FOR decades, buses were the only mode of public transport connecting the Borders to the rest of Scotland.

But with the reintroduction of the railway back into the area, the local bus services have faced a slump in custom and need to up their game to compete. 

In a recent public consultation, Borderers have put forward suggestions of ways the local bus service could improve to attract them to use the bus more often.

These included lower fares, more direct routes, and quicker journey times. 

Common gripes included old and tired vehicles, limited bike provision onboard, inadequate timetabling and large gaps in service provision, and some outlying villages being overlooked - the Western Borders in particular feeling quite isolated in terms of public transport.

At present, a bus from Galashiels to Edinburgh will take around 1 hour and 24 minutes, where as the train takes between 52 and 58 minutes, depending on the time of day.

By bus, an adult single will cost you £7.20 and a return £13 and by train, a single is £9.30, and a return £14.90. 

Members of the public have said that buses to the capital would have to be made cheaper in order for them to favour it over the train, whilst adding an extra 30 minutes onto their journey.

Another suggestion was that community councils should have the ability to apply for grants from the local authority in order to supply services to meet local needs. This would mean that smaller, outlying villages could improve and cater public transport services to their needs, and commute around the Borders easier and more frequently.

Members of the public also stated that a dedicated ticket office in Galashiels for both train and bus tickets would be good, that an oyster card equivalent could be introduced for trains and buses, and that a taxi rank should be established at Tweedbank rail terminus.

They also suggested an opportunity for integrated ticketing, so that people can travel to the Borders and then around the area via bus with the use of one ticket and perhaps a better deal.

These suggestions are set out in Scottish Borders Council's Local Access and Transport Strategy Paper, which will go before the executive committee this week.

A spokesperson for First Borders said: "First Borders is an award winning business which prides itself on strong links with the community. We strive to ensure train links are well serviced and our fares are very competitive.

"We believe our commercial network in the Borders is sustainable and effective. We do continually monitor our networks and usage and are currently looking at where connections can be better improved."