An interim, replacement bus service, partly funded by Fife Council, will operate from Monday 24 August along the route of the X56. The new service has been introduced since Stagecoach withdrew this service.

Fife Council has been working closely with transport partners to ensure the communities affected would not be left without a service. Perth and Kinross Council have now announced that they will provide an interim service to help passengers, until longer-term arrangements can be agreed at their Finance and Resources Committee meeting next week. Fife Council has already agreed to partly fund this service.

The replacement service will operate on the existing route on a two-hourly timetable.

Fife Council Leader David Ross welcomed the decision saying: “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.”

 In the meantime, officers are focused on practical measures to improve connectivity, including expanding demand-responsive transport services, such as Go Flexi, and exploring options for a small-scale, not-for-profit bus operation to help address gaps in the network. We will continue to work with operators, regional transport partners and the Scottish Government to improve transport provision for Fife's communities.