it isn't close to either the station(s) or the X55. Admittedly it's largely car dominated large family homes, who I assume generally either drive for local journeys or use Halbeath/Ferrytoll for Edinburgh, but there's possibly an opportunity there. Kelty also seems to be getting a fair bit of new housing; I wonder if X56 shorts have been considered (as a side effect, that could bump Halbeath back up to turn up and go frequencies)... regardless of any speculation though, I suspect in ten years the Fife express network may well have morphed again into a new pattern!

The missing bus is from Halbeath, and if we were ever to get the 12th one back they would need to really do something to increase the parking at the site. The ivory is 5 years ago this point was highlighted then covid stuck and no one had the foresight to do some work to generate more spaces. I suspect they they could Double the spaces and still fill the place up. Cuper still has 2 fast buses to Dundee instead of 3. While Glasgow has ended up with Deckers but 170 sets per hour is will down on the 230 seats that were up for grabs,

If the X52 was to become Daytime it would hack back to the oringal old X58, which used to operate around Dunfermline housing estate to Edinburgh. No5 isn't bad but it runs nearly on top of the 89. Thats a good call on Extra X56 but I doubt that will happen anytime soon.

 

[computerSaysNo]

The service changes information is still in this thread but to keep things simple here it is again: As it stands, that X26 started In 2018, Also there were 12ph between Ferrytoll P&R and Edinburgh currently its 11ph.

I guess it would be very easy to conclude that most of this is dead for good with countless market changes since. Mind you there were plenty of changes made there that I didn’t understand the point of then that I still don’t understand the point of now.

It was (and probably always will be) the high watermark for 'Express' services in Fife - everything scheduled for coach operation unless specified)

Glasgow to Halbeath was every fifteen minutes:
Half hourly to Chapel and Kirkcaldy (X27)
Half hourly to Glenrothes, Cupar, Dairsie (X24 to St Andrews, X26 to Dundee)
Hourly from Glasgow to the Airport/Braehead (X24)
Hourly from Glasgow to Livingston, Ferrytoll and Dunfermline (X51)


Edinburgh was every five minutes to Ferrytoll (half of which continued to Halbeath), which continued as follows:
Every twenty minutes to Dalgety Bay (X57 covered most of the town, X58 continued beyond Kirkcaldy to Leven, Kennoway, Cupar, Dairsie, Dundee)
Every twenty minutes to Dunfermline (X55)
Every twenty minutes to Halbeath, Chapel, Kirkcaldy, continuing hourly to Upper Largo, A'inster, St Andrews (X60)
Every hour to Kelty, Kinross Perth (X56)
Every hour to Glenrothes, Cupar, Dairsie, St Andrews (X59)
Every hour to Cowdenbeath, Glenrothes, Leven (X61)

Dundee was every twenty minutes to Dairsie, Cupar (X26 to Glenrothes, Dunfermline, Glasgow, X54 was buses to Ladybank, Glenrothes, and to Ninewells in the other direction, X58 to Edinburgh via Kennoway, Leven, Kirkcaldy, Edinburgh)

Some of the inter-Fife frequencies were as follows:

Four/hour from Halbeath - Chapel - Kirkcaldy
Four/hour from Halbeath - Glenrothes
Three/hour from Halbeath - Glenrothes - Cupar - Dairsie
Four/hour from Ferrytoll - Kirkcaldy (most via Halbeath and Chapel, one via Dalgety Bay)
Three/hour from Ferrytoll - Leven (one via Glenrothes, one via Chapel, one via Dalgety Bay)

... so lots of connections theoretically available for those prepared to change. That's assuming that reliability was good (given that the X24 was coming from Glasgow Airport, the X58 was running a complicated route from Edinburgh to Dundee via Leven, the hourly service from Glenrothes to Leven was now at the mercy of Edinburgh traffic etc)

However some routes had lower services than before/today:

Balmullo has a faster Edinburgh service now it's the X54, compared to the days when the only through link was the X58 via Leven - the X54 was truncated at Glenrothes in that era)
The St Andrews - Largoward - Leven service was an hourly bus (97), which interworked with the existing 95 to provide a half hourly Lower Largo to Leven bus, drivers essentially doing a loop that went via the coast in one direction and over the hill in the other

One quirk is that the X26 was now the number for what had been the most of the old X24 from Glasgow to Dundee (albeit via Cupar not Ladybank) and the X24 was now the number for what was once most of the X26, (albeit the original X26 had run via Kirkcaldy)

(this is from memory so apologies for any errors, I can't be certain of the Dalgety Bay to Kirkcaldy frequencies as the East Neuk service certainly switched between the Dalgety Bay route and the Halbeath/Chapel route then back again over the years, I think some but not all X27s ran via Cowdenbeath, I can't remember if there were a few local links retained like Cupar to Tayport - it feels like more than six years ago, a different world with no Ember/ Covid etc, the Queensferry Crossing was just a couple of years old, but it was a time when Halbeath had a better fast service to both Glasgow and Edinburgh than a lot of towns in the traditional commuter belt for those cities)

In fairness, the service isn't that much worse now - as you say there have been winners and losers. Ferrytoll actually seems to have seen its frequency remain unchanged (with a few gaps, but not many) - the X55 seems to run four times per hour now and the X59 has an X59A variant doubling its frequency, which has made up for the loss of the X57 and reductions on some services. Halbeath, however, seems to have seen a more noticeable reduction - with a few 15 minute gaps creeping in and only 5 buses per hour which isn't quite turn up and go in the way Ferrytoll is (some users could make use of the Citylinks which call in, but the overlap between park and ride users and concessionary card holders won't be huge, so cost is an issue for most).

I suspect a combination of significant expansion, some towns with poor rail connections (such as Glenrothes), and difficulties with parking in Edinburgh have probably helped Fife keep a stronger Express network than you might otherwise expect. In the long run, improvements to the rail network (like the Leven connection) could chip away at things.

But equally there could be opportunities to strengthen - I wonder if an all day variant of the X52 may be considered at some stage, given the fact eastern Dunfermline seems to have expanded at a rate of knots - and it isn't close to either the station(s) or the X55. Admittedly it's largely car dominated large family homes, who I assume generally either drive for local journeys or use Halbeath/Ferrytoll for Edinburgh, but there's possibly an opportunity there. Kelty also seems to be getting a fair bit of new housing; I wonder if X56 shorts have been considered (as a side effect, that could bump Halbeath back up to turn up and go frequencies)... regardless of any speculation though, I suspect in ten years the Fife express network may well have morphed again into a new pattern!

I'd like to see an all-day X52 but I'm not sure if there would be demand, the few times I've used it (at peak times) it has had good loads but then again I caught the number 5 from Ferrytoll to the Leisure Park last month which runs a very similar route and it was absolutely dead.

Minor correction:
* Every 30 minutes to Dalgety Bay (X57 covered most of the town, X58 continued beyond Kirkcaldy to Leven, Kennoway, Cupar, Dairsie, Dundee) X57 extend to and from Kirkcaldy at Peak times only - Odd thing is the X57 was the service that aways run empty.
* 5 /hour from Halbeath - Chapel - Kirkcaldy, Three X60 and two X27.


The missing bus is from Halbeath, and if we were ever to get the 12th one back they would need to really do something to increase the parking at the site. The ivory is 5 years ago this point was highlighted then covid stuck and no one had the foresight to do some work to generate more spaces. I suspect they they could Double the spaces and still fill the place up. Cuper still has 2 fast buses to Dundee instead of 3. While Glasgow has ended up with Deckers but 170 sets per hour is will down on the 230 seats that were up for grabs,

If the X52 was to become Daytime it would hack back to the oringal old X58, which used to operate around Dunfermline housing estate to Edinburgh. No5 isn't bad but it runs nearly on top of the 89. Thats a good call on Extra X56 but I doubt that will happen anytime soon.

Thanks for all these, that's very informative.
Did the X58 run from Dalgety Bay direct to Kirkcaldy, or via Burntisland? If direct, what's the benefit of this versus running the faster route to Edinburgh via the A92? As local passengers between Kirkcaldy and Ferrytoll can use the local service (7?), and passengers from Dalgety Bay have the more frequent X57.
From the information given it looks like all services are limited stop between Ferrytoll and Edinburgh Orchard Brae except for the X52 and X61 which run non-stop, is that correct or have I missed some?
Also, the X61 is the only service the quotes mention as calling at Cowdenbeath, is that also correct?
One of the articles mentions the X37 going to Pitcairn but I can't find Pitcairn on the map, whereabouts is it?
And, last question, what was the X51 doing those days, was it still going to Glasgow? What was the stopping pattern?
Thanks!

 

[Ohnolookwho]

Thanks for all these, that's very informative.
Did the X58 run from Dalgety Bay direct to Kirkcaldy, or via Burntisland? If direct, what's the benefit of this versus running the faster route to Edinburgh via the A92? As local passengers between Kirkcaldy and Ferrytoll can use the local service (7?), and passengers from Dalgety Bay have the more frequent X57.
From the information given it looks like all services are limited stop between Ferrytoll and Edinburgh Orchard Brae except for the X52 and X61 which run non-stop, is that correct or have I missed some?
Also, the X61 is the only service the quotes mention as calling at Cowdenbeath, is that also correct?
One of the articles mentions the X37 going to Pitcairn but I can't find Pitcairn on the map, whereabouts is it?
And, last question, what was the X51 doing those days, was it still going to Glasgow? What was the stopping pattern?
Thanks!

The 7 didn't go via Ferrytoll as a result of the low bridge on Hope St. Though I do beleive at the time the 19, or atleast one of its letter variants may have went to the P&R.
Pitcairn is North Glenrothes, in the Collydean area.
To my knowledge, the X51 at that time was still going to Glasgow, or just started going to Glasgow, stoping only at Harthill Services and Maxim Park before Glasgow Bus Station.

 

[overthewater]

Thanks for all these, that's very informative.
Did the X58 run from Dalgety Bay direct to Kirkcaldy, or via Burntisland? If direct, what's the benefit of this versus running the faster route to Edinburgh via the A92? As local passengers between Kirkcaldy and Ferrytoll can use the local service (7?), and passengers from Dalgety Bay have the more frequent X57.
From the information given it looks like all services are limited stop between Ferrytoll and Edinburgh Orchard Brae except for the X52 and X61 which run non-stop, is that correct or have I missed some?
Also, the X61 is the only service the quotes mention as calling at Cowdenbeath, is that also correct?
One of the articles mentions the X37 going to Pitcairn but I can't find Pitcairn on the map, whereabouts is it?
And, last question, what was the X51 doing those days, was it still going to Glasgow? What was the stopping pattern?
Thanks!

X57 and X58 provide a 30mins service from Edinburgh to Dalgerty bay, X58 was fast to Kirkcaldy as it provide fast link over that part of the route, X57 was peak time, IE Kirk - Edinburgh 3 AM journeys. Edinburgh to Kirk - 3 PM journeys both Via Burntisland.
Im sure X54 and X59 were also Non stop from Ferrytoll to Orchard Brae. X51 was to extended to Glasgow in May 2018 and it was shambals as it run full so left people behide all over the place esp on the Fastlink. It was more hassle and it was.

The 7 didn't go via Ferrytoll as a result of the low bridge on Hope St. Though I do beleive at the time the 19, or atleast one of its letter variants may have went to the P&R.

I think it was 19A but that was well over 15 years ago?

 

[Bedford OB]

The 7 didn't go via Ferrytoll as a result of the low bridge on Hope St. Though I do beleive at the time the 19, or atleast one of its letter variants may have went to the P&R.
Pitcairn is North Glenrothes, in the Collydean area.
To my knowledge, the X51 at that time was still going to Glasgow, or just started going to Glasgow, stoping only at Harthill Services and Maxim Park before Glasgow Bus Station.

X51 was extended to Glasgow from Monday 14 May 2018. Timetable attached.

 

[computerSaysNo]

The 7 didn't go via Ferrytoll as a result of the low bridge on Hope St. Though I do beleive at the time the 19, or atleast one of its letter variants may have went to the P&R.
Pitcairn is North Glenrothes, in the Collydean area.
To my knowledge, the X51 at that time was still going to Glasgow, or just started going to Glasgow, stoping only at Harthill Services and Maxim Park before Glasgow Bus Station.

Thanks for all that!

X57 and X58 provide a 30mins service from Edinburgh to Dalgerty bay, X58 was fast to Kirkcaldy as it provide fast link over that part of the route, X57 was peak time, IE Kirk - Edinburgh 3 AM journeys. Edinburgh to Kirk - 3 PM journeys both Via Burntisland.
Im sure X54 and X59 were also Non stop from Ferrytoll to Orchard Brae. X51 was to extended to Glasgow in May 2018 and it was shambals as it run full so left people behide all over the place esp on the Fastlink. It was more hassle and it was.

Ah, thanks. If the X51 was that busy I wonder why it's never been extended from Livingston back to Glasgow?

X51 was extended to Glasgow from Monday 14 May 2018. Timetable attached.

That's great, thanks!
Another question, what lengths are the coaches in East Scotland? I think the B8RLE Panther LEs are 15m, is that correct? So I'd assume the 3-axle B11RT Elites are 15m as well? What about the 2-axle Elites?

 

[318266]

Ah, thanks. If the X51 was that busy I wonder why it's never been extended from Livingston back to Glasgow?

By the time the resources were generally available for an extension post-COVID, the 902 was on the drawing board (so I'm told), and that route makes more sense.

 

[Ohnolookwho]

Another question, what lengths are the coaches in East Scotland? I think the B8RLE Panther LEs are 15m, is that correct? So I'd assume the 3-axle B11RT Elites are 15m as well? What about the 2-axle Elites?

B9R (Blairgowrie & Rennies 537XX's) and B11R (Perth & Aberhill's 53801-14) Elite Twin-Axles are 12.6m
B11RT (54311-18) Tri-Axles are 14m
B11RT (54333+) Tri-Axles are 15m
B13RT (Now Retired 541XX's) were 15m
B8RLET Panther LE's are 14.8m
B13RLET 9700DD's are 14.5m

 

[route101]

One missing link that has not come back is the service beyond Kirkcaldy to Leven and Beyond that runs all day.

 

[danielhogg2005]

One missing link that has not come back is the service beyond Kirkcaldy to Leven and Beyond that runs all day.

There is still the X60/X61.

 

[overthewater]

One missing link that has not come back is the service beyond Kirkcaldy to Leven and Beyond that runs all day.

Isn't that just No46? All they did was swap the X58 and 46 around?

Ah, thanks. If the X51 was that busy I wonder why it's never been extended from Livingston back to Glasgow?

Its still busy to this day at times. It would have worked if they had put on Bigger coaches or made it every 30mins at Certain times. Yet they wasted resources running dups which could run 15mins late making the Glasgow bound journey very late.

 

[route101]

There is still the X60/X61.

Yes, they go to Edinburgh though.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jun 2025 ==

Isn't that just No46? All they did was swap the X58 and 46 around?




Its still busy to this day at times. It would have worked if they had put on Bigger coaches or made it every 30mins at Certain times. Yet they wasted resources running dups which could run 15mins late making the Glasgow bound journey very late.

I forgot to add Glasgow to Leven service all day.

 

[tbtc]

Thanks everyone for the corrections, it's interesting to go over all of this and fill in a few blanks

Maybe it would never have lasted even if COVID hadn't come along, routes like the X58 to Dundee seemed a risk to reliability, but it was good to see Stagecoach trying to adapt to new demands, trying to create markets like relatively frequent long distance express services for growing areas like around Chapel/ Leisure Park, not just getting into a vicious circle of slowly reducing services and increasing fares each year like some operators who won't take risks

And I agree that the overall cuts aren't THAT big in total, I think it felt bigger at the time when the Express network had been generally expanding since the early nineties, any retrenchment feels significant

In fairness, the service isn't that much worse now - as you say there have been winners and losers

But equally there could be opportunities to strengthen - I wonder if an all day variant of the X52 may be considered at some stage, given the fact eastern Dunfermline seems to have expanded at a rate of knots - and it isn't close to either the station(s) or the X55. Admittedly it's largely car dominated large family homes, who I assume generally either drive for local journeys or use Halbeath/Ferrytoll for Edinburgh, but there's possibly an opportunity there

I'd like to see an all-day X52 but I'm not sure if there would be demand, the few times I've used it (at peak times) it has had good loads but then again I caught the number 5 from Ferrytoll to the Leisure Park last month which runs a very similar route and it was absolutely dead.

If the X52 was to become Daytime it would hack back to the oringal old X58, which used to operate around Dunfermline housing estate to Edinburgh. No5 isn't bad but it runs nearly on top of the 89

We have an all stops 59 that broadly follows the X59 route in late evening, whilst taking in Ladybank

I'd similarly like to see the 5 replaced by a daytime 52 from the Leisure Park to Ferrytoll, to promote it to passengers

Maybe even show Edinburgh connections in the timetable

That way someone in eastern Dunfermline might be more likely toconsider the bus even if their journey was peak in one direction and off-peak in the other

Unless I'm missing something, the Stagecoach website isn't promoting the daytime journeys in Fife for anyone looking for the X52 timetable:

https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/East%20Scotland/EXPRESS/ESCOT_Special_X52.pdf

Whilst it looks like people only have a handful of options each day, this could be promoted together so people can see the full picture

(Ideally the 89 corridor could be hourly and maybe even numbered 152 to provide a coordinated link every half hour from Trondheim/ Dulloch etc to Ferrytoll, connecting to the frequent expresses over the Forth. That might give people a lot more confidence and maybe test the waters for improving the number of direct coaches once you've shown people how many options there are each day. But I realise that being long term plans on retaining a service that has to be tendered due to low passenger numbers isn't a necessarily stable idea!)

Yes, they go to Edinburgh though.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jun 2025 ==


I forgot to add Glasgow to Leven service all day.

I think the problem was the bridge near Aberhill, meaning Glasgow coaches would be too heavy, hence the handful of X27s running east of Kirkcaldy going via Standing Stane (but the X58/60 can serve Weymss/ Buckhaven/ Methil etc)

Shame, as Glasgow coaches to Cellerdyke used to be very popular in summer months, maybe that'll happen again at some stage in future now that Edinburgh has a direct train to Levenmouth, but I guess the current service patterns keep things simple (there'd be arguments if the East Neuk lost it's Edinburgh link). Maybe if the Glasgow frequency increases again over time

 

[computerSaysNo]

B9R (Blairgowrie & Rennies 537XX's) and B11R (Perth & Aberhill's 53801-14) Elite Twin-Axles are 12.6m
B11RT (54311-18) Tri-Axles are 14m
B11RT (54333+) Tri-Axles are 15m
B13RT (Now Retired 541XX's) were 15m
B8RLET Panther LE's are 14.8m
B13RLET 9700DD's are 14.5m

Thanks for that, that's really helpful.
What length are the tri axles 54331-3? As the 64 plates are 54311-8 which you've said are 14m, then 54331-3 are 66 plates, then 54356-61 are 67 plate which you've said are 15m.

Also, I don't suppose anyone has the Edinburgh to Halbeath timetable for 2019? I've tried looking up the website on the internet archive but the timetables are hosted on a different site which wasn't archived.

 

[Bedford OB]

Thanks for that, that's really helpful.
What length are the tri axles 54331-3? As the 64 plates are 54311-8 which you've said are 14m, then 54331-3 are 66 plates, then 54356-61 are 67 plate which you've said are 15m.

Also, I don't suppose anyone has the Edinburgh to Halbeath timetable for 2019? I've tried looking up the website on the internet archive but the timetables are hosted on a different site which wasn't archived.

I have attached the X60 timetable for 29 July 2019, which I think is half of what you are seeking, with a twenty minute service. The X59/61 timetable has bounced as too large a file, I'll try again on a separate post.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2025 ==

I have attached the X60 timetable for 29 July 2019, which I think is half of what you are seeking, with a twenty minute service. The X59/61 timetable has bounced as too large a file, I'll try again on a separate post.

Here is the X59/61 timetable from 29 July 2019 - fingers crossed it gets through.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2025 ==

Thanks for that, that's really helpful.
What length are the tri axles 54331-3? As the 64 plates are 54311-8 which you've said are 14m, then 54331-3 are 66 plates, then 54356-61 are 67 plate which you've said are 15m.

Also, I don't suppose anyone has the Edinburgh to Halbeath timetable for 2019? I've tried looking up the website on the internet archive but the timetables are hosted on a different site which wasn't archived.

Here is the X60 timetable for 29 July 2019, which I think is half of what you are seeking, with a twenty minute service. The other 20 minute service is on X59/X61 but the file is too large and is failing when I try to post it up here.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I have attached the X60 timetable for 29 July 2019, which I think is half of what you are seeking, with a twenty minute service. The X59/61 timetable has bounced as too large a file, I'll try again on a separate post.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2025 ==


Here is the X59/61 timetable from 29 July 2019 - fingers crossed it gets through.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2025 ==


Here is the X60 timetable for 29 July 2019, which I think is half of what you are seeking, with a twenty minute service. The other 20 minute service is on X59/X61 but the file is too large and is failing when I try to post it up here.

Ah that's great, thanks, do you have the timetables for all the express services? Or are you finding them somewhere on the internet?

 

[Bedford OB]

Ah that's great, thanks, do you have the timetables for all the express services? Or are you finding them somewhere on the internet?

I record every change to every service of every operator in Scotland, and I keep every timetable for every service, and have done for years now, including all short term Covid emergency timetables, roadworks shuttles, special event services, etc.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I record every change to every service of every operator in Scotland, and I keep every timetable for every service, and have done for years now, including all short term Covid emergency timetables, roadworks shuttles, special event services, etc.

Ah great. Is this collection publicly available? It is mainly the Stagecoach Fife express timetables I'm interested in at the moment but the others might be interesting too.
Back to the 2019 timetables, it seems like the coach requirements were significantly higher then than they are now? With the Dunfermline to Glasgow at every 15 minutes, the X51 going to Glasgow, the X61 being every 20 minutes and the X57 every half hour.

 

[Bedford OB]

Ah great. Is this collection publicly available? It is mainly the Stagecoach Fife express timetables I'm interested in at the moment but the others might be interesting too.
Back to the 2019 timetables, it seems like the coach requirements were significantly higher then than they are now? With the Dunfermline to Glasgow at every 15 minutes, the X51 going to Glasgow, the X61 being every 20 minutes and the X57 every half hour.

No it's not - I would not have the time to sort it all out in an appropriate form, but I am happy to try to help with queries, within reason. I suspect one or two others on here may be able to answer your second question more quickly than me - I could not claim the Fife express services as a specialism.