Changes to Local Bus Services
Forthcoming changes to both Commercial and Council-funded bus services
What are the changes to subsidised local bus routes?
A recent review of subsidised local bus services has been undertaken in line with the Council's Public Transport Strategy, which was followed by a competitive tendering process to achieve best value within available resources.
A full summary changes that took effect from 16 October 2023 is shown below. In addition to these contracts and following the cancellation of McGill's services from 2 December 2023, the council have responded by securing two additional contracted services from 4 December 2023 to address network gaps not being covered by commercial operations. Details of these additional services are shown in the table below.
Passengers should note that some journeys may now require a change of service as a result of commercial service cancellations and are advised to check the Traveline Scotland (opens new window) website before travelling:
| Service Number | Route/Operational Area | Status from 16 October 2023 | Status from 4 December 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | Linlithgow Town Service | Full service maintained with no changes. LBS 1 Timetable [418KB] | No Change |
| 2A/2B | Broxburn Town Service | Hourly frequency maintained. Hours of operation reduced to 9am-3pm Mon-Fri & 9am-12pm Sat. LBS 2a/2b Timetable [431KB] | No Change |
| 16 | Livingston - Western General Hospital, Edinburgh | Full service maintained with no changes. LBS 16 Timetable [426KB] | No Change |
| 21 | Blackridge - Livingston South Station via Armadale, Bathgate, Blackburn, Seafield, Kirkton Campus, Livingston Centre & Dedridge West | Council funded section of service maintained with no changes. | Service withdrawn |
| 23 | Shotts - Broxburn via Eastfield, Greenrigg, Heartlands, Whitburn, Blackburn, Seafield, Livingston Centre, Craigshill & Uphall (Monday - Saturday) | Council funded section of service maintained with no changes. | Service withdrawn |
| 21 | Bathgate to Boghall | Council funded section of service maintained with no changes. | Route extended to operate to Blackridge via Armadale Monday - Saturday 7am-7pm LBS 21 Timetable [417KB] Passengers travelling to Livingston now require a change of service in Bathgate |
| 23 | Shotts - Whitburn via Harthill & Greenrigg | N/A | New service contracted by SPT LBS 23 Timetable [407KB] Passengers travelling to Livingston may require a change of service in Whitburn |
| 31 | Bathgate - Livingston via Linlithgow | Hourly frequency Maintained. Operational hours reduced to 7am-7pm LBS 31 Timetable Until 27 Jan 2024 [427KB] | No Change |
| 31 | Bathgate - Livingston via Linlithgow | Service Withdrawn | No Change |
| 40/X40 | St John's Hospital to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary | Route revised. Frequency revised to operate hourly, Mon - Fri and every 45 mins Sat - Sun LBS X40 Timetable [72KB] | No Change |
| 449 | Bo'ness to Bathgate via Linlithgow, Whitecross & Torphichen | Service Withdrawn | No Change |
| 5 | Bathgate Town Service | Hourly frequency maintained. Hours of operation reduced to 9am-3pm Mon-Fri & 9am-12pm Sat. LBS 5 Timetable [417KB] | No Change |
| 50 | Boghall to Harthill via Armadale and Blackridge | Service Withdrawn | No Change |
| 6 | Whitburn Town Service Armadale Town Service - Westfield - Avonbridge | Full service maintained with no changes. LBS 6 Timetable [424KB] | Minor route Change - to serve all of Drove Road. No change to Timetable. |
| 7 | St John's Hospital - South Queensferry via Livingston Centre, Craigshill, Uphall, Broxburn & Winchburgh | Service Withdrawn | No Change |
| 72 | Kirkliston - Livingston via Winchburgh, Broxburn, Uphall, St John's Hospital & Howden | New Service LBS 72 Timetable [72KB] | Service extended to Fauldhouse on a commercial basis. Lothian Country 72 Timetable [158KB] |
| 8 | Boghall to Bathgate | Service Withdrawn | No Change |
| 9A/B/C | Livingston South Town Service | Route revised. Frequency revised to operate hourly Mon - Sat, 7am-7pm LBS 9 Timetable [423KB] | No Change |
| 34A | Fauldhouse-Breich-West Calder | Council funded section of service maintained with no changes | No Change |
Commercial Service Changes
All McGill's West Lothian services will end on 2 December 2023 with the exception of the X38, which operates Falkirk - Edinburgh via Linlithgow and Winchburgh.
Lothian Country will launch two new services as well as extending an existing route to backfill service gaps from 3 December. Further information on these services can be found at: Lothian Country Buses Website (opens new window)
Scottish Citylink will amend their 902 service from 4 December to operate via Harthill Village and via Uphall and Broxburn to Edinburgh Airport. Scottish Citylink 902 Timetable (opens new window)
Service Standards
We will:
- Provide timetable information in bus shelters across West Lothian;
- Ensure that operators perform to contract for services supported by the council;
- Monitor performance of supported services;
- Assess demand for new services and implement them if they are approved; and
- Work with operators in the first instance to try to resolve customers complaints
