A remote Speyside bus service could be continued after an “encouraging” trial period.
An average of 10 passengers per journey have used the weekly return service linking Tomintoul and Grantown-on-Spey since the six-month trial was introduced in April.
Prior to the that there was no public bus service on the 13-mile route.
Now councillors are being asked to approve the continuation of the bus service, which is run by the authority’s public transport unit, throughout the winter.
A report which will go before the council’s economic development and infrastructure services committee tomorrow states: “The service has operated every Wednesday with passenger loadings at an encouraging level for such a remote location.
“These figures compare very favourably with other services of a similar nature operating elsewhere in Scotland.
“In order to maintain consistency and foster growth for forthcoming years, it is proposed to continue to operate this service to the existing timetable throughout the winter months.
“While demand may well reduce, it is important that the service is allowed to become established as a constant feature in the area.”
The committee will also be asked to approve a proposal for a minibus service – which currently transports day service clients in Speyside to and from the Keith Resource centre – to be made up to a public bus service.
It would depart from Dufftown at 9am on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and return from Keith at 4.30pm, continuing on to Tomintoul on request.