Vintage Bus Trips

When was the Forth Road Bridge opened?

Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the bridge on 4^th September 1964.

When is the Vintage Bus Event?

The Vintage Bus Event is on Saturday 7^th September 2024.

Where can I catch one of the buses?

There are 2 locations.  Ferry Toll Park and Ride in Inverkeithing, Fife and the Transport Scotland car park at Ferrymuir Gait in South Queensferry. 

How do I get to Ferry Toll Park and Ride?

The Park and Ride is widely served by buses.  See Stagecoach for more details. 

There is space to park bikes.

There are over 1000 free parking spaces.  Please consider arriving by public or active transport to avoid congestion. 

The full address is Hope Street, Inverkeithing, KY11 1LN.

How do I get to Ferrymuir Gait car park?

The car park is adjacent to the main bus route over the Forth Road Bridge south end.  

Various buses call at the Queensferry south slip road – see Stagecoach X58, X60, X61and 747 services.

Lothian Bus numbers 43 and 71 also stop.

There is space to park bikes.

There are 100 free parking spaces.  Please consider arriving by public or active transport to avoid congestion. 

The full address is Contact and Education Centre
Adjacent to Forth Road Bridge Administration Building
South Queensferry, Edinburgh, EH30 9SF

What is the timetable for the Vintage Bus Event?

The buses are going to start at 10am and finish at 4pm.  The timetable is scheduled for one trip in each direction every 30 minutes.  

How long is the journey?

The bus journey will take approximately 15 minutes.

Can I book a seat on one of the buses?

Yes. There are 40 pre-bookable seats on each journey. Please use the EventBrite link to book.  Please show your ticket to the staff on the bus before boarding.

Some buses will have additional seating which will be filled on a first come first served basis on the day. Visitors should speak to staff when they arrive if they haven’t pre-booked a ticket.  

Can I book a return journey?

Please book 2 x single journeys for the preferred times.
For example, book a ticket from Ferry Toll at 10am and a second ticket from Ferrymuir Gait at 1030am.  

How else can I take part?

The Forth Road Bridge has walk and cycle lanes which are open to the public.  The bridge is 1.5 miles long. Further details about the Forth Road Bridge are available here.

Can I catch the vintage buses from any other bus stops?

No, the only stops are going to be at Ferry Toll and Ferrymuir Gait car parks. The buses do not stop anywhere else, including on the bridge itself.

Who is providing the vintage buses?

The buses are being provided by the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum.  The museum is a charity run by volunteers and based just north of Dunfermline. 

The museum is usually open to the public on Sundays from the end of March until the beginning of October.  Please see their website for ticket information, other events and full directions.  

Which buses are taking part?

The buses scheduled for use on the day are*:

• Alexander (Fife) Bristol Double Deck, BXA464B - 1964
• Eastern Scottish Bristol Double Deck, CSG43C - 1965
• Alexander (Fife) Leyland Tiger Cub RMS714 - 1961

(* subject to change for any operational reason)

Will I be able to access the buses in a wheelchair?

The 3 buses from the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum taking part in the timetable are vintage buses without wheelchair access. However, the bus museum is also providing a low-loader vehicle which will allow easier access - a single deck Dennis Dart from 2002. This vehicle is not on the timetable and will operate on demand as an extra service. Please speak to the staff at the event if you want to use this vehicle.

How much does it cost?

The vintage bus journeys are free of charge.
Any donation to the bus museum charity would be appreciated.

What else is there to do at the event?

Ferry Toll: Stagecoach staff are going to allow visitors the chance to sit on one of their newest buses at Ferry Toll and provide further information about Stagecoach services.

Ferrymuir Gait: Lothian Country Buses are going to have one of their newest buses for visitors to sit on and provide further information about Lothian Buses. 

The Transport Scotland Contact & Education Centre will be open from 10am to 4pm with a special exhibition about the Forth Road Bridge.  The exhibition is free and does not require pre-booking.  This building is not generally open to the public. 

The next chance to visit it will be on Doors Open Day Saturday 28^th September (please note the ballot for free guided minibus trips is now closed).

The viewing platform allows a great view of the Forth Bridges.  The Picnic Kiosk will be open to purchase refreshments.  

What will happen if there is bad weather?

The event format may have to be adapted in the event of extreme bad weather.  The Forth Road Bridge has some restrictions for high winds.  If high winds close the Forth Road Bridge for any period, the buses will use the Queensferry Crossing instead.  

Visitors will be able to take shelter in the waiting room at Ferry Toll or in one of the static buses provided by Stagecoach or Lothian Country buses if it is raining.  The Contact and Education Centre at Ferrymuir Gait will also be open between 10am and 4pm with a special exhibition on the Forth Road Bridge.

Are there toilets on the buses?

No. Toilet facilities are available at Ferry Toll Park and Ride, the Ferrymuir Gait viewing platform and in the Contact and Education Centre.

Are dogs allowed on the buses?

As the vintage buses are privately owned and restored, it's only guide/assistance dogs which are allowed. 

How do I see the Forth Bridges on other days?

There are many ways to visit the Forth Bridges.
Plan your journey here.

Find out more about the Forth Bridges Trail and other ideas for visiting the area.