Buckie-Keith bus route set to roar back!
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A BUS service linking Buckie to Keith which was controversially axed nine years ago is to be restored.
The only direct bus link between the two towns – which included a stop at the train station – vanished in 2013 when Moray Council withdrew its £320,000 funding. It was a move which sparked a storm of protest, including a petition which attracted more than 700 signatures.
In the years since, those wishing to travel to travel between Buckie and Keith had to change buses in Fochabers.
However, there was good news in the latest update on the Bus Revolution Project as part of the Moray Growth Deal with the news that the route will be re-introduced.
It will run from Cullen through Portknockie, Findochty, Portessie, Buckie, Portgordon, Enzie, Aultmore, Newmill and Keith between Monday to Friday from 5.25am to 9.15pm.
It has been designed to coincide with the trains at Keith rail station where possible.
The news was welcomed by Buckie's councillors, Tim Eagle, Sonya Warren and Gordon Cowie.
Councillor Eagle said: “In 2017 this was something that came up during the election campaign and I am delighted to see a timetable now in place and plans moving forward to re-introduce the much desired Buckie to Keith service.
"This service will also take in Cullen and the surrounding villages which is great news.
"This is an essential link, not just for the train station but for linking the communities themselves and I look forward to seeing this in place.
"It is not quite there yet with an expected start around the end of the year but plans are moving forward and today gave us confirmation of what the service will look like.
"This is great news for Buckie and I am glad finally the voice of the community has been heard and plans are in place."
Councillor Warren said that restoring the service had been consistently in the public's mind.
“I am really pleased on the development of the Buckie to Keith bus route.
"It’s a campaign I have been pushing for years, and I am delighted the hard work is now paying off.
“With the rising cost of living, easy access to travel is really important, and as a councillor for Buckie, I am committed to doing all I can to advocate for policies that benefit my constituents.
“This service is going to be free for everyone with a National Entitlement Card, that includes all young people under 22, and older people.
“I know that this will also enable easier travel to Aberdeen for people visiting the hospital or looking for a day trip.
“This bus route is a really welcome step that will benefit so many people in the community.”
Councillor Cowie hailed the end of a "long and hard road" to get the route back in place.
"It's great to see this finally coming to fruition; this has been a long and hard road to get to this stage.
"It will be a lifeline to many users and I hope it will be a well-used route as you can use all bus passes for young and old on this route."
Also welcoming the news was Moray MP Douglas Ross.
He commented: "This is exactly the sort of project for the community that the Moray Growth Deal can provide.
“The Moray Growth Deal is a perfect example of how both of Scotland’s governments can work together to support the area.
“Bus services are even more critical in rural areas like Moray so I look forward to this service being reintroduced.
“As we recover from the pandemic, ensuring people have access to local transport services will be crucial in enabling job opportunities.”
Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Karen Adam said breathing new life into the route was money being "put to good use".
“The reintroduction of the bus route between Buckie and Keith is something Councillor Sonya Warren and others in the SNP Moray Council administration have been working hard on to bring about for the residents in and around Buckie.
“This is part of the Moray Growth Deal of which the Scottish Government are investing up to £32.5 million into. It’s really great to see this investment being put to good use by the SNP Moray Council group for the benefit of residents in Buckie.”
A provisional copy of the timetable can be seen at https://moray.cmis.uk.com/moray
