Wednesday March 26th 2025
From left to right: driver, Lesley Lawson, Council Leader Kelly Parry and Transport Councillor Colin Cassidy.
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Luke Jackson
A new, free community bus will run between Pathhead and Penicuik from Monday 31st March.
The daytime, weekday service, which will drop and pick up passengers from stops including The Brae Top at Auchendinny and Vogrie Country Park, offers two return journeys Mondays to Thursdays and one return service on Fridays.
The route includes picks ups and drop offs at Tesco, Eskbank, Bonnyrigg Community Hospital, Straiton Retail Park, Station Road in Newtongrange and Jarnac Court, Dalkeith.
Passengers can also hail the bus on route even if not at a designated bus stop.
The route of the new community bus service.
The new service will be trialled for six months and delivered using some of the council’s dividend from Lothian Buses.
Cabinet Member for Transport Councillor Colin Cassidy and Council Leader Kelly Parry came along to meet the driver, Lesley Lawson, at the Auchendinny stop before the launch.
Cllr Cassidy said: “Councillor Parry and I have been pushing for this for a while. We’re delighted; therefore, we are now in a position to launch this new, free service connecting communities east and west with shops, rail links and green spaces.
“This six-month trial will hopefully prove to be a huge help for our communities, especially in areas like Auchendinny which doesn’t have a local bus service.
“We know public transport is extremely important to residents, many of whom rely on buses as the only form of public transport, enabling them to access jobs, education, and essential services.”
The service will be free initially but will eventually offer the same full and concessionary fares as Lothian Buses if the service becomes permanent.
You can find the full timetable here: www.midlothian.gov.uk/communitybus
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