Forres area bus service to run more frequently after success

A successful rural bus service funded by the community it serves has announced an extended timetable.

The daily 940 between Forres and Logie Steading - started in September 2023 by Finderne Development Trust (FDT) - will now run more frequently.

FDT development manager, Ian Chorlton, confirmed the shuttle style service will now travel from Logie via Edinkillie, Half Davoch, Forres Health and Care Centre, Lidl, Forres High Street, Rafford and back, four times-a-day, five days-a-week between 10am and 4pm.

He said: “In January, we began investigating what changes were required to make the service more beneficial to Finderne. This included a survey to Finderne Development Trust members.

“The preference was for more daytime runs for short visits to Forres and Logie and vice versa, including for the shops and health centre.”

FDT initially created interest in, then demonstrated that it is possible to run a community timetabled service.

“For example, it helps people get to work and teenagers to after school clubs,” he said. “The bus has also been hired out, including for the Logie Timber Festival, a wedding, by an orienteering group, for a nature walk, and it will be used for the upcoming Dava Way Ghost Walk.”

After 35 weeks - excluding two for Christmas and snow when the bus didn’t run - there have been 490 journeys recorded with an average 14 passengers per week, including a 95-year-old resident living on the Logie Estate who uses it to go into Forres to carry out errands.

Ian said: “Baring in mind we run 20 runs per week, it was felt that a change of route to include more of Finderne was appropriate. It should provide more flexibility to a greater number of users: Finderne residents; Forres residents; and holiday makers and visitors.

“Over the next few months, we will monitor it to see if uptake increases.”

The Logie bus currently has two fully employed drivers and one on contract. It is also available for hire at weekends, with or without a driver. Anyone wishing to hire it who has D1 on their licence (all licenses before 1997) can undertake an induction with FDT to allow them to hire and drive the vehicle. The hire is for local and relatively short travel - the maximum distance being Grantown, Inverness or Fochabers for example. For more information, email hello@findernedevelopmenttrust.com.

The bus is regularly serviced and maintained by C&P Garage Services in Forres.

“It provides a vital community service,” finished Ian. “The more it's used, the more it justifies its existence.

“It’s ideal for visiting Forres for shops, health centre and the Post Office for example, as well as Rafford, Logie Steading and Marcassie Farm.

“There are fixed stops but it's also hail and ride at any point on route where it's safe for the drivers to stop.”

The starter price for a weekly pass is £20; a return is £5; and a single fare £3, with payment by card only. Weekly rates for other groups are available.

The new timetable is available at https://findernedevelopmenttrust.wordpress.com/projects/community-transport/