South mainland bus trial proving popular
THE NUMBER of people using a new mid-evening bus service currently being trialled to the south end is “quite encouraging” so far.
ZetTrans lead officer Michael Craigie said within the first week usage had risen to double figures – with 20 folk on board on the first Saturday.
He told a meeting of transport partnership ZetTrans on Friday this was despite the service only being announced at the last minute earlier this month as officials had to wait for formal approval from the Traffic Commissioner.
“The numbers are rising as time passes,” Craigie said.
The new 7pm departure from Lerwick to Sumburgh is running six days a week, Monday to Saturday.
Prior to the trial the bus was heading down to Sumburgh already, to bring passengers north at 8pm.
Earlier this year Shetland South councillor Alex Armitage had requested that investigations were carried out into introducing mid-evening services around 7pm.
He felt there was a gap in the bus timetables, especially for his constituency which had runs from Lerwick after 5pm and then at around 9pm – but nothing in between.
Prior to the trial only the Scalloway service had a departure from Lerwick at around 7pm.
If the South Mainland trial is a success then consideration may be given to whether mid-evening departures could be introduced on other services.
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