CHRISTMAS revellers won’t have to worry about getting home from their festive nights out in one Scots city.
Council chiefs announced they would be rolling out FREE night buses throughout the festive period.
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Officials in Aberdeen have struck a deal with First Bus for the new Christmas routes.
Ten new services will run in the city from November to January, and punters won’t have to spend a single penny.
And the new routes are set to kick off THIS WEEK.
The free buses will start running on Saturday November 16.
They will keep going all the way through December and finish on January 5 2025.
The council has said the free buses will be paid for by fines collected from the city’s bus lanes.
Buses will run on the weekends, starting on Friday and Saturday nights from midnight to approximately 3.30am.
Officials hope it will help get people into the city centre and improve safety.
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “I am delighted that the Council is able to provide these free night bus services.
“Aberdeen’s night buses were very popular in the past and I’m sure they will be just as popular this year, especially during the festive period when more people than normal are out enjoying the cafes, restaurants, and pubs in the city centre.
“The night buses will provide a safe and efficient transport for visitors to our city centre. I hope as many people as possible take advantage of this free and safe transport home.”
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “The return of the night buses will be welcomed by not just people enjoying a night out but also by businesses in the city centre.
“The Aberdeen City Council move will help to support businesses by giving people another transport option for getting home.”
The full list of free Aberdeen night buses
ABERDEEN’S free night buses will be running from this Saturday until January 5.
The services are:
- N1, city centre – Dubford/Ashwood/Danestone, via King Street;
- N61, city centre – Ellon via Balmedie and Newburgh;
- N17, city centre – Bucksburn/Dyce, via Great Northern Road;
- N9, city centre – Inverurie, via Blackburn and Kintore, via Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI);
- N12, Torry – Northfield/Northfield – Torry, via city centre and Rosemount;
- N23, city centre – Kingswells, via Summerhill and Sheddocksley;
- N6, city centre – Westhill, via Queens Road;
- N201, city centre – Banchory, via Cults and Peterculter, via North Deeside Road;
- N18, city centre – Kincorth/Cove;
- N7, Garthdee – Stonehaven/Stonehaven – Garthdee, via city centre, Portlethen and Newtonhill.
David Adam, Operations Manager for First Aberdeen, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be running Aberdeen’s night bus network over the festive period, supporting the city’s night-time economy while also helping people get home safely and completely free of charge at the weekend.
“We are aware of the challenges people have experienced in getting home from a night out, an event or indeed after a nightshift in the city centre in the early hours of the morning and hope the night bus network will allow more people to enjoy all that Aberdeen has to offer.”
Aberdeen Inspired will also be promoting the Council-funded night buses.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “Aberdeen Inspired is delighted to have brought the night bus project to the table and built consensus with partners to ensure night bus services return, just as we enter the festive season.
“We are grateful to Aberdeen City Council and First Bus for producing this service so quickly
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“The importance of night buses to Aberdeen cannot be underestimated in terms of getting people home reliably and safely after a night out while boosting the night-time economy.
“The night bus project is a massive vote of confidence in Aberdeen’s vital night-time economy and one that can only help regenerate the heart of the Granite City.”
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