The X7 Coastrider is an hourly bus route between the Scottish cities of Dundee and Aberdeen, via Arbroath and Montrose, operated by Stagecoach East Scotland. The service runs seven days a week.[1]
| X7 Coastrider | |
|---|---|
 An X7 bus, prior to the introduction of new coaches and extension of the route. | |
| Overview | |
| Operator | Stagecoach East Scotland |
| Began service | 12 September 2011 |
| Route | |
| Start | Aberdeen bus station |
| Via | Stonehaven, Montrose and Arbroath |
| End | Dundee Seagate Bus Station |
| Service | |
| Frequency | Hourly (end-to-end) at busiest times, with some additional services between Aberdeen and Stonehaven operated by Stagecoach Bluebird. |
History
editThe route was introduced on 12 September 2011 and was initially operated by a fleet of six new Plaxton Elite bodied Volvo B9R coaches.[2] In 2014, Stagecoach purchased eight new Vovlo B11RT Plaxton Elite-i interdeck coaches for the route. These began service on 24 November.[3] At this time, the southern terminus of the service was also extended from Dundee to Perth.[4] The extension replaced route number 333, which operated between Perth Royal Infirmary and Dundee's Ninewells Hospital.[5][6] A ninth coach was subsequently acquired for the route.[7] In 2020, additional services numbered X7 were introduced between Aberdeen and Stonehaven, some of which continue through Stonehaven, providing an additional town service.[8]
In April 2024, it was announced services 16/B and X7 will no longer operate between Dundee and Perth. On 13 May 2024, these changes took place. An extended service 39 and new services 39A/39B has now replaced them.[9]
Criticism
editThe introduction of new coaches has been criticised by passengers who claim that they have insufficient space for wheelchair users, and that the steep stairs are hard to climb. The service is used by patients at Perth Royal Infirmary and Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.[10] In response, Stagecoach stated that the vehicles meet Disability Discrimination Act standards and all had a space for a wheelchair user. The company stated in 2018 that the coaches were necessary to meet demand for the X7 service and that low-floor vehicles would have insufficient capacity.[11]
Despite this, in September 2017, the company introduced a service numbered X8 to increase the frequency of service between Perth and Arbroath and "providing an alternative option for customers who may struggle with the stairs on the X7".[7][12] The X8 route was withdrawn in 2018.[13][14]
New services 39A/39B and extended service 39 now serves PRI with a low-floor vehicle replacing the X7 between PRI and Dundee.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Angus X7" (PDF). stagecoachbus.com.
- ^ Hilson, Aaron (13 September 2011). "B9 Elites for new Stagecoach X7 service". CBW. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "Stagecoach invests £2.4m in Coastrider X7". CBW. 18 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ "New length Elite-i for Coastrider". Bus & Coach Buyer. 13 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ Jackson, Keith (4 April 2008). "New bus service between Perth and Ninewells is just the ticket". Daily Record. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Perth connections with Dundee are ramped up with new coach service". Daily Record. 19 November 2014. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Changes to bus timetables". Ian Mollison. 24 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ "Changes to bus timetable". Ian Mollison. 3 February 2020. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ O'Neil, Sean (5 April 2024). "Stagecoach releases new timetable in 'victory' for Perthshire after bus cuts furore". The Courier. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ Clark, Rachel (14 September 2018). "Harrowing bus tales spark call for change". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ Maher, Ryan (7 August 2018). "Stagecoach urged to improve disabled accessibility between Ninewells and Perth Royal Infirmary". The Courier. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ "New Dundee bus service welcomed". Evening Telegraph. 5 September 2017. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ Burdge, Richard. "Campaigners claim Tayside hospital link service is vital". The Courier. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ Cargill, Paul (16 March 2018). "Hospital bus cuts a massive blow to X8 users". Daily Record. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Service Updates Article". stagecoachbus.com.