Edinburgh Bus Route Highlights Declining Speeds and Growing Congestion Concerns
Scotland’s public bus network is facing a critical challenge as increasing traffic congestion slows services and threatens ridership, according to industry reports.
The Number 38 bus route, a vital north-south artery through Edinburgh, exemplifies the growing difficulties facing Scotland’s bus services. Serving key locations like a college, retail park, and two hospitals, the route is experiencing lengthening travel times, prompting warnings from the bus industry about the impact of congestion on public transport.
Slowing Speeds and Declining Attractiveness
The average speed of a bus in Scotland has fallen to 11.3 mph, a significant decrease from 14.9 mph just two years ago, according to data released by industry representatives. This decline is attributed to a combination of factors, including a rising number of vehicles on the road, peak-time congestion, and a lack of dedicated priority measures for buses.
Lothian Buses’ 38 route, known for its reliability, is particularly affected, crossing eight of Edinburgh’s busiest roads. The delays caused by traffic bottlenecks are a source of frustration for regular passengers. “You can obviously see what the hold ups are, but there’s not a lot you can do about it,” said a shop worker and frequent rider of the 38. “It is frustrating when there are delays as I need to make a connecting bus, so you’re sometimes not sure if it is going to happen. I need to allow more time to get to work so I’m not late. It is just the traffic really, otherwise it is a decent service.”
Impact on Service Frequency and Passenger Experience
Research commissioned by CPT Scotland reveals a substantial increase in the running time of the Number 38 service over the past two decades. This increase is linked to rising traffic volumes, reduced speed limits, and the addition of cycle lanes. As a result, the frequency of the 38 has been reduced, despite maintaining the same number of vehicles, a change noticed by passengers.
“It is quite a good service overall, but it doesn’t run for long enough in the day, especially when you consider it covers two big hospitals,” noted a stores worker at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, who uses the 38 for his commute. “There can be congestion, though I’m lucky I’m using it at times when it is not always the busiest, but they always seem to be up against the vagaries of roadworks no matter where you are in the city. It is not their fault but it does have an impact.”
Industry Calls for Prioritization and Innovation
The CPT study highlights that bus operators across Scotland are being forced to add vehicles and adjust timetables to mitigate congestion and maintain service levels. However, this comes at a time when overall bus ridership is declining. Paul White, director of CPT Scotland, emphasized the detrimental effects of traffic on bus services. “When a bus or coach is stuck in traffic it lengthens the passenger journey time, increases the costs of operation, and ultimately makes bus less attractive, potentially resulting in reduced bus use, cuts to services, or higher fares.”
Mr. White advocates for collaborative efforts between local authorities and operators to implement priority measures, such as bus lanes, bus gates, and traffic light prioritization. He pointed to the success of bus gates in Aberdeen, where journey times improved by up to 18.8% and passenger numbers increased. The CPT study suggests that increasing bus speeds in congested urban areas from the current average of 7.8 mph to 13.2 mph could generate 11.3 million additional journeys annually and reduce operator costs by 38% through decreased demand for drivers and buses.
Looking ahead, the integration of Artificial Intelligence to analyze real-time and historical data for bus prioritization is being tested at over twenty junctions in Glasgow, offering a potential long-term solution to reduce delays.
Lothian Buses’ Perspective
Willie Hamilton, operations director at Lothian Buses, identified a significant increase in roadworks as a major challenge. “It is easy to look at a bus as just a vehicle, but on that bus there could be up to 129 people,” he explained. “If you impact that vehicle it is different to one person’s journey in a car and that is the message we are trying to get across.” He added that the expansion of the city and growing car usage exacerbate these challenges, requiring continuous investment simply to maintain current service levels.
Hamilton underscored the importance of even small reductions in journey times at busy junctions, achievable through priority measures. Lothian Buses, recognized as one of the UK’s leading operators, continues to monitor traffic impacts through its operation center, demonstrating a commitment to mitigating congestion and ensuring reliable service. The challenge, however, remains significant as Scotland’s bus network navigates a landscape of increasing traffic and evolving urban infrastructure.
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