Stagecoach Express to Larbert's FVRH

From November 25th, Stagecoach will divert one of their X24/X26/X27 Express services between Fife-Glasgow, via the Forth Valley royal Hospital each hour, giving a fast link between Kincardine  and the Larbert hospital. It will also provide Larbert with a fast express link to Glasgow.
From the same date, new early morning journeys are being operated, with the first coach from Kincardine-Glasgow at 5.20am, getting into Glasgow just after 6am.
During the day, there' a coach every 20 minutes between Kincardine- Glasgow, with a journey time of 44 minutes (X27 journeys via FVRH) will take 5 minutes longer.

Alloa-Kincardine buses run together

With the revised F15 service from August 19th running every two hours, the H1 Hospital service diverted via Kincardine, and the existing 78 service between Stirling & Dunfermline, it will mean that there are three buses linking Kincardine with Alloa.
However, the new timetables mean that all three services will leave Alloa within 7 minutes, with 53 minutes to wait for the next one. From Kincardine, the H1 & F15 will operate alternate hours, but still no more than  6 minutes apart from the 78.
On a positive note the F15 on a Sunday morning now begins from Alloa at 0900 (4 hours earlier than previous), with a feeder X78 from Dunfermline to Alloa arriving 0858. Note however the current last bus east from Alloa at 2314 (M-Sa) will now depart 2255, and that due to Clackmannanshire no longer funding the F15,it wont serve Alloa Bowhouse or Clackmannan Main Street.

Hospital services cut

NHS Forth Valley have confirmed their intention to stop funding the dedicated buses to the new hospital, which were launched when the new hospital was opened three years ago. Clackmannanshire Council, however, have agreed to extend the H1/2 routes until the spring. One change, the H1 service from Alva to the Larbert hospital will operate via Kincardine.

Falkirk network reviews

Following First bus review of services in Falkirk last year, Falkirk Council maintained some of the cut services, pending review and retender. As a result, the X19 service to Edinburgh from Boness will be continued, but operated by Prentice Westwood from 19th August. From the same date the F15 service from Falkirk - Alloa will be cut to 2 hourly and rerouted via Grangemouth Road. Stagecoach will operate this service.

Stirling council to cut bus services

Due to a change in the financial support provided by Stirling Council for local bus services, the
Council has authorised the termination of 12 local bus service contracts, including two School services, with effect from August.
The affected services, mainly rural, or early morning services are listed below.
Service S8: Ashfield - Dunblane HS (First Scotland East)
Services C10-C12: Balfron Area Sunday Services (First Scotland East)
Service C13: Balfron - Drymen - Balloch (First Scotland East)
Service C16: Throsk - Stirling - Cambusbarron (First Scotland East)
Service S16: Cambusbarron - St Mary’s PS (Bannockburn) (Hunter’s Executive Coaches)
Service C32: Cambusbarron - Stirling (First Scotland East)
Services C34/C35: Stirling - Fallin - Cowie - Forth Valley Royal Hospital (Hunter’s Executive Coaches)
Service C37: Cambusbarron - Raploch (First Scotland East)
Services C54: Cowie - University - Stirling (First Scotland East)
Service C57: Raploch - Stirling (First Scotland East)
Service C57: St Ninians - Stirling - Raploch (WAVE)
Service C58: Stirling - Dunblane (First Scotland East)
Service 59/C59: Callander - Stirling - Throsk (First Scotland East)
Service C60: Callander - Killin (Kingshouse Travel)

Skinflats residents want less buses

At the request of Falkirk Council, the community council and residents of Skinflats,  the Stagecoach operated Evening and Sunday services on Falkirk Council subsidised route 15 between Falkirk & Alloa  will be withdrawn from Skinflats from next Monday, April 29th.
The village will still be served by Stagecoach daytime Dunfermline-Falkirk Service, and the NHS funded H4 service.

Stirling misses out on Sleepercoach

Stagecoach have announced it is to launch a major network of overnight sleepercoach services from Scotland to London this summer using a £5m fleet of specially-designed vehicles.
The fleet of 10 new coaches, equipped with a clever interior layout that allows the leather seats to be converted into lie-flat beds, will operate overnight seven days a week.
The Megabus Gold Sleepercoach services will link London with Aberdeen, Aviemore, Cumbernauld Dundee, Dunfermline Edinburgh, Falkirk, Ferrytoll park and ride in Fife, Glasgow Inverness and Perth.
But despite two of the buses passing the city, Stirling is not included in the network. Instead Falkirk will be the start point for a third coach which will also serve Dunfermline & Edinburgh.
Customers will receive complimentary refreshments during their journey as well as a sleeper kit which includes an eye mask, a toothbrush and toothpaste. In addition, as a pilot, passengers will also be given a choice of a blanket or a onesie to sleep in during their journey.
Prices on the new services will range from £15 to £60.

First cuts in Forth Valley : April 15th

First will revised the  timetable and route of Service 38 (Stirling-Edinburgh). In Stirling, daytime services  (renumbered X38) will operate via the A9 Burghmuir Road serving Waitrose. Between Maybury and Haymarket all services will now operate a limited stopping pattern.
Meanwhile Service 60, (Clackmannan - Stirling - Falkirk) which compliments the 38 will continue to operate via St.Ninians Road, but some little used journeys are withdrawn, including the early morning service from Clackmannan, and the already sporadic evening service. Last bus from Clackmannan - Stirling will now be at  1830, and last bus from Stirling-Clackmannan is 2046.
Several Falkirk Council journeys see minor changes on the same day.

Bus changes

There are several changes to local Stirling & Clackmannan services from April 1st, including :
Service C16
Minor alterations to Monday to Friday timetable. The 0546 from Throsk to Stirling will be withdrawn as will the 06:41 Cambusbarron - Stirling journey but the later journey will be replaced by the new service C37 mentioned below.
Service C32
On a Saturday the 17:15 Stirling to Cambusbarron Journey will be revised to operate 10 minutes later.
Service C37
Introduction of a new supported service comprising two journeys, 06:39 Cambusbarron - Raploch and the 07:38 Stirling to Cambusbarron.
Services 57/C57
Supported journeys to be withdrawn Monday to Saturday. Please be advised that some evening journeys will now be operated by WAVE on behalf of Stirling Council.
Service C59
Revision to the Sunday timetable, revised to operate between Stirling Bus Station and Callander only.
Service C68/ C69/C70/C71
First will not operate these supported services from this date. Replacement service will be operated by Hunter on behalf of Clackmannanshire Council.

In addition, Stagecoach have made some small timetable alterations to the 78 Dunfermline-Stirling timetable  in the late afternoon, to improve efficiency. The changes take place this Monday, March 25th, when Stagecoach fares will also be revised.