Border Courier stays
Page 17
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THE BORDER COURIER minibus and goods service is doing better than expected, and is to receive Government support for at least another year, writes ALAN MILLAR.
The service, which was described in CM June 29, 1979, is operated with five Eastern Scottish Bedford CF minibuses, each of which has 13 seats and a 110cuft goods compartment in which Health Board supplies are carried.
It has been supported by a 75 per cent Scottish Development Department grant which is to be continued throughout the next financial year.
For Borders Regional Council, Paul Gregory told CM that the service is expected to earn £5300 in passenger revenue by May, the end of its first year's operation. Borders budgeted on only £3500 passenger revenue.
It hit a peak of 450 passengers a week in midAugust, and has since averaged 250 to 300 per week, against the expected figure of 200.
The main service through the Selkirk Valley has done best, with 108 passengers per week, Courier 2 has carried 32 per week, Courier 3 45 per week, and Courier 4 89 per week. Average weekly revenue has been £95.03.
The council has found that user departments are, in the main, happy with the service, and this will be continued next year with departments paying for 50 per cent of the benefit derived from the Courier.
But there will be changes to the passenger service from March. The fares will rise by about 20 per cent, and the routes of the less successful services 2 and 3 will be altered to attract more traffic.
The Bedford CFs used on the service have proved reliable, and the council is doubly happy with Eastern Scottish, as passengers have spoken highly of the drivers' high standards.