Bus bosses slam brakes on as city faces more cuts to services

THE Capital's bus network is facing further cuts as bosses battle to slash costs amidst falling passenger numbers.

Lothian Buses is currently in consultation with the city council on more proposed changes and will report to Scotland's Traffic Commissioner later this week.

The council-owned firm is considering fresh cuts to services, which would see the frequency on a number of routes reduced.

It is feared that services between the city and East Lothian, including the 15, 26 and 44 will be reduced, although Lothian Buses could not confirm this. It is also likely the 22 could be replaced by a double-decker, while the 21 may be replaced by a single-decker.

The news follows the company's decision to withdraw or cut 11 bus services last month.

Lothian Buses has already cut the N26 and N44 night services during the week, which now terminate at Eastfield. The N30 service has been completely axed.

Ian Craig, Lothian Buses' managing director, confirmed there would be changes to bus services from January. He said: "We are undertaking a final consultation of these with The City of Edinburgh Council transport planning officials. Therefore, no details can be released at this stage until they have been submitted and accepted by the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland. Immediately thereafter we will inform customers and stakeholders of the full details."

Tram works and other roadworks around Edinburgh have hit Lothian Buses' passenger figures badly this year, with numbers down seven per cent on 2007.

Lothian Buses is also facing a steep rise in employment costs of £2.7 million due to the need for more drivers for the extra buses it needs for the tram diversions, while its diesel bill has also risen by £1.95m over the last year.

In September, councillors approved a £124,000 rescue plan to give a temporary reprieve to five of the 16 routes which Lothian Buses planned to axe or cut. But 11 routes were completely cut or reduced on October 5.

This included withdrawing the 20 and the 60, as well as the N11 and N27 night bus services. The 17 was scaled back on a Saturday, and the frequency of the 24 and the 26 were reduced in the evenings.