KELTY bus passengers have been given a temporary helping hand after a replacement service began following the withdrawal of the X56.
The former Stagecoach route, which ran between Perth and Edinburgh via Kinross, Kelty and Halbeath Park & Ride, was officially withdrawn as of today (Monday).
But an interim replacement service, partly funded by Fife Council, has now started operating along the previous X56 route on a two-hourly timetable.
The move follows weeks of concern from passengers, councillors and community representatives, who warned that the loss of the service could leave people without a practical way to travel to work, college, medical appointments and other essential services.
Fife Council said it had worked with Perth and Kinross Council and other transport partners to ensure communities affected by the loss of the Stagecoach service were not left without a bus connection.
Perth and Kinross Council has agreed to provide the interim service while longer-term arrangements are considered by its Finance and Resources Committee next week.
Fife Council leader David Ross welcomed the decision. He said: “Our officers have been working closely with officers from Perth and Kinross to try to mitigate against the impacts that the loss of this bus service would have.
“A reliable, affordable and accessible public transport service is vital for our communities.”
Stagecoach announced in July that it would withdraw the X56 from August 24, saying the route had been significantly loss-making for an extended period and that there was “no commercially viable solution” which would allow it to continue operating.
The company said most passengers would have alternative services available, particularly between Halbeath and Edinburgh.
However, it accepted that some people travelling between Kinross and Halbeath had “no realistic alternative bus service”, suggesting any replacement would need to be delivered through a local authority funded tender.
The decision sparked strong opposition across the route. More than 150 people attended a public meeting at Kelty Community Centre last month.
Meanwhile, an online petition describing the X56 as a “vital link” for non‑drivers, disabled passengers and families using it for nursery and school runs attracted more than 1,700 signatures.
Fife Council formally objected to the withdrawal and had been working to secure a replacement connection between Kelty and Halbeath Park & Ride. Local representatives warned that an arrangement limited to that section of the route would not offer a like-for-like replacement for the direct Perth to Edinburgh service.
The council said it would continue to consider longer-term measures to improve connectivity, including expanding demand-responsive services such as Go Flexi and exploring options for a small-scale, not-for-profit bus operation to help fill gaps in the network.
A spokesperson said: “We will continue to work with operators, regional transport partners and the Scottish Government to improve transport provision for Fife’s communities.”
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