SIR, I had the honour of travelling on the X62 First Bus Service between Edinburgh and Galashiels on Boxing Day. On this festive day, First Bus had decided to allot a 'W’ registration bus for a mid afternoon journey nearly lasting two hours.

The driver was very polite and welcoming. However, soon many of the passengers were complaining, grumbling amongst themselves about feeling extremely cold.

It was quite apparant that there was no heating being delivered to the passengers on a very cold afternoon indeed.

The seats were also hard and uncomfortable especially for such a long journey.

When the bus stopped to let people on and off in Penicuik, I approached the driver and asked that he put the heating on for us. He was very hesitant, as on the way to Edinburgh the blowers had blown out cold air. However, he did turn them on and soon the passengers felt at least a wee bit warmer around their ankles. It certainly wasn’t a great heat, but at least was a bit improved compared to earlier.

Much has been publicised about the improved service of the X62 service including the use of new buses, including double decker ones with comfortable seating, wi-fi. Why were none of those buses used on the journey I travelled on?

There was a reduced service, that is hourly instead of the usual thrice an hour, so it would be easy to assume there were plenty other buses not in service, and possibly ones with heating working. Why was a bus with defective heating used on such a long journey?

Meanwhile, within the last week or so, the new buses have increasingly been seen on journeys between Galashiels and Langlee - a journey of less than three miles from start to finish.

I am, etc.

M. R Howie Galashiels