Published Date: Dec 4th, 2025
Fife Council has announced that its innovative Go-Flexi bus service will be extended to parts of West Fife as part of a new trial launching on December 15.
Go-Flexi is Fife Council’s demand-responsive transport service, designed to provide reliable connections for communities that may not be well-served by traditional bus routes.
Instead of running on a fixed timetable, Go-Flexi allows passengers to book journeys in advance, offering pick-ups and drop-offs at selected bus stops across the area.
The service, which currently operates in parts of North East Fife, is particularly valuable for accessing essential services, connecting with onward public transport, and providing greater mobility for those without private transport.
By extending Go-Flexi into West Fife, the Council hopes to bring a range of benefits to local residents, including:
- Improved access to employment, healthcare, shops, and education
- Better travel options for rural and semi-rural communities
- Greater flexibility, especially for residents who rely on public transport at off-peak times
- Reduced isolation by connecting more people to local amenities and neighbouring towns
Councillors on Fife Council’s Cabinet Committee have agreed to trial the expansion of Go-Flexi services from mid-December 2025 to March 2026 in the following West Fife areas:
- West Fife Villages: linking Saline / Steelend / Bogside / Blaihall / Comrie / Oakley with High Valleyfield – Cairneyhill & Kincardine
- Forthbridgehead: North Queensferry / Fordell / Limekilns / Charlestown / Crombie with Cairneyhill – Ferrytoll – Europarc – Inverkeithing – Inverkeithing Rail
The initial trial would operate during the hours of 0830 - 1730, Monday to Friday.
Should the trial be deemed successful, the service period could be extended using additional funding streams i.e. the Active Travel Transformation Fund, to further analyse the success of expanding the service.
Councillor Altany Craik, Fife Council Spokesperson - Finance, Economy & Strategic Planning, said: “We know how important reliable transport is to people’s daily lives, and the expansion of Go-Flexi is an important step in making sure no community is left behind.
“This trial will help us understand local demand and provide a modern, convenient service that works for residents.
“It aims to improve local transport links, increase accessibility, and offer residents a more flexible and convenient way to travel.
“We encourage everyone in south west Fife to make use of Go-Flexi and help shape the future of flexible transport in Fife.”
The £70,000 cost of expanding Go-Flexi to West Fife will be funded from a Local Authority Direct Award (£50,000) and the SEStran People and Place Plan (£20,000).
The Council will monitor the trial closely, gathering feedback and usage data to help inform decisions on the future of the service.
The decision comes following the publication of a consultant’s report which looked at the issues facing, and options currently available to, the Council to better manage bus network provision.
John Mitchell, Head of Fife Council’s Roads and Transportation Services, explained the reasoning behind reviewing Fife’s bus network, noting: “Fife’s bus network performs well overall, with strong coverage, high service frequencies and good value for money compared to similar areas. The supported network is efficient, with no evidence of excess profit in the current contracting model.
“However, rising costs, driven by inflation, fuel prices, staffing shortages and vehicle maintenance pose a growing challenge and would affect any future delivery model, including municipal operation.”
With that in mind, officers have been asked to carry out more detailed work, including service analytics and detailed review of operational requirements, to develop a business case for a small-scale ‘in-house’ trial of municipal bus operations which will be presented to a future committee for consideration.
The business case should include a detailed programme setting out strategies for fleet, depots and staffing.
Councillors heard that if the small-scale municipal operation proves successful and there is an appetite to expand the municipal network further by taking on commercial routes, Fife Council could potentially establish an Arms-Length External Organisation (ALEO) to develop this approach.
However, further work and studies of analytical data would be needed to produce a business case for this.
In the meantime, the expansion of Go-Flexi to West Fife is due to begin on Monday, December 15, and services can be booked via the Go-Flexi app or by phone from Monday, December 8.
Bookings must be made at least one hour prior to travelling and can be made up to one week in advance of your journey.
For more details on Go-Flexi and how to book, visit www.go-flexi.org.
