New bus information in Kirkwall

A number of bus information poles have been installed in Kirkwall thanks to funding from HITRANS.

The project forms part of a rolling programme of works across the Highlands and Islands, aiming to provide better bus timetable information. The 20 information poles will provide ‘at-stop’ timetable information specific to each pick up point. HITRANS are currently working on at-stop info so standard timetables will be used in the interim.

The poles have been installed at convenient drop off and pick up locations on the Town Service 9 route, but passengers can continue to hail the bus from outwith the stops where it is safe to do so.

The funding from HITRANS will also provide bus shelters at the bus layby on Pickaquoy Road and at Berstane Road where the path connects to Reid Crescent. A bus timetable display screen has also been installed at Kirkwall Airport to inform passengers of the timings for connecting services.

Councillor James Stockan is chairman of the council’s Development and Infrastructure Committee. He said: “The aim of this project is to provide an improved level of timetable information in the centre of Kirkwall, with a view to encouraging bus travel and a reduction in short car journeys. We wouldn’t have been able to do this work without the funding from HITRANS and we are grateful for their support.”

HITRANS (The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership) is the statutory regional transport partnership covering Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Orkney, Highland, Moray and most of the Argyll and Bute area.

It works with councils, the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, HIE, transport operators and other stakeholders to improve transport services and infrastructure in the north of Scotland and on routes to the Highlands and Islands.