An initial two-year in-house pilot by Stirling Council will replace the service previously provided by local operator Kingshouse Travel.
A 16-seat minibus will operate four return journeys daily from Monday to Saturday along the A84 between Callander and Killin, following the same route as the previous C60 service through communities including Strathyre, Lochearnhead and Lix Toll.
The National Entitlement and Young Scots cards, which offer free bus travel in Scotland to eligible over 60s and young people aged under 22, are valid for all journeys.
The National Entitlement and Young Scots cards, which offer free bus travel in Scotland to eligible over 60s and young people aged under 22, are valid for all journeys.
Full details of the Timetable and Ticket Pricing are available on the Stirling website.
Callander-based Kingshouse Travel withdrew its contract for the Council-supported service after 28 years on 31 March, citing challenges with driver recruitment.
The Council opened the route up to tender in September last year, but received no responses from potential operators. A further tender process in January attracted one bidder, but their offer was considered significantly over budget and proposed a significantly reduced service.
Transport
Councillors agreed in May to take the service – which is not a statutory service – in-house following discussions with residents, businesses and community groups.
The annual costs for running pilot will be £88,100 – £3,600 over the current budget allocated for the service. This additional spend will be met from a budget set aside for transport pilots.
Stirling Council understands the importance of public transport provision for people living along this section of the A84, whether for travelling to work, appointments or leisure activities.
Community engagement will also continue to raise awareness of the new service and encourage its use among residents and visitors. The pilot will also provide valuable lessons and experiences for future decisions on public transport provision.
An update on the progress of the pilot service will be presented to a future meeting of the Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee.
