A shuttle bus service will run daily from Tuesday 21 April to connect Davidson’s Mains and Cramond while the 47 bus is out of service on that section of the route.
– Shuttle buses will run every 15 minutes starting from the Tesco in Davidson’s Mains.
– They will run daily from 7am – 7pm.
– They will travel on a loop between Tesco at Davidson’s Mains, along Cramond Road South, Gamekeeper’s Road, and Cramond Road North. We expect the full loop to take around 15 minutes subject to traffic.
– The buses will stop at all bus stops that are usually serviced by the 47 bus along that section of the route.
– Each bus can hold up to 16 people.
There is also a replacement bus service between Cammo and Cramond.
SHUTTLE BUS SOLUTION TO D MAINS ROUNDABOUT CLOSURE
Important update on 47 bus diversion
We wrote to you yesterday about Lothian Buses’ decision to divert the 47 bus service during the 9 week duration of the roadworks at the Davidson’s Mains roundabout.
The consequence of the change, due to start from Monday, is that the 47 will run along Queensferry Road to the terminus at Cammo without serving Cramond Road South and Whitehouse Road.
As we explained yesterday, it was completely unacceptable to us for Cramond to be left without a key bus link for so long.
We want to thank the literally hundreds of our constituents who have emailed us about this. Please accept our apologies for the fact we’ve not been able to reply to everyone.
We hope you’ll understand our focus over the last 24 hours has been in finding a solution for our constituents who rely on the 47. As councillors, we felt our job was to keep up the pressure on both Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Council officers to get action.
Our strong preference was for Lothian to simply route the 47 right at the Barnton junction and into Whitehouse Road for a loop around Cramond. This would replicate the old route of the service. We pressed Lothian to consider this.
However, Lothian have refused to adopt this temporary route because of their concerns over the impact it could have on the timings of the service as a whole.
Nevertheless, we have now managed to secure an important new alternative service which we hope will help –
We’ve had it confirmed tonight that that a free to use shuttle bus will be available for Cramond residents. This will operate between Cramond and Cammo. People can then connect to the 47 bus for journeys along Queensferry Road and onward.
This will be up and running by the middle of next week – ahead of the schools returning from their Easter break. We will share more specific details of when we have them.
We know this shuttle service is far from ideal – however, it will mean people can still get public transport to connect to the 47 bus service when they need it.
We also want to make sure the work in Davidson’s Mains is completed as quickly as possible so things return to normal just as soon as they can.
We will of course keep you informed as we get more information.
Davidson’s Mains roundabout closed from Monday (13 April) for work to improve road safety. There will be no access for vehicles from Cramond Road South, Main Street or Quality Street.
The city council is working hard to limit disruption and working closely with Lothian Buses to put alternative plans in place for Cramond residents from next week.
Call to maintain momentum to support healthier communities, create thriving local economies and to save lives on Scotland’s roads
68 organisations* from across Scotland have come together to urge all political parties to enable more people to walk, wheel or cycle, ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election.
The ‘Joint Active Travel Manifesto for 2026’ calls for parties to commit to multi-year budgets, link public transport and improve road safety, in order to build on ongoing success and bring the benefits of walking/wheeling and cycling to more people.
From helping to reduce Scotland’s carbon emissions to improving public health and supporting local economies, the manifesto highlights some of the many benefits that active travel brings, calling on parties to pledge to support five key commitments:
Investment: provide long term investment to transform our local high streets and communities, committing at least 10% of the transport budget to active travel funding.
Long-term commitment: Multi-year budgets to accelerate delivery of national strategies on walking/wheeling and cycling, offer better value for money and give more people access to active travel, regardless of income and background.
Infrastructure: Transform our communities, enabling anyone, especially younger people – to travel more safely on foot, by wheeling or by bike. Including through well maintained, accessible networks of walking or cycling routes and reorganised street space, creating better, greener local places.
Link active and public transport: Integrate walking and cycling infrastructure with public transport in rural areas especially, providing alternatives to the car. Reducing congestion for all and effortlessly linking longer journeys.
Safety: Reduce road danger by lowering traffic speeds in our communities, by taking dangerous drivers off the road and by creating more accessible streets for all: implementing the pavement parking ban, reinforcing the new Highway Code and making welcoming spaces everyone can use and enjoy.
Increased national investment in active travel was supported by all major parties at the 2021 Holyrood election, and has led to impressive increases in walking, wheeling and cycling where projects have been delivered.
Sadly, it’s not all good news as 12 people are killed or seriously injured while walking, wheeling or cycling every week in Scotland and more action is needed to keep people safe and reduce danger at source.
The Scottish Government’s 2026 budget has set out increased funding for active travel and bus infrastructure over the next four years – an extremely welcome development that will help to create safer streets, healthier communities, and support more thriving local economies.
The Joint Active Travel Manifesto calls on all political parties to commit to sustaining and building on this investment into the long term.
Devi Sridhar is Professor and Chair of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh and author of ‘How Not to Die Too Soon’. In support of the manifesto, Professor Sridhar said:“A move towards active travel isn’t about banning cars, but rather increasing options and freedoms for people to choose how they want to go to school, work or city centre, whether it’s walking, cycling or public transport.
“Getting people moving in their daily life should be a high priority for governments given that sedentary behaviour is a major risk factor for chronic disease such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and dementia. Exercise also contributes at a cellular level to better mental health.
“Scotland has made positive steps in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go to catch up with major European cities who have built active travel into urban design.”
Rose Marie Burke and John Newman, the parents of Emma Burke Newman who was killed while cycling in Glasgow City Centre in 2023, said: “Emma loved to cycle through her world, including her beloved Scotland.
“Unfortunately, careless driving and poor infrastructure took her away from us. Despite progress, let’s keep up the hard work to recognise and address the real issues in plain sight.”
Kay Corbett, owner of Outline Hair in the centre of Edinburgh, has supported customers to travel by bike by providing cycle parking inside her salon, and has advocated for further improvements for walking, wheeling and cycling on local shopping streets.
Kay said: “I’m lucky enough to have my commute to work pass through Holyrood Park, and seeing the changing seasons in the park, and wildlife up close every day is unreal, you really couldn’t convince me there’s a better way to travel.
“The safer and more enjoyable an experience we can make it is the best way to encourage people to make the leap onto a bike.
“I can do all I like to encourage cycling to my business, talking to clients about biking, providing bike parking in the salon, but the biggest concern my staff and customers have is safety. The want to cycle is there. The issues remain clear – that cycle lanes aren’t city wide yet.”
Jason Corbett, owner of Insider Tattoo, said as a small business owner: “I need to get about, my customers need to get about so the more people using active travel the more swiftly, safely and cleanly we will all move.
“It will give us both physical and mental health benefits and a cleaner environment for the future.”
Organisers of the Pedal on Parliament campaign, which is set to ride through the streets of Edinburgh on 30th May 2026, said: “We know cycling to be transformative – we can see that from the infrastructure local authorities have built in Scotland in recent years, and how everyday people then find themselves with a quick, healthy, low-cost and flexible way of moving around our villages, towns and cities.
“But we still see cycling being under-prioritised — not only under-budgeted, but more importantly those budgets being underspent. We see other European nations effecting huge changes like improving air quality, easing congestion, increasing local trade and raising citizens’ general quality of life by making travelling by bike a safer and easier choice.
“We wonder when Scotland will join them — because we’re falling behind, moving too slowly, and listening too closely to those who say ‘it can’t work here’ when all the evidence tells us otherwise. That’s why we’re organising our big ride on 30th May 2026 in Edinburgh – kids, teens, adults and elders cycling together to the Scottish Parliament to ask for better, faster.”
The full joint manifesto for active travel, with list of all signatories, is available here.
See at a glance what service levels will be in operation over the festive period
No matter the reason for travelling by bus this festive period – visiting friends and family, commuting to and from work, attending Christmas parties or work nights out – Lothian is here to make your journey easy, affordable and comfortable.
We’ve pulled together all the information you could possibly need this Christmas for travel across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including festive timetables, TravelHub opening hours, journey planning tools, Lothian merchandise (ideal for stocking fillers!) and last but not least… our very special Christmas Advertisement for 2025, created in partnership with our Charity of Choice, Age Scotland!
Lorna Slater, the Scottish Green MSP for Lothian has called for the upcoming Scottish budget to extend free bus travel to everyone under 30, describing it as a lifeline for young workers and families in the area.
This would build on the groundbreaking free bus pass scheme already delivered by the Scottish Greens for those under 22. Over 250 million free journeys have been taken by young people since the scheme’s launch, with over 45 million of those in Edinburgh.
Free bus travel for young people has been one of the greatest successes of devolution, saving them and their families a fortune and helping to tackle the climate crisis.
Extending it to everyone under 30 would give over half a million more people a free bus pass, opening up new opportunities to find work or education and to see more of Scotland.
Lorna Slater the Scottish Green MSP for the Lothian region said: “The Greens’ introduction of free bus travel for everyone under 22 has been a huge success for people across our capital city.
“Thousands of young people across our communities are saving money, finding new opportunities, and helping to tackle the climate crisis.
“This scheme is one of the clearest achievements of the Scottish Parliament. Families all over Edinburghhave saved thousands of pounds in a period when bills and other costs have otherwise soared.
“But the cost of living crisis doesn’t stop for people the day they turn 22. For many young people the impact of losing their bus pass is huge, with new travel costs eating into their budgets.
“Too many workers in their 20s are trapped in a cycle of ever-rising costs and insecure work, with far too many in the citystruggling to cover their rent and bills every month.
“Lowering the cost of public transport is a win-win for people and planet. That’s why the Scottish Greens are pushing for more people to get a free bus pass as soon as possible.”
From today – Monday, 1 September – customers will pay the same fare no matter what time they travel, or the day of the week.
The policy announced by the Scottish Government in May this year is aiming to make train fares simpler, more flexible, and provide better value for money for rail users. A further aim of the change is to get more people to leave the car at home and travel by rail instead.
Removing peak fares will mean significant savings for customers across the country, with some journeys set to reduce by almost 50 per cent – including those between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Examples of the massive savings to be made include:
Journey
Return fare from 1 September
Saving
Percentage saving
Edinburgh – Glasgow
£16.80
£15.80
48%
Inverkeithing – Edinburgh
£7.40
£5.20
41%
Perth – Dundee
£11.20
£5.10
31%
Glasgow – Stirling
£10.80
£7.40
40%
Inverurie – Aberdeen
£10.10
£2.50
20%
Inverness – Elgin
£16.30
£8.50
34%
There are some routes where no off-peak fare exists because the same fare is already available at any time of the day, and as such, customers will not see any change in those areas.
Customers can now check the ScotRail website, or the app, to see Off-Peak fares for their route, and get set for savings when peak fares are removed. The ScotRail website also has a fare comparison tool that helps customers find the best ticket option for their travel needs.
As part of the move to simpler and more flexible fares, a number of other tickets will also be updated:
Season Tickets will remain at their current pricing until 27 September, offering exceptional value. For regular travellers, this represents a saving of at least 40 per cent compared to purchasing five Anytime Day Return tickets at pre-1 September prices. This discount was part of a 12-month offer launched in September 2024.
Flexipass tickets will have adjusted pricing from 1 September to ensure they continue to offer a saving compared to buying multiple Anytime Single or Return tickets, while still providing flexibility for part-time or hybrid commuters.
Super Off-Peak Day Return tickets will be withdrawn, as the removal of peak fares means customers now benefit from great value fares all day, every day.
Railcards, concessions, and enhanced discounts will continue to be available, with most remaining valid for travel after 9.15am, in line with existing conditions. These changes are designed to make rail travel easier to understand and more accessible, while continuing to offer excellent value for a wide range of customers.
The significant change to the fare structure will support the Scottish Government’s ambition to achieve net zero, providing more people with the opportunity to use trains as their primary form of transport.
ScotRail was recently ranked as one of the best train operating companies for customer satisfaction. With an overall satisfaction of 91 per cent, ScotRail is performing better than all other large operators in Britain.
It has been a hugely successful summer for the operator, with more than 200,000 customers travelling on services to attend events across the country, including the Tall Ships Races in Aberdeen, music events at Hampden Park, the Edinburgh Festivals, and Oasis in concert at Murrayfield stadium.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop said:“Public ownership has created the opportunity to deliver a railway which is run for the benefit of the nation. ScotRail is one of the fastest growing operators, with one of the best passenger satisfaction rates and we are building even further on this success by removing peak fares for good.
“We want more people to choose to travel by public transport for work, study and leisure but we know that many are still struggling with cost-of-living pressures.
“By removing peak fares, we are making ticketing more simple and more straightforward while at the same time supporting a shift towards sustainable public transport, protecting the climate, and saving people money.”
Joanne Maguire, ScotRail Managing Director, said:“This is fantastic news, not only for our existing customers, but for everyone across the country considering rail travel for their commute or leisure journeys.
“Travelling by train remains one of the most convenient ways to get around, and with simpler, more affordable fares, we hope to see many more people choose ScotRail.”
NHS Lothian, and Asthma + Lung UK have praised the benefits of the LEZ, following a year of enforcement.
Experts at the NHS and a leading charity have highlighted the ongoing impact of the LEZ enforcement on air quality and health. In addition, the new rules have incentivised active travel and greater use of public transport.
A LEZ was introduced in Edinburgh on 31 May 2022, along with LEZs in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, restricting the most polluting vehicles and benefiting everyone’s health. Edinburgh began enforcement alongside Aberdeen on June 1, 2024. Dundee began enforcement on May 30, 2024, and Glasgow on June 1, 2023.
With Clean Air Day (19 June) just a few weeks away too this one-year anniversary is a timely reminder of the importance of the LEZ here in Edinburgh and beyond.
In recent years air quality in Edinburgh has improved, with our monitoring data showing reduced pollution levels, and people getting ready for the LEZ may have contributed to this.
Over the last year, the average amount of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued for non-compliant vehicles entering the zone has been decreasing steadily.
Between June 2024 and January 2025 alone the total number decreased by 56%. There is also evidence of lower numbers of second contraventions. The vast majority of vehicles entering the LEZ are compliant, over 95%. Around 3% of vehicles entering the LEZ are exempted classed.
The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) has also published a study indicating that active travel and public transport use increased within the LEZ during the first six months after LEZ enforcement.
The first annual report on LEZ operation is expected to be presented to the Transport and Environment Committee later this year, including air quality trends and how the scheme contributes to our carbon reduction targets, as well as operational matters such as the number of PCNs issued, costs of maintaining and operating the scheme, gross and net revenue and other key issues.
The Council is working with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) on data collection and analysis of the LEZ and will present a report in the Scottish Parliament that will help inform the national picture of LEZ impact.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson: “I’m proud that alongside Aberdeen, Dundee, and Glasgow we took the bold step of implementing and enforcing a LEZ. We’re sending a clear message that our major cities are united in pursuing a better future for all. Fundamentally, the LEZs are about making our cities healthier for everyone.
“As Scotland’s capital city, we have a duty to lead on the response to the climate and nature emergencies which will define our country for generations to come. Multiple studies show that even low levels of pollution can have an impact on our health.
“Road traffic is one of the main sources of harmful emissions that are damaging people’s health and contributing to climate change, so we have a real responsibility to tackle this.
“The average decrease in PCNs here in Edinburgh show that people are getting used to the LEZ and modifying their habits accordingly. It’s also encouraging to see studies showing a positive shift towards greater use of active travel and public transport.
I look forward to seeing the annual report when it is considered by Committee.
“The LEZ is one important tool to help us achieve our ambitious climate goals, including net zero emissions by 2030.”
Flora Ogilvie, Consultant in Public Health, NHS Lothian said: “It’s great to know that the LEZ enforcement has been in place for a year, helping to improve air quality in the city and protect the health of our most vulnerable residents.
“Improving air quality and reducing traffic levels are also an important way of encouraging more people to travel by walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.
“Travelling sustainably can help improve individual physical activity levels and mental wellbeing, as well as supporting better environmental health for the whole population and planet.”
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland said: “We are pleased that Edinburgh along with Dundee and Aberdeen made the bold move a year ago to ban the most polluting cars from their city and it is a step in the right direction to help improve the air that we all breathe.
“With air pollution cutting short thousands of lives a year, we want to see our cities become far healthier places, where people can walk and cycle and not be forced to breathe in dirty air.
“With 1 in 5 people in Scotland developing a lung condition like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in their lifetime, for them, air pollution can trigger life-threatening asthma attacks and flare-ups.
“Children are more susceptible to air pollution as their lungs are still growing, and they also breathe faster than adults. As they grow, toxic air can stunt the growth of their lungs, making them less resilient into adulthood and placing them at greater risk of lung disease in the future.”
77% of all PCNs in the last year were served to light passenger vehicles (private cars) and 21% to light goods vehicles (panel vans) with the remaining 2% being divided among the other classes of vehicle. 62.4% of PCNs are paid within 14 days at the discounted rate.
Income from the LEZ will be used in the first instance to pay for the operation and maintenance of the scheme. Any surplus income will be contributed towards Council projects which contribute towards the wider goals of the LEZ, particularly improving air quality and climate change emission reduction.
Air pollution is associated with between 29,000 and 43,000 deaths a year in the UK. The World Health Organization and the UK Government both recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental threat to our health.
Another key development is that the Low Emission Zone Support Fund has now resumed and is open to new applications. This is funded by Transport Scotland and administered by the Energy Saving Trust.
LOTHIAN BUSES AND EDINBURGH TRAMS ANNOUNCE 10% FARE INCREASE
Fares will be revised across Lothian’s group of companies – Lothian Buses, Lothian Country and East Coast Buses – from Sunday 6 April 2025.
The last fares revision took place in April 2023 and since then, operating cost pressures have increased significantly. With all fares revenue reinvested into the running of our business, introducing revised fares is required for Lothian to continue to prioritise investment in our fleet, our people, and our wider customer offering.
Lothian’s TapTapCap Pay-As-You-Go product will continue to offer discounted fares via contactless capping versus paper tickets, with the Contactless City DAY cap at £5.00 compared to the £5.50 City DAY ticket.
As part of a service change which will also take effect from Sunday 6 April, Skylink 200 will become Service 17 and Skylink 400 will become Service 18, with regular city fares applying on these routes, even for those travelling to the airport.
There will be no change to our Airlink Airport Single and Return fares.
As part of this review, there will be further harmonisation of products in East and West Lothian to continue the simplification of our ticketing portfolio.
Product
Current Fare
Revised Fare
Validity
Adult Single
£2.00
£2.20
Valid for one journey on a day service.
Child Single
£1.00
£1.10
Valid for one journey on a day service.
Adult DAYTicket (renamed City DAY ticket)
£5.00 £4.80 TapTapCap £10.50 Family
£5.50 £5.00 TapTapCap £12.00 Family
Valid for unlimited journeys on day services.
Child DAYticket (renamed City DAY ticket)
£2.50
£2.75
Valid for unlimited journeys on day services.
TapTapCap – City Week Cap
£22.00
£24.50
Maximum weekly cap for unlimited journeys on day and night services in the city and airport zones. Weekly caps run Monday – Sunday.
Adult NETWORK
£12.00
£12.50
Unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services across our entire network, including Edinburgh Trams.
Adult Ridacard (1 Week)
£22.00
£24.50
Unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services across our entire network, including Edinburgh Trams.
Adult Ridacard (4 Weeks)
£66.00
£73.00
Unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services across our entire network, including Edinburgh Trams.
Adult Ridacard (Monthly DD)
£62.00
£68.00
Unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services across our entire network, including Edinburgh Trams.
Adult Ridacard (Annual)
£650.00
£700.00
Unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services across our entire network, including Edinburgh Trams.
Edinburgh Trams is today announcing an increase in ticket prices, in line with its sister company, Lothian Buses.
This is the first time since 2023 that fares have changed and reflects the increased operational costs faced by the operator in the last two years. Fare changes will come into effect from start of service on Sunday 6 April.
The fare changes will see the cost of an Adult Single fare rise from £2 to £2.20, and an Adult Return fare rise from £3.80 to £4.20. Day Tickets will also increase by 50p, to £5.50.
Proportional fare increases will apply to all tickets, with full details available below.
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Lea Harrison, Managing Director at Edinburgh Trams, said: “While every effort has been made to keep fare increases to a minimum, the rise will allow us to meet our commitments to providing cost-effective and environmentally friendly travel across the city.
“We understand that fare rises are never preferred, but demands on the network and on staff have never been higher, with trams now running more frequently every day. These fare changes will allow us to continue to maintain and improve the tram network for the benefit of the customer.”
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Edinburgh Trams provides an award winning and vital service to our city, with over 12 million journeys completed last year alone.
“We’ve all seen the benefits from Trams to Newhaven and it’s fair to say that the arrival of the trams has breathed a new lease of life into the north of the Capital.
“I realise that these fare increases are a difficult reality in the current economic climate. However, it’s vital that we continue to invest in and protect our tram network, whilst continuing with our bold vision for a new tram line from North-South in the future.
“Keeping Edinburgh moving is my priority and I’ll continue to work alongside Edinburgh Trams to make that happen.”
Customers can still buy discounted bundles of tickets on the et app, or pre-book some ticket types on Edinburgh Ticket, to ensure that we can still offer the best fares to our customers.
For details on changes to Ridacard prices, you can check Lothian Buses website here.
