Shuttle Buses have confirmed that they will be introducing a new service to replace Stagecoach route X11, starting on Monday 2nd December.
The new route, which will also be numbered X11, will start at Chapelhill Mount in Ardrossan, following the existing Stagecoach route along Stanley Road, into Saltcoats via Burns Avenue, Dalry Road and High Road, then along Stevenston High Road. After leaving Morrisons it will take the A78 Kilwinning Bypass direct to Irvine where the route will serve Ayrshire Central Hospital before running via Marress Road to Riverway Retail Park (stopping at Primark/Asda, Irvine Station and Tesco) and continuing onto Irvine Cross.
A significantly improved timetable is on offer, with buses leaving Ardrossan at 0810 (not Saturdays), 0910 and then every hour until 1610. Return journeys will leave Riverway at 0840 (not Saturdays), 0940 and then every hour until 1640 and Irvine Cross five minutes after these times. There will be no Sunday service. Shuttle Buses have guaranteed that the new route will run for a minimum of six months to allow them to assess whether enough passengers use the service to make it viable.
As a special introductory offer to encourage passengers to try out the new service, Shuttle Buses will operate the X11 free of charge from 2nd to 10th December, after which competitive fares will apply including cheap Day Returns and 10-journey tickets. Travel Card holders travel free of charge. All Shuttle Buses services accept contactless payment on the bus using debit or credit cards.
David Granger, Managing Director, said “Locals with long memories will recall that Shuttle Buses first started a direct service from these areas of the Three Towns into Irvine many years ago, and we are delighted to be returning to the route once more. I hope that our improved, hourly timetable added to the route serving a range of new shopping destinations in Irvine will encourage more people to travel. We have already had a very positive response to our plans and I hope that, when we review the service in six months’ time, it is carrying enough passengers to continue for the long term”.