Strong public engagement shapes next steps for Central Buchan A2B bus service
Aberdeenshire Council has welcomed a strong response to its recent Central Buchan bus survey which gathered valuable insights from local residents about the future of bus provision in the area.
The survey, which ran from October to January, received 256 responses, demonstrating clear community interest in the future of local transport.
Both users and non-users of the current A2B on demand bus service were encouraged to share their views as the council prepares plans for the next five year period, with the existing A2B service contract due to expire in August.
Respondents were asked whether they preferred to retain the current A2B flexible service or replace it with a traditional fixed-route, timetabled alternative. Of those who indicated a preference:
- 62% said they would like the A2B on demand service to continue
- 38% expressed a preference for a fixed route, timetabled bus service
A higher proportion of participants also felt that the existing on demand service met more of their day to day transport needs than a fixed timetable would. Respondents provided detailed comments on the strengths and limitations of both models, offering the council a rich evidence base to work from.
Some respondents suggested a hybrid model combining both fixed-route and on demand elements, however after analysis, the council has concluded that this option is not feasible due to the complexity of providing peak time coverage across rural routes and the significant additional cost of running two service types simultaneously.
Ewan Wallace, Head of the council’s Environment and Sustainability services, said: “We shall build these findings into our future work on contracts and tendering of local services. Any future contract will be awarded based on available budget, cost effectiveness and the service model which best meets local transport needs.”
A recurring theme in the feedback was the desire for easier ways to book journeys. Currently, bookings can be made by phone or email, and many respondents expressed support for a 24/7 online booking system. The responses also highlighted a clear gap in public understanding of the current A2B service, with many residents unaware that A2B operates as a bus service open to all local people and not only to specific user groups.
Mr Wallace continued: “Work is now underway to introduce a new online booking system for A2B users, providing round the clock access to journey requests. If testing progresses as planned, the system is expected to launch in the first half of 2026. Additionally, we will also explore new awareness raising opportunities to ensure local residents understand what the A2B service offers, who can use it and how to book.”
The full survey report and analysis can be viewed at https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/you-said-we-did/news_feed/central-buchan-bus-services