13 Bus Route Saved!

For a number of years now, the wider Blackhall area has been served by the number 13 bus, which is provided thanks to financial support from the Council for the route.

This is a well-used bus service and amongst other things it connects residents to the city centre, something which is even more in demand and important since the number 41 bus route was discontinued. As a supported service, bus companies bid under a competitive tendering exercise, to be granted a license to operate the route for a set number of years.

For re-tendering this year, much to the surprise of many, the Council decided to alter the route and and amongst other changes, the 13 bus would not go through the centre of the city any longer, passing instead up Lothian Road like the 47.

Local Lib Dem councillors Hal Osler said, "The changes to route for re-tendering needed the agreement of the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee and luckily, with the assistance of a very good deputation from the Criagleith and Blackhall Community Council, my colleagues on the Committee managed to win support for a Lib Dem amendment to ensure that the number 13 service will be re-tendered based on its current route."