Changes to X1 bus timetable from 5 December - including trial of late night services on Friday and Saturday

The X1 bus service between Stromness, Kirkwall and St Margarets Hope will change from 5 December following feedback from users.

The changes allow improved timings for workers travelling from St Margarets Hope or Stromness to and from Kirkwall for work.

In addition, the timings include an extra-late service on Friday and Saturday nights, on a trial basis until 31 March 2023.

Laura Cromarty, Service Manager (Transportation) for Orkney Islands Council said: “The X1 changes are based on public demand that we have been feeding back to Stagecoach. While the X1 is a commercial service operated by Stagecoach, and not subsidised by the Council, we do work with them to highlight the needs and wishes of the community when it comes to timetables.

“The X1 ‘late night buses’ are being part funded through the Scottish Government’s Smarter Choices Smarter Places scheme.

“This is the same funding we’ve used to trial evening bus service leaving Kirkwall and serving East Mainland, West Mainland and Kirkwall & Orphir on Friday and Saturday nights.

“We hope folks will take full advantage of these evening and late night services - they are being run on a trial basis only but good usage by local folk would help us put forward a strong business case for funding to carry on the services past March 2023.”

Chair of the Council’s Development and Infrastructure Committee, Dave Dawson, said: “These changes have been much requested and we hope commuters and revellers alike will find the new timings more convenient, and that we’ll see many more people taking up the option of sustainable travel on our new low carbon fleet.”

View the timetables from 5 December at www.orkney.gov.uk/bus

And download the Stagecoach app to help you quickly check timetables and any service delays while out and about.

The new late night X1 services are:

Stromness – Kirkwall – St Margarets Hope (on both Friday and Saturday nights)

Departs Stromness Travel Centre 12:45am
Departs Kirkwall Travel Centre 1:25am
Arrives St Margarets Hope (ferry) 1:55am

St Margarets Hope – Kirkwall – Stromness (Friday nights)

Departs St Margarets Hope (ferry) 1:56am
Arrives Kirkwall Travel Centre 2:26am

St Margarets Hope – Kirkwall – Stromness (Saturday nights)

Departs Balfour Hospital 12:04am
Departs Kirkwall Travel Centre 12:11am
Arrives Stromness Travel Centre 12:41am

-and-

Departs St Margarets Hope (ferry) 01:56am
Arrives Kirkwall Travel Centre 02:26am