X7 Coastrider
{{Short description|Bus route in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox bus line
|number = X7 Coastrider
|logo =
|image = File:Strathtay 53717 (14179492695).jpg
|image_width =
|caption = An X7 bus, prior to the introduction of new coaches and extension of the route.
|bgcolor =
|titlecolor =
|operator = Stagecoach East Scotland
|start = Aberdeen bus station
|via = Stonehaven, Montrose and Arbroath
|end = Dundee Seagate Bus Station
|open = {{start date and age|2011|09|12|df=yes|p=yes}}
|frequency = Hourly (end-to-end) at busiest times, with some additional services between Aberdeen and Stonehaven operated by Stagecoach Bluebird.
}}
The X7 Coastrider is an hourly bus route between the Scottish cities of Dundee and Aberdeen, via Arbroath and Montrose, operated by Stagecoach East Scotland. The service runs seven days a week.{{Cite web |title=Angus X7 |url=https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/East%20Scotland/EScotTemp/Perth%20and%20Kinross%20May%2024/Angus%20X7%20May%202024.pdf |website=stagecoachbus.com}}
History
The route was introduced on 12 September 2011 and was initially operated by a fleet of six new Plaxton Elite bodied Volvo B9R coaches.{{Cite web|last=Hilson|first=Aaron|date=2011-09-13|title=B9 Elites for new Stagecoach X7 service|url=https://cbwmagazine.com/b9-elites-for-new-stagecoach-x7-service/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=CBW|language=en-GB|archive-date=2021-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503104518/https://cbwmagazine.com/b9-elites-for-new-stagecoach-x7-service/|url-status=live}} In 2014, Stagecoach purchased eight new Vovlo B11RT Plaxton Elite-i interdeck coaches for the route. These began service on 24 November.{{Cite web|date=2014-11-18|title=Stagecoach invests £2.4m in Coastrider X7|url=https://cbwmagazine.com/stagecoach-invests-2-4m-in-coastrider-x7/|access-date=2021-05-02|website=CBW|language=en-GB|archive-date=2021-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502222432/https://cbwmagazine.com/stagecoach-invests-2-4m-in-coastrider-x7/|url-status=live}} At this time, the southern terminus of the service was also extended from Dundee to Perth.{{Cite web|date=2014-11-13|title=New length Elite-i for Coastrider|url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/new-length-elite-coastrider/|access-date=2021-05-02|website=Bus & Coach Buyer|language=en-GB|archive-date=2021-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502222433/https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/new-length-elite-coastrider/|url-status=live}} The extension replaced route number 333, which operated between Perth Royal Infirmary and Dundee's Ninewells Hospital.{{Cite web|last=Jackson|first=Keith|date=2008-04-04|title=New bus service between Perth and Ninewells is just the ticket|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/gordon-strachan-set-for-heart-to-heart-talks-989020|access-date=2022-01-28|website=Daily Record|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2014-11-19|title=Perth connections with Dundee are ramped up with new coach service|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/hourly-coach-service-booster-perth-4656042|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-02|website=Daily Record|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505171254/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/hourly-coach-service-booster-perth-4656042}} A ninth coach was subsequently acquired for the route.{{Cite web|date=2017-06-24|title=Changes to bus timetables|url=https://ianmollison.mycouncillor.org.uk/2017/06/24/changes-to-bus-timetables-2/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-02|website=Ian Mollison|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502222433/https://ianmollison.mycouncillor.org.uk/2017/06/24/changes-to-bus-timetables-2/}} In 2020, additional services numbered X7 were introduced between Aberdeen and Stonehaven, some of which continue through Stonehaven, providing an additional town service.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-03|title=Changes to bus timetable|url=https://ianmollison.mycouncillor.org.uk/2020/02/04/changes-to-bus-timetable/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-02|website=Ian Mollison|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502222434/https://ianmollison.mycouncillor.org.uk/2020/02/04/changes-to-bus-timetable/}}
In April 2024, it was announced services 16/B and X7 will no longer operate between Dundee and Perth. On 13 May 2024, these changes took place. An extended service 39 and new services 39A/39B has now replaced them.{{Cite web |last=O'Neil |first=Sean |date=2024-04-05 |title=Stagecoach releases new timetable in 'victory' for Perthshire after bus cuts furore |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/perth-kinross/4940877/stagecoach-perthshire-timetable/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}
Criticism
The introduction of new coaches has been criticised by passengers who claim that they have insufficient space for wheelchair users, and that the steep stairs are hard to climb. The service is used by patients at Perth Royal Infirmary and Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.{{Cite web|last=Clark|first=Rachel|date=2018-09-14|title=Harrowing bus tales spark call for change|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/harrowing-bus-tales-spark-call-13242936|access-date=2021-05-02|website=Daily Record|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502222434/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/harrowing-bus-tales-spark-call-13242936|url-status=live}} In response, Stagecoach stated that the vehicles meet Disability Discrimination Act standards and all had a space for a wheelchair user. The company stated in 2018 that the coaches were necessary to meet demand for the X7 service and that low-floor vehicles would have insufficient capacity.{{Cite web|last=Maher|first=Ryan|date=2018-08-07|title=Stagecoach urged to improve disabled accessibility between Ninewells and Perth Royal Infirmary|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/701100/stagecoach-urged-to-improve-disabled-accessibility-between-ninewells-and-perth-royal-infirmary/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-02|website=The Courier|language=en-GB|archive-date=2021-05-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515050608/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/701100/stagecoach-urged-to-improve-disabled-accessibility-between-ninewells-and-perth-royal-infirmary/}}
Despite this, in September 2017, the company introduced a service numbered X8 to increase the frequency of service between Perth and Arbroath and "providing an alternative option for customers who may struggle with the stairs on the X7".{{Cite web|date=2017-09-05|title=New Dundee bus service welcomed|url=https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/new-dundee-bus-service-welcomed/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521215146/https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/new-dundee-bus-service-welcomed/|archive-date=2019-05-21|access-date=2022-01-28|website=Evening Telegraph}} The X8 route was withdrawn in 2018.{{Cite web|last=Burdge|first=Richard|title=Campaigners claim Tayside hospital link service is vital|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/perth-kinross/618614/campaigners-claim-tayside-hospital-link-service-is-vital/|access-date=2022-01-28|website=The Courier|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=Cargill|first=Paul|date=2018-03-16|title=Hospital bus cuts a massive blow to X8 users|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/hospital-bus-cuts-massive-blow-12199542|access-date=2022-01-28|website=Daily Record|language=en}}
New services 39A/39B and extended service 39 now serves PRI with a low-floor vehicle replacing the X7 between PRI and Dundee.{{Cite web |title=Service Updates Article |url=https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/serviceupdatesarticle?SituationId=ID-27/02/2024-17:13:32:406 |website=stagecoachbus.com}}
See also
References
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