Free night buses will operate in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire during the festive season.

Aberdeen City Council has contracted ten routes for First Bus, which will operate from the city center on weekends from 16 November to 5 January.

The free services will be financed with income from the control of bus lanes.

The local authority hopes this measure will encourage more people to visit the city centre.

Aberdeen City Council co-chairman Councilor Ian Yuill said: “I am delighted that the City Council can offer these free night bus services.

“Aberdeen’s night buses have been very popular in the past and I’m sure they will be popular this year too, especially over the festive period when there are more people than usual enjoying the city centre’s cafes, restaurants and pubs.

“Night buses will provide safe and efficient transport for visitors to our city centre. “I hope as many people as possible take advantage of this free and safe transportation home.”

Aberdeen City Council co-leader councilor Christian Allard added: “The return of night buses will be welcomed not only by people enjoying a night out but also by city center businesses.

“Aberdeen City Council’s move will help support businesses by giving people another transport option to get home.”

All services will operate on Friday night/Saturday morning and Saturday night/Sunday morning only, from midnight to approximately 3:30 am

David Adam, operations director at 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 helping people get home from safely and completely free of charge during the weekend”. .

“We are aware of the challenges that people have experienced when arriving home after a late night party, event or even after a night shift in the city center in the early hours of the morning and we hope that the network of night buses allow more people to enjoy all that. Aberdeen has to offer.”

Aberdeen Inspired will also promote night buses funded by the Council.

Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “Aberdeen Inspired is delighted to have put the night bus project on the table and reached consensus with partners to ensure the return of night bus services, just as we enter the festive season. We thank Aberdeen City Council and First Bus for producing this service so quickly.

“The importance of night buses to Aberdeen cannot be underestimated in terms of getting people home reliably and safely after a night out, whilst boosting the night-time economy.

“The night bus project is a huge vote of confidence in Aberdeen’s vital night-time economy and can only help to regenerate the heart of the Granite City.”

The services are:

N1, city center – Dubford/Ashwood/Danestone, via King Street;
N61, city center – Ellon via Balmedie and Newburgh;
N17, city center – Bucksburn/Dyce, via Great Northern Road;
N9, city center – Inverurie, via Blackburn and Kintore, via Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI);
N12, Torry – Northfield/Northfield – Torry, passing through the city center and Rosemount;
N23, city center – Kingswells, via Summerhill and Sheddocksley;
N6, city center – Westhill, by Queens Road;
N201, town center – Banchory, via Cults and Peterculter, via North Deeside Road;
N18, city center – Kincorth/Cove;
N7, Garthdee – Stonehaven/Stonehaven – Garthdee, passing through the town centre, Portlethen and Newtonhill.

The provision of night bus services will be reviewed by the City Council after the initial trial period.

Complete information on routes and schedules can be found at Weekend night bus services | Aberdeen Town Hall.

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