Published: Thursday, 26th March 2020
Plans are being put in place to help with the temporary reduction in bus services
We recognise public transport is essential for many in our communities and the only way to access shops for food, prescriptions and other essential items.
It also provides a key service for critical and essential workers.
With this in mind we are working in partnership with local bus operators to deliver a network of 'demand responsive services'.
These services are being made available to all members of the public who have no alternative means of transport to access shops and pharmacists for essentials including food and prescriptions, or those going to work at Borders General Hospital (BGH) or local care homes, for example.
To keep people connected over this weekend, operators have provided phone numbers below for booking transport. However from Monday 30 March our hotline number will be in use (also below).
To allow us to offer a safe and responsible bus service, a decision has been made to only operate a number of key routes from Friday 27 March. The full on demand service will be available from Monday.
You will be allocated a slot to travel within the indicated times below. If you are unable to travel, please cancel your booking by calling the Scottish Borders phone line 01835 826753. The line will be open between the hours of 8.45am-4pm.
- Borders Buses services to operate will be: service 51, 60, 67, 69, H1/H2, X62, X95, 235, B1, 267 and 464. Borders Buses is also offering free travel for NHS staff. All they have to do is present their NHS card.
- Peter Hogg – services still operating will be: 131, however if you need transport to and from Jedburgh/Morebattle/Kelso and surrounding areas before Monday please contact 01835 863 755 before 4pm, before day of travel.
- Telfords - all services suspended however if you need transport to and from Newcastleton before Monday please contact 01387 375 677 before 4pm, before the day of travel.
- Travelsure - services to operate as normal until Friday 27 March, however if you need transport within the Berwickshire area before Monday please contact 01668 219 291 before 4pm on Friday 27 March.
These services have reduced journeys with later start and earlier finishing times. Routes will also be limited to the Borders area only. All new temporary timetables are currently being created and will be available shortly.
In order to maintain social distancing and manage usage all customers must pre-book their seat. All bookings must be made by no later than 4pm the previous day. If you need to book transport for Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, bookings should be made before 4pm on a Friday.
Transport will operate into the following towns Galashiels, Kelso, Peebles, Selkirk, Jedburgh, Duns, Newcastleton, Hawick and possibly, at a later date Berwick. Hours of service are below:
- 7.30am – 9.30am
- 11.30am – 1.30pm
- 3.30pm – 5.30pm
The service will operate from approximately 7.30am-5.30pm Monday to Friday, and possibly Saturdays where required. Set pick up times will also be made available.
In addition, specific journeys will be provided for key works and NHS staff traveling to the BGH.
Safety remains our number one priority and we urge all customers to listen to the government’s extremely important instruction and only travel if essential.