First Bus launch new bus-tram ticket to cut price of getting into centre of Edinburgh

First Bus has teamed up with Edinburgh Trams to launch a new £4.50 day ticket offering through journeys by bus and tram into and out of the city centre.

Passengers on the No 20 service from Ratho have to change to the tram or express bus to get to the city centre

The move follows complaints over services between Ratho to Edinburgh. Residents said when First took over the No 20 route from Lothian Buses last summer it meant they could no longer use the £4.50 Lothian day ticket because they had to switch to the tram or express bus to reach the city centre. And the alternative One-Ticket, which is accepted by all transport operators, cost £5.50 a day.

First says its new bus-tram day ticket – available only through the First Bus App – will apply on all First services on the West Lothian network to link up with the tram at Ingliston Park & Ride, the Gyle Centre and Edinburgh Park Station.

First West Lothian commercial director Graeme Macfarlan said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for people who need to make essential journeys to get around and get to their destinations safely during these unprecedented times.

“We were asked to consider the introduction of a through bus and tram ticket that offered the same benefits as those offered by the previous operator, and so, in responding to the needs of our customers, we are delighted to be introducing a through ticket to replicate that offering.

“The hope is now that the customers utilise this offer and support these services once they are able to do so as coronavirus lockdown restrictions ease again.”

Edinburgh West Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine welcomed the new ticket as a good first step but did not answer the concerns of locals about the bus service from Ratho.

"Linking up the transport system is vital in encouraging people to use their cars less frequently – I’m not sure how effective that will be during the pandemic when we’re being discouraged from using public transport, but joined-up thinking is important.

"This is a very welcome and useful first step. However, what communities like Ratho need are more frequent and more convenient bus services.”

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