Bus information and timetables

January 2022.   

Stagecoach has emailed with news of a Scottish Government initiative to provide free bus travel for throughout Scotland for young people under 22.
 

More information

How to apply 

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Black Isle and Easter Ross timetables

from 28 June 2021

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January 2022

Ferintosh Community bus update

There have been several developments since the service started in June.  A small electric bus has been introduced to provide the service, with bright yellow livery and "Wee Bus" logo selected by local consultation, and a new leaflet prepared, with booking information and a timetable of Stagecoach links between Tore Service Station and Inverness.  The small size of the bus requires users to become members of the scheme, which can be done by completing a simple form on their first journey.  A team of volunteer drivers has been recruited to enable the service to operate in the evenings and at weekends.

In a further recent consultation, over 90% of a fairly small number of respondents agreed that the community bus should become a permanent part of public transport provision in the Ferintosh Community Council area, and this was confirmed by a unanimous vote of the council on 12 January.

Ferintosh Community bus starts 28 June

Bruce Morrison, Secretary of Ferintosh Community Council, writes

Our very own Ferintosh Community Bus starts on Monday. I've attached a press release that is about to go out together with the final leaflet explaining the details of this new way of delivering public bus transport to our area. 

Press release 23 June 2021 (part)

New flexible community bus service introduced on Black Isle 

A new flexible bus service in the Ferintosh Community Council area of the Black Isle is being introduced from Monday 28 June, making it easier for local residents to use public transport. The demand responsive service will operate between 9.30 am – 4.15 pm, Monday to Friday, and complement the scheduled peak services on Service 22 to Inverness that will continue to be operated by Stagecoach. 

[Note that the 22 service is reduced and will only run at peak times, ie not between 09.20 and 14.06 from Culbokie and 08.55 and 14.40 from Inverness.  All A9 services 25, 25A, X25 now divert to Tore Service Station ('Tore Services' on the timetables) to connect with the Community Bus.  You can view and download timetables for all Black Isle and Easter Ross services from 28 June  here ].

It will take residents to and from Tore Service Station where passengers can join any of Stagecoach’s mainline A9 buses. Passengers can also book journeys between any two points within the Ferintosh Community Council area.  Just like an ordinary bus, it is available to all residents in (and visitors to) the Ferintosh Community Council area, which includes Culbokie in the east to Mulbuie in the west, Mulbuie Ridge in the south down to the Cromarty Firth in the north).

All journeys, including concessionary travel, will be no more costly than current fixed route journeys, even although the journey to /from Inverness is a two bus journey The National Entitlement Card can be used with this service.  The cost of a bus journey is very much lower than the fuel and parking costs of a private vehicle or a taxi fare. 

Read the full press release

Download the leaflet

Congratulations are due to Bruce and those who have helped him in getting this innovative service set up.  Now it is up to the people of the Ferintosh CC area to use it.

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June 2021

Stagecoach timetable changes 28 June

Bruce Morrison, Secretary of Ferintosh Community Council, has investigated and reported on these changes  (see below)

You can view and download timetables for all Black Isle and Easter Ross services from 28 June  here , and links to timetables for all Stgecoach North Scotland services  here .

Here's an update on bus timetables around the region beginning on Monday. Through the Stagecoach website, these new timetables can be viewed under Service Updates but currently through Timetables the new ones don't appear. Ferintosh Community Bus has its separate listing but not referred to in the new 22 timetable and I've asked for that to be rectified.

I've had a look for any major changes put in by Stagecoach for the 21 and 22 services and can't find any but there are some minor timing changes:

21: no changes towards Dingwall but coming back from Dingwall, the 12.05 becomes a 12.15 and the 17.50 becomes a 17.45.
22: late evening bus will leave Inverness now at 17.30 (currently it's 1735)
22: the current 9.15 bus from Culbokie is now at 9.20.

[This information was originally posted with the information for service 21 given as for 22, and vice versa.  Correct version above.]

The A9 buses (25, X25) are all timetabled into Tore Services so that the FCB can link.

I haven't checked the A835 buses for timings but they are not timetabled through Tore Services.

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Traveline Scotland provides information about all Stagecoach Highland services and all Scottish bus operators.  Unfortunately most people will find the Traveline timetables difficult to read because of the small size of the type.  Stagecoach timetables are better.