A national bus firm has bowed to public pressure by introducing a tea-time service to Perth from Edinburgh.
As previously revealed in The Courier, Citylink announced they would be slashing their services from November 23, leading to anger among commuters.
This would have meant that passengers hoping to return from Edinburgh to Perth would only be able to get a bus at 4.30pm or would have to wait until 7.10pm.
Citylink now say they have “listened to concerns” and will be introducing a daily return service back to Perth from the Scottish capital from Monday.
However, there is still no long-term solution to tea-time bus provision back from Edinburgh to Kinross the loss of which has also caused consternation.
A spokesman for Citylink said: “We have listened to the concerns that have been raised, particularly regarding evening peak journeys from Edinburgh to Perth, and have looked closely at our wider network to check whether a solution to this issue could be found.
“As a result, we have decided to introduce a weekday service from Edinburgh Bus Station at 5.15pm, which will arrive at Perth Bus Station at 6.40pm. The service will be part of an existing route between Edinburgh and Dundee.
“This will offer an additional daily journey option between Edinburgh and Perth in the evening peak and we believe this is a good solution for our customers.
“Tickets for the new service will be available online from the beginning of next week.”
She added: “We take all customer comments on board and, while it is not always possible, we are pleased that on this occasion we were in a position to make a change in response to feedback.
“From our research, we believe there will be enough capacity on this service.”
However, the move has not appeased some customers, with Mandy Ross, of Friar Street, Perth, labelling the new service as “a token” gesture.
“It’s fine they’re adding the extra run at 5.15pm but that still doesn’t really leave options for commuters other than take it or leave it or get the train,” she said.
“And not getting home until nearly 7pm is a heck of a long day for the commuters who leave Perth at 6.35am or 7am to get to work.
“Also, if Citylink are withdrawing a number of buses between 4.30pm and 7pm and replacing it with one, this one token bus is likely to be full every night and passengers will be left with no way of getting home for another two hours.
“This has happened before on a number of occasions.”
Marilou Ciantar, from Perth, who commutes on Mondays, claims the new Citylink timetable doesn’t make sense.
“I don’t know why they had to change the bus service it used to work like clockwork,” she said.
Stagecoach East will now provide two evening peak services to Perth from November 23, departing Edinburgh at 5.15pm and 6.05pm.