Moray Council Expands M.Connect Service With New Weekend Evening Bus Routes In Speyside

MORAY COUNCIL IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE NEXT STAGE OF PHASE TWO OF ITS INNOVATIVE M.CONNECT TRANSPORT SERVICE, BRINGING EVENING WEEKEND BUS SERVICES TO SPEYSIDE AS PART OF THE ONGOING BUS REVOLUTION PROJECT

From Saturday 4th October 2025, the new on-demand Saturday service will operate across Speyside from 10am to 6pm initially, with the intent to extend to 10pm and evening travel into Elgin available from 6pm in the coming months. This expansion is designed to improve access to leisure, work, and community activities for residents in rural areas, particularly those in Tomintoul, Dufftown, Knockando, Aberlour, and surrounding villages.

The service is part of Moray’s £100 million Growth Deal, supported by £4 million from the Scottish Government and £300,000 from Moray Council, aimed at transforming public transport across the region. The m.connect initiative has already seen significant success, with a 40% rise in passenger journeys and a 39% increase in usage among under-22s in its first phase.

Cllr Marc Macrae, Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, said: “The rollout of evening weekend services in Speyside reflects our commitment to delivering responsive, community-led transport solutions. These new services will offer greater flexibility and connectivity for residents, especially in rural communities, and support access to jobs, services, and social opportunities.”

Previous timetabled routes that were introduced in this phase include:

• Service 367: Connecting Auchbreck, Knockando, and Aberlour.
• Service 368: Linking Tomintoul, Dufftown, and Keith.

Both routes will integrate with existing services to facilitate travel to Elgin and other key destinations.
Residents can book journeys using the m.connect app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, or by calling 0300 1234565 (Monday to Friday). The app allows bookings up to two weeks in advance and as little as one hour before travel, offering unmatched flexibility for users.
Leader of Moray Council, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, added: “This latest development of the m.connect service underscores Moray Council’s dedication to breaking down transport barriers and enhancing connectivity across the region.”