Aberdeen - Ballater railway?

Question

If Stagecoach stopped running buses from Aberdeen to Ballater would they be in breach of the 1962 Transport Act? The basis of the old railway line being shut was that a bus service would be run for ever, on that route.

This would apply throughout the whole of the UK.

Answer 1

The brief answer is 'no they wouldn't be'.

The Transport Act 1962, in so far as it relates to the closure of railways has been repealed (http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.asp... All that remains is the requirement to give 6 weeks notice of intention to close. The basis of closure was NOT that a bus service would 'run for ever' but that at the time the 'Area Committee' met to consider objections and report to the Secretary of State it would consider what alternative public transport links existed. On giving consent to closure the SofS could make that consent subject to conditions, including the provision of alternative transport services. However, once the closure had been completed, that was no obligation for those alternatives services to continue. In many rural areas the bus services that existed 40 odd years ago, and which provided those alternative services, have long since ceased to exist. You must also remember that companies like Stagecoach did not exist in the 1960s. Whilst they may operate routes that were in existence in those days, they are not in anyway the legal successor to the old regional bus companies. Finally, the requirement of bus companies to obtain permission, through the Traffic Commissioners, to alterations in route details disappeared in the 1980s.