The Highland Council’s decision to run its own bus services is saving money and allowing it greater scope, it says, one year after the first buses arrived
The Highland Council’s in-house bus service pilot project was launched in January 2023, and the council says that it’s first year of operation has been a success in terms of delivering savings and creating a valued and reliable service. The service’s success was highlighted at a recent meeting of the council’s Economy & Infrastructure Committee.
The council-run bus service was set up to deliver passenger and school transport services at a lower cost than using commercial contractors, and the council says that in its first year, the in-house service carried 449 pupils daily who are entitled to home to school transport, and a total of 52,046 public passengers.
In addition to the scheduled routes, the buses have been used to provide hires to schools, such as for for swimming trips, and community organisations. A total of 24 schools are currently using the facility in the Inverness, Black Isle and Dingwall area.
Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “Since the pilot was launched it has moved forward at a pace, with additional routes added. In addition to now operating 12 key public services and delivering financial savings, the team are importantly providing a cost-effective service to schools and community groups which opens up new ways to access more leisure opportunities.
“I would like to thank our bus drivers and everyone else involved in the pilot for all their hard work and commitment to make it a success. The project has always been about making financial savings, but also providing improved and more inclusive services for communities. Going forward the team will continue to explore new opportunities and providing a great service.”
One example given by the council on a recent expansion to the pilot includes is the addition of an additional route, providing school transport in the Strathdearn area for both primary and secondary pupils, and a public service between Tomatin and Inverness. The route was launched in January this year and compared to the previous contract, the council says it is saving £173,313 per year. A 53-seat coach has also been purchased to enable greater capacity for school hires, and from 20 May the council plans to use the vehicle on two home-to-school journeys in the Nairn area, replacing a Stagecoach contract with a reported cost reduction of £333,715.
The council says that as its in-house bus service expands, there is an opportunity to reinvest some of the savings made in strengthening the public and community transport networks and supporting the city’s emerging bus service improvement partnership. The council is to prepare a report on the implications of moving the operation to an arm’s length external organisation for a future meeting of the committee.
