Stagecoach Bluebird has announced its night bus services will return to Aberdeen this festive season – and will be free.
Running for the first time since before the Covid pandemic, the night buses will be operating each Friday and Saturday night in the lead up to Christmas.
Passengers will be able to travel to the city centre from Westhill, Inverurie, Stonehaven and Ellon for free.
The relaunch has been made possible thanks to funding from Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen Inspired.
It is hoped that the buses will provide a safe way for festive party revellers to travel home, while helping ease the congestion at taxi ranks.
Innes Walker, city centre manager at Aberdeen Inspired, said: “Aberdeen Inspired is delighted to support the return of Stagecoach’s night bus service, and even happier to announce that it is free to the public which is crucial as we are going through a cost-of-living crisis.
“We’re aware that residents across the city have found getting home after a night out a challenge, so we are proud to be able to support the night-time economy by providing service which ensures citizens get home safely.
“The night-time economy is critical to Aberdeen and particularly during the festive period, when more people will be out enjoying the city’s fantastic retail, hospitality and late-night offerings.
“We hope that the introduction of this transport option will encourage more people to come into the city centre and continue to support businesses.”
‘Restoring Aberdeen’s bustling nightlife’
Stagecoach Bluebird will be running buses to and from Aberdeen into the early hours so people can guarantee they have a safe way home after a night out.
The routes will cover a number of locations, including Kingswells, Portlethen, Newtonhill, Blackburn, Kintore, Balmedie and Newburgh.
The night services will be back from tomorrow and run over the next three weekends on:
- Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3
- Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10
- Friday, December 16 and Saturday, December 17
Daniel Laird, commercial director at Stagecoach Bluebird, added: “We are looking forward to the reintroduction of our popular night buses, which haven’t run since before Covid.
“It’s a great opportunity to help the public get home safely after a night out in Aberdeen city centre and with thanks to Aberdeen Inspired and Aberdeen City Council, passengers will ride the bus for free.
“The timetables reflect Aberdeen’s popular routes to allow access for majority of pubgoers, which will result in a reduction of the taxi rank queues. We are happy to address the need for night buses and help restore Aberdeen’s bustling nightlife.”
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