Lothian buses to reduce services from Monday due to COVID-19

More details as to timetabling will be released tomorrow by the bus company.

Lothian buses will reduce services due to the coronavirus from Monday

Lothian Buses are to reduce their services from Monday as part of their response to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

The council-owned bus company said services will be cut from Monday 23 March once the move has been approved by the Traffic Commissioner.

It could see a reduced bus service – similar to a Saturday or Sunday service – for the forseeable future, however exact details of timetabling will be released on Friday.

Sources have reported lower levels of patronage on the buses since the COVID-19 outbreak, but Lothian said they are committed to providing “vital links” for communities throughout the outbreak.

Nigel Serafini, interim managing director at Lothian, said: “These are extraordinary circumstances we are operating in and teams from across our business are working tirelessly to put plans in place as to how best to deal with this fast-changing situation.

“While the priority of maintaining services is of paramount importance, as the situation develops, we now need to factor in the impact on staffing levels being experienced.

“By introducing a reduced service from Monday, we are aiming to ensure we can continue to provide vital links across the city for those who rely on our services. We would encourage customers to plan their journeys in advance using our mobile app or website and follow our social media channels for updates.”