Bus Travel Throughout Dundee with ABC Joint Ticketing

On Thursday lunchtime, I was at the launch of ABC. This is a innovative multi operator scheme for bus travel throughout Dundee. A new one day adult ticket, which costs £4:20, allows you to travel on All Bus Companies (ABC) across Dundee with one smart ticket. An equivalent Adult seven day ticket costs £14:50.

ABC day and ABC week tickets are also available as a child version, which is available for under 16s. 

You may be asked to provide proof of age when buying or using a child version. Children aged under five travel for free when accompanied by an adult.

The scheme is a partnership involving bus operators Xplore Dundee, Stagecoach and Moffat & Williamson as well as Dundee City Council and Angus Council.

This is I think a worthwhile step towards developing an 'Oyster' style travel card for the whole of Scotland. If London can run the Oyster Card scheme, why can't we in Scotland?

Link to Xplore Dundee Publicity about the ABC Scheme

Update on Bus Diversions in Broughty Ferry until Last Bus on Sunday 31 March 2013

Diversion route Strathtay Buses 73, 75, 78 and 79 

Tues 19 - Sun 31 March 2013
Click on map to enlarge

I have been advised by the Council that the next phase of the major road works in Queen Street in The Ferry will begin on Tuesday morning 19 March. 

In this phase, running between Fort Street and St Vincent Street, the lane driving westwards towards Dundee will be closed. 

Starting on Tuesday 19 March and running until Sunday evening 31 March 2013 Strathtay Bus Services 73, 75, 78 and 79 heading towards Dundee will be diverted - see map above. Instead of their coming along Queen Street, they will be diverted up Abertay Street; Nursery Road, Forthill Road, Fort Street and thereafter back down to the stop close to the Post Office Bar and the standard route towards Dundee. There will be an additional temporary bus stop on Dalhousie Road (south side) close to the junction with Shiell Street. This is marked on the map above.

In effect there will be no buses picking up or dropping off on Monifieth Road/Queen Street that are heading towards Dundee between Abertay Street and Fort Street. This will not affect the 73, 75, 78 and 79  bus services running in the opposite direction towards Monifieth.

On Monday evening 18 March 2013 the road works on Queen Street between the junctions on Claypotts Road and Fort Street will be completed. As a result the temporary one way system on this stretch of road will no longer be needed. This means that the No5 bus that has been diverted on its return journey from Barnhill will revert to its standard route from first bus on Monday morning 19 March. 

While these temporary road closures and bus diversions are inconvenient, residents I am sure accept that they are necessary so that the main electricity supply cable to central Broughty Ferry can be upgraded.

Qualified Welcome for New Stagecoach Bus Service Linking central Broughty Ferry with Dundee City Centre from Monday 26 November 2012

Click on timetable to enlarge

The City Council Transport Department have just announced a new bus service linking central Broughty Ferry (Brook Street/Gray Street) and Dundee City Centre.

Starting today, Monday 26 November, Stagecoach will be running the new No 74 service Monday to Friday between 0900 to 1600 - every 30 mins. This bus service will operate via Broughty Ferry Road / Greendykes / Gardyne College /Strathern Road - and into central Broughty Ferry. This will increase the number of daytime buses coming along Brook Street from 3 to 5 buses per hour (4 from West Ferry direction and 1 coming down from Forthill).

I have no doubt that this bus route will be appreciated by residents living south of the railway line in central Broughty Ferry and those visitors that want a bus that delivers them right into the heart of the shopping centre. It's two years since the bus reorganisation when National Express withdrew their buses from running through central Broughty Ferry. At that time many residents, including some who live in sheltered housing, approached me with their concerns. I am sure they will make use of this new service.

One group of residents who won't be putting out the flags are those that live in Dundee Road who rely on the bus, especially some of the older folk who live in the Taypark apartments.

The limited hours for the new service also means that it will not be any use for those that work regular 9-5 hours in Dundee or The Ferry. Perhaps if this new service is a success, we can pressurise Stagecoach to increase the operating times?

New & Revised National Express Dundee Bus Services for The Ferry from Monday

From Monday 15 August, National Express bus services serving Broughty Ferry will be changing. 


There is a fresh timetable for the number 5 service  Barnhill – City Centre – Ninewells Hospital via Broughty Ferry, Strathern Road and the Technology Park. National Express Dundee say that, "All day frequency to be increased to every 10 minutes between the City and Barnhill and 20 minute frequency between City and Ninewells except at am and pm peak when additional buses will serve the hospital"
Click on this link to read or download the new timetable for the number 5 service.


On Monday the new number 206 service begins running on the Ethiebeaton Park – Broughty Ferry – West Ferry route.
Click on this link to read or download the new timetable for the new number 26 service.

New Bus Service Begins Connecting Ethiebeaton Park, Pamurefield, Barnhill and West Ferry with Broughty Ferry

I am pleased that on Monday 15 August, the new Travel Dundee bus service 206 will begin to run on a route connecting Ethiebeaton Park, Pamurefield, Barnhill and West Ferry with Broughty Ferry. The service will operate six days a week Monday - Saturday. Each day there will be six services on the continuous loop.


This will restore public transport links to the heart of Broughty Ferry and replace the Service 69 previously operated by Stagecoach.

This improved route should provide a more regular bus service for folk who felt cut off following the much maligned reorganisation of the Travel Dundee bus services last summer. I am pleased that the voices of the fare paying public and Councillors have been eventually been listened to. 

The timetable is below - click on the image to enlarge it:

National Express Bypasses Key Parts of Broughty Ferry

In early November, National Express buses will no longer pass through central Broughty Ferry when the No 5 circular bus is re-routed. The No 5 bus service will no longer cross the railway line and travel through central Broughty Ferry removing convenient drop off and pick up points in the central shopping area.

Many older residents, including some who live in sheltered housing, have approached me with their concerns. They complain, for example, that elderly residents will now have to get off the bus at the Post Office Bar and walk along Queen Street to the post office at the top of Grey Street, then walk across the rail crossing to get to the main shops within the Ferry. When these residents have finished their shopping, they will need to carry their messages up the steep incline to reach the bus stop at the foot of Forthill Road.

Likewise, residents in Dundee Road/Broughty Ferry Road remain inconveniences and cut off by the withdrawal of their bus services since the end of June.

I think both sets of bus users are very reasonable in asking for a solution to the withdrawal of bus services that they have come to rely on. Come on Travel Dundee, you can surely do better than this!

Big Issues at Ferry Meeting Wed 18 August

At the next meeting of the Ferry Local Community Planning Partnership (LCPP), on Wednesday 18 August, members of the public will be able to hear more about two big issues in Broughty Ferry. Judging by my contacts with constituents, both are controversial.

The first big issue is about the proposed relocation of Eastern Primary School to the former Grove Academy site on the south side of Camperdown Street (item 2 on the Agenda). Director of Education, Jim Collins, will be present. I presume he will explain the proposal, the consultation process that he has been launched and respond to questions. Click of this link to read the questions that I think the Director needs to answer.

The second big issue is Travel Dundee/National Express Dundee bus services that serve Broughty Ferry residents (Item 3 on the Agenda). Lawrence Davie, Director of National Express Dundee will be on hand to hear issues arising from the introduction of the new bus timetables and service changes in late June and the further changes to the 5A and 5B services last week. My post bag has included numerous complaints from residents inconvenienced by the new timetables and withdrawal of some services.

Members of the public are welcome to attend meetings of the Ferry LCPP.

The agenda for the meeting appears below: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ferry Local Community Planning Partnership Meeting
Wednesday 18 August 2010
In Castle Green Leisure Centre beginning at 5.30 pm

AGENDA
1. Welcome and Apologies
2. Director of Education Jim Collins Re Proposal to Relocate Eastern Primary School to Grove
3. Lawrence Davie, National Express Re Changes To Bus Services
4. Previous Minutes and matters Arising
5. Local Community Plan Update
5.1 Working Groups a) Community Facilities and Open Spaces b) Community Safety/Youth Issues c) Mental Wellbeing d) Beach Management Group
5.2 New Developments Update a) Friends of Sandy Park b) Broughty Ferry Development Trust c) Shanwell Wildlife Rescue proposal for Rugby Terrace
6. Department/Agency/Organisation Update
7. Open Forum on Community Issues
8. AOCB
9. Date and Time of Next Meeting

More Changes to Broughty Buses

On Sunday 25th July, Travel Dundee will introduce changes to the routing of the 5A and 5B circular buses in Broughty Ferry. These revisions are being introduced only one month after the upheaval of new bus routes and timetables throughout the city.

Following difficulties keeping the four an hour combined 5A & 5B services running to time, Travel Dundee have gained permission from the Traffic Commissioners to half the number of buses (two instead of four) that cross the railway line and drive through central Broughty Ferry. This will reduce the service through the central Broughty Ferry south of the railway line to a half hourly service.

Many residents in Barnhill will be disappointed that the revised new routes for the 5A and 5B services will remain only operating in a one way direction round the Barnhill loop, which prevents some bus users from practicable outward and return journeys by bus.

Folk who use the 5A and 5B buses to travel directly into central Broughty Ferry may be wary that these reductions in the 5A and 5B services that run through the Ferry are just the thin end of the wedge. If, as Travel Dundee claim, delays at the Gray Street level crossing are to blame for delays in the four an hour combined 5A and 5B services, maybe Travel Dundee will be back soon with another request to scrap the remaining 5A & 5B services that run through Brook Street/Gray Street and Gray Street/King Street.

The new timetables for the 5A & 5B buses will be posted on Bus Stops.

Read or download the new timetables effective Sunday 25th July

Temporary Bus Diversions - Service 8X during A92 essential roadworks between East Marketgait & Greendykes Rd, Dundee from Tues 8 Sept

BEAR Scotland will be carrying out essential road maintenance works on the A92 between East Marketgait and Greendykes Road, Dundee from 8 September for approximately 10 weeks.
As a result National Express Dundee service 8X to Broughty Ferry, will be temporarily re-routed as follows:
Service 8X
Normal route to Riverside Drive. From Riverside Drive buses will run via West Marketgait, Yeaman’s Shore, Union Street, Whitehall Crescent then normal route from Shore Terrace
( Dock Street). Buses towards Barnhill are not affected
Affected bus stops will display details of the diversions.
Due to changes in traffic flow around Dundee as a result of the road closure between East Marketgait and Greendykes Road, bus services in general may be subject to delays, particularly at peak times.
Lawrence Davie, Director National Express Dundee, said: “National Express Dundee will be working with Bear Scotland and Dundee City Council to keep bus services running as smoothly as possible, while the essential road works are taking place on the A92 East Dock Street. However, we are advising passengers to allow extra time for their journey, particularly if travelling during the morning or afternoon peak times as there may be changes to traffic flow around Dundee. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and ask passengers to please bear with us whilst BEAR Scotland carry out necessary resurfacing and reconstruction work on the A92 trunk road.”
Full details of service changes are available on www.nationalexpress.com/dundee on the ‘service changes’ pages.