National Express Dundee is about to make big changes to its bus services.
The revised timetable, which comes into effect on Sunday, will see the return of the Outer Circle route after a four-year absence.
The company said it had listened to passengers and wanted to improve transport links between communities and make it easier to reach major shopping, health and leisure facilities.
The key points of the changes are:The return of the 9, 10, 11, 12 Outer Circle services Increase in journeys between Ninewells Hospital and Broughty Ferry from four to five buses an hour Evening and Sunday services to Camperdown Leisure Park Earlier Saturday and Sunday morning journeys to Ninewells Hospital and the Tesco call centre in Baird Avenue Services 28/29 extended to the Asda store in Myrekirk Road, which is due to open in a few weeksThe Outer Circle services will affect Charleston, Lochee, Ardler and Douglas.
The 9/10 service will operate in the evenings and all day Sunday to the leisure park at Camperdown, making it easier for people to get to the cinema and ice rink.
These new services will replace some existing journeys, affecting services 26, 14 and 14a.
Minibuses have now been removed from service 5, in favour of the new hybrid-electric double decker fleet.
Paul Clark, National Express Dundee operations manager, said about the return of the Outer Circle: “This is something that people in Dundee have been requesting for some time and I’m pleased that we can now reinstate this key route.
“These additional journeys will open up areas like Charleston and Douglas and improve access to some of the city’s major shopping and leisure facilities.
“We’re working hard to ensure the Outer Circle journeys will coordinate well with the rest of the existing network.”
The reinstatement is being supported financially by the city council, allowing buses to operate to midnight.
The council is also working with the company to operate three new routes 201, 203 and 205, serving Douglas-Kingsway Retail Park, St Mary’s-City Centre and Ninewells-Asda Myrekirk.
Lord Provost Bob Duncan said: “We have an impressive public transport network in Dundee, with old routes being brought back and new routes being developed, and I’m pleased that the council has been able to support the Outer Circle’s return by subsidising National Express Dundee to operate Sunday and evening journeys.
“We’re also hopeful that the new routes being established with our help will attract new customers and address some of the missing links in the city.”
Ferry councillor Laurie Bidwell said: “There will apparently be a coordinated timetable for the 5 service with the new Outer Circle service.
“I hope this is achievable but in practice it will probably be a real challenge to synchronize two of the cross-city bus routes.
“I hope these changes are as beneficial as National Express Dundee are claiming and bus users find they are really advantageous.”
There are timetable revisions to most routes and passengers can find details online at nxdundee.co.uk or at the company’s travel shop in Commercial Street.