FROM next week a new bus pilot scheme will see a new evening bus service operate in a Borders town.

Three evening journeys will be added to the Borders Buses H1 and H2 services with the support of Scottish Borders Council (SBC) from Monday, September 4.

The evening service, which will run named as H3, will be part of a "use it or lose it" pilot scheme which will be in place until March 31, 2024.

Lee Young, operations manager at Borders Buses, said: “This is great news for the town, and we hope it encourages more people to travel by bus, especially those over 60 and under 22 who have access to free bus travel.

“We would strongly recommend local people use the bus during the trial period in the hope it is extended following the pilot.”

The H3 will depart from Mart Street at 6.45pm, 7.45pm and 8.45pm, Monday to Saturday.

The last buses on the H1 and H2 services currently depart Mart Street at 6.15pm (H1) and 5.45pm (H2).

Stops will include: the Horse, Vertish hill, Border Brides (before Sandbed roundabout), Dickson street (Hazelwood/Stirches Road), Lanton Place, Sainsburys, Silverbuthall Road, Burnfoot Shops and Hillend Drive.

Gordon Grant, principal transport officer, at SBC added: “We are pleased to be able to boost the Hawick town bus service.

"We are confident the additional journeys, which connect Hawick residents with other bus routes, will provides Hawick residents with improved transport links for work and leisure.

"All we ask that people use it.”

The bus service can be used both locally and with connecting services to Edinburgh.

SBC are looking into what further support can be offered to bus service operators to provide later journeys,

For more information on the three evening H3 services, and to view full timetables, visit: www.bordersbuses.co.uk