Lothian Introduces New Affordable Travel Options and Routes in West Edinburgh
Starting Sunday, June 30, travelers in West Edinburgh will benefit from significant fare reductions and new routes announced by Lothian. This development aims to make commuting more affordable and accessible for those traveling between popular destinations such as Queensferry, Newbridge, and Dalmahoy to the heart of Edinburgh.
Under the new scheme, the Lothian Country 'cityWEST' zone will merge with the 'city' fare zone. This change reduces the cost of Adult single tickets to just £2.00, offering substantial savings for frequent travelers.
In addition to the fare reductions, several ticket options, including the Lothian DAYticket, LATEticket, Family DAYticket, and countryWEST DAYticket, will now be valid across the cityWEST zones.
According to Lothian's Managing Director, Sarah Boyd, these improvements are driven by the consistent growth in the Lothian Country network. Boyd emphasized that the changes would streamline boarding and reduce travel times on Service 43, which has experienced a 50% increase in passenger numbers since its launch in 2017.
Moreover, Lothian has introduced new travel routes to better serve West Edinburgh, effective from June 30, following a successful contract award by the City of Edinburgh Council.
Service 20, beginning on July 1, will run hourly from Slateford through Kingsknowe and Westside Plaza to The Calders, operating Monday to Saturday. Service 32 will start on the same day, connecting Balerno, Currie, HWU, Hermiston P&R, Gyle Centre, Cammo, and Cramond, with hourly service Monday to Saturday.
Starting June 30, Service 70, operated by Lothian Country, will link Gyle Centre with Ratho Station, Ratho, and Hermiston P&R, running hourly every day. Similarly, Service 71 will connect Queensferry and Kirkliston to Gyle Centre, also running hourly each day. Both Ratho and Ratho Station, along with Queensferry and Kirkliston, are now included in the revised cityWEST fare zone.
Boyd also mentioned Lothian's dedication to supporting the evolving needs of West Edinburgh. The company is committed to enhancing the bus network to provide a comprehensive and accessible travel solution for all residents and visitors.