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The Number 38 bus route in Edinburgh offers a glimpse into some of the challenges currently facing Scotland’s public transportation system. This particular service navigates a busy north-south corridor, linking important destinations such as a college, retail park, and two hospitals. However, recent trends show that travel times for this route are steadily increasing. Industry experts point to rising traffic volumes, peak-time congestion, and insufficient bus priority initiatives as key factors making bus travel less appealing to commuters.
Recent data reveals that the average speed of buses across Scotland has fallen significantly, dropping from 14.9mph two years ago to just 11.3mph today. One of the worst affected routes is Lothian Buses’ Number 38, which traverses eight major roads in Edinburgh. Passengers like Nico Reverie, a regular user of the service, express frustration with the frequent delays caused by traffic bottlenecks. “You can obviously see what the hold ups are, but there’s not a lot you can do about it,” he observes. He also notes how the delays complicate connections with other buses, forcing him to leave earlier to avoid being late for work. Despite the inconvenience, he still regards the service as decent overall, attributing most problems to traffic rather than the bus operation itself.
Research commissioned by CPT Scotland highlights a long-term increase in journey times on the 38 route, attributing it to heavier traffic, lower speed limits, and the expansion of cycle lanes. In response to these challenges, the frequency of the service has been reduced, although the same number of vehicles continues to operate on the route. This adjustment has not gone unnoticed by passengers such as Francis Boyle, who works at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. He acknowledges the quality of the service but points out its limited operation hours, especially given the large hospitals it serves. Boyle also notes how consistent roadworks around the city create additional delays, an issue that, while outside the control of bus operators, still affects service reliability.
The wider picture for Scotland’s bus industry is one of increasing operational complexity alongside declining passenger numbers. Paul White, director of CPT Scotland, emphasizes the detrimental impact congestion has on both costs and attractiveness of bus travel. He states, “When a bus or coach is stuck in traffic it lengthens the passenger journey time, increases the costs of operation, and ultimately makes bus less attractive, potentially resulting in reduced bus use, cuts to services, or higher fares.” White advocates for stronger collaboration between local authorities and operators, promoting priority measures such as bus lanes and traffic light adjustments to improve service efficiency. Examples from Aberdeen, where bus gates led to faster journey times and higher ridership, suggest such strategies can be successful. Additionally, advances like AI-driven traffic management—currently being trialed in Glasgow—offer hope for future improvements by optimizing bus movement through busy junctions
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