South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle has welcomed an announcement from Transport Scotland that rail replacement buses will be given special treatment during planned closures of the A77 during October.
When plans were announced by Scotland TranServ, the maintenance company responsible for the route, to close parts of the A77 between Maybole and Cairnryan over two weekends for resurfacing work, the Brian raised the issue at Holyrood during First Minister’s questions. The MSP highlighted the potential impact that a long detour would have on the replacement bus services that are currently running because of the disruption at the Ayr Station Hotel.
The First Minister pledged to look into the matter and Transport Scotland have now confirmed that they’ve agreed a compromise with Scotland TranServe. Although the road will be closed, the rail replacement buses will be escorted through the works in a convoy, minimising the delay to travellers.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“I’m delighted that a solution has been found that will make life a little easier for people faced with having to travel on the replacement bus service. The repairs being made to the A77 are essential and I didn’t want to see them delayed but the idea of people already facing a difficult journey on a bus rather than a train being made much longer because of this detour would have been adding insult to injury.
I’ll be staying in touch with Transport Scotland to make sure that if there’s further rail disruption in future, any works on the route are planned from the outset to minimise disruption to rail replacement services.”
Text of Brian’s question to the First Minister (20.09.18) - https://shar.es/a1Ysvs
