From the end of March, those commuting by bus will follow radically altered routes.
Lothian Buses will implement an “improved” route structure and timetable from March 29. The move, which will affect all Penicuik bound services (15, 37, X37, 40 and 47), promises to provide Roslin with a 24/7 public transport lifeline. However, the expanding village of Auchendinny is to lose its regular service to the city, replaced by a half hourly bus to Portobello.
Overall, Midlothian Council say commuters throughout the A701 corridor will experience an improved service, though residents in Auchendinny have denounced the loss of the 15. The changes, for the village just north of Penicuik, will mean those wishing to commute to Edinburgh’s City centre, must change bus at Gowkley Moss Roundabout or – alternatively – walk to the A701 to catch either the Lothian 15, 37 or 47 to the city.
Number fifteen will instead run straight from Bush to Penicuik, omitting both Roslin and Auchendinny. It will then terminate at Deanburn, having travelled via Carlops Road and not via the town centre/Bog Road. The service will remain half hourly Monday to Saturday but the Sunday operation will be stopped.
Number 37 will also see major route alterations south of Bilston. The service will run every fifteen minutes to Bilston, then onwards to either Roslin, and latterly Penicuik, or to Bush, where it will terminate. These alterations mean the 37 will run to Penicuik every half hour Monday to Friday daytime. Into the evenings, the buses will omit Bush, instead travelling via Roslin, and onto Penicuik, every twenty minutes. During daytime on Saturday and Sunday, the 37 will run only via Roslin every 20 minutes and every half hour during the morning and evening.
The N37 night bus will also operate via Roslin, giving the village a 24/7 service for the first time.
Number 40’s route will go unaltered, except it will serve Auchendinny. This will operate every half hour during the daytime Monday to Saturday, and hourly every evening Monday to Saturday, as well as all day Sunday.
Lothian’s 47 will only face minor timetabling changes (Monday to Saturday), along with the removal of peak hour diversions via Bush. On Sunday, buses will run hourly in the morning, half hourly into the afternoon and hourly in the evening, providing a more frequently timetabled service.
Further details about the X37 will be made available in March.
These forthcoming changes to the A701 corridor’s routes have so far been met with a mixed reception. Many of our readers have praised the increase in services to Roslin whilst others have questioned the choice to remove city centre services via Auchendinny, considering plans for over 200 new homes north of the village are to be implemented shortly. Another reader pointed out the apparent centring of routes around the Bush science park.
The science park will now be served by the 15 and 37 along with the University funded 67. Rapid development around the University campus, along with Midlothian Council’s allocation of further biodiversity research land, could be cited as the reasoning for this centralisation.
Lothian Buses will officially unveil the new timetable in early March.
What do you think about the changes? Let us know below or email us at Hello@PenicuikCuckoo.co.uk.
Source: Midlothian Council’s Travel Team, authorised by Lothian Buses