747 Aberdeen Airport–Peterhead

747
Overview
OperatorStagecoach Bluebird
StatusWithdrawn
Ended serviceApril 2021
Route
StartPeterhead
ViaEllon, Balmedie
EndAberdeen Airport

The 747 was an airport bus service which ran from Peterhead to Aberdeen Airport via Ellon.

History

The route was extended south starting on 21 January 2019 to also serve Montrose and Stonehaven, replacing the existing 107 service that operated between the two towns. The extension was added along with a new service, the 757, following public timetable consultations in September 2018.[1][2][3] The routes were the first to use the newly opened Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.[4] The new services operated on an hourly frequency and used Alexander Dennis Enviro200 single-decker buses.[5]

Passenger levels on services 747 and 757 were lower than expected. In August 2019, Stagecoach announced that it would withdraw service 757 completely and revise the route of the 747 to serve Balmedie.[6]

In April 2020, following continued low passenger numbers, the 747 service between Montrose and Aberdeen Airport was withdrawn. The 107 between Montrose and Stonehaven was reinstated, and the southern terminus of the 747 reverted to Aberdeen Airport.[7] In April 2021, the service was suspended.[8] This was part of wider service cuts caused by a reduction in subsidies from Aberdeenshire Council.[9] In September 2021, the council announced that the majority of cut services were to be reinstated in October; however, the 747 service would not be reinstated due to low usage.[10]

Name

The 747 and Jet 727 were named after the Boeing 7x7 series of aircraft.

Route

The route formerly ran from Montrose to Stonehaven along the A92 before joining the A90 north of Stonehaven and continuing north to Kingswells Park and Ride and Aberdeen Airport. It then continued to Ellon, with some journeys continuing to Cruden Bay and Peterhead.[11] Prior to withdrawal, the service only operated between Aberdeen Airport and Peterhead.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Two new bus services to start on AWPR in January". Stagecoach. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Proposals for AWPR bus service announced". Buchan Observer. 6 September 2018. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Airport link to 'miss out' communities". The Scotsman. 18 September 2018. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  4. ^ Haslam, Dale (21 January 2019). "Stagecoach launches first bus service on Aberdeen bypass". Evening Express. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Stagecoach launches two new services on AWPR". Coach & Bus Week. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  6. ^ McCann, Lee (6 August 2019). "Stagecoach to put brakes on Aberdeen airport service". Evening Express. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  7. ^ Kuc, Morag (7 February 2020). "Aberdeenshire and Moray timetable consultation". Buchan Observer. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Bus service changes" (PDF). Aberdeenshire Council. 6 April 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  9. ^ Porter, David (6 April 2021). "Supported bus services to be withdrawn across Aberdeenshire". Grampian Online. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  10. ^ Hempseed, Ross (28 September 2021). "Buses supported by Aberdeenshire Council to be reintroduced". Evening Express. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  11. ^ Dorward, Mandi (9 January 2019). "New Bus Services for AWPR". North Kincardine Rural Community Council. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.