Munro's of Jedburgh
Encyclopedia
Munro's of Jedburgh is a bus operating company based in the Scottish Borders
town of Jedburgh
. They operate a number of local routes both in the Scottish Borders and in Midlothian
.
.
In 1992 the company began its first local route, the contracted the Border Courier service, as a joint operation with Austin's of Earlston. Munro's also launched a service linking the Borders General Hospital
with Lilliesleaf
and Hawick
, which ran three days a week. Munro retired in 1998 and, as the family did not want to continue in the business, the company was put up for sale. It was bought by Ewan Farish and Donald Cameron.
The new owners were keen to expand the business and quickly won additional contracts with both schools and local rugby teams. In July 2000 the company took over routes 29/30 (now 51/52) and 65-68 from First Edinburgh
. Three more contracts were won over the next two years. Further expansion occurred in August 2002 when First closed its depots in Hawick
and Kelso, with Munro's providing new town services.
In 2006 the Scottish Borders Council and the Rural Bus Development Grant subsidised a number of service improvements, including more frequent services from Jedburgh and Kelso to Edinburgh
(routes 51/52) and a new service from Galashiels
to Berwick-upon-Tweed
(route 67). Munro's won the contracts to operate both services, although the 67 was later lost to Perryman's.
Another contract win in 2006 saw the company launch a network of routes around Dalkeith
and Musselburgh
. These used two Plaxton Primo
single-deckers, the only vehicles of their type in Scotland. In June 2009 operation of contracted route 20, linking Kelso to Hawick
, was lost to McEwans after five years. A number of journeys on routes 51 and 52 were controversially axed in November 2009.
In October 2010 Munro's was fined £3000 and had the number of vehicles allowed on its operating license cut by the Scottish Traffic Commissioner. The company's routes in Musselburgh and Dalkeith were withdrawn in April 2011, and later replaced by a new route operated by First.
A number of school pupil transport services are also operated during term time.
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
town of Jedburgh
Jedburgh
Jedburgh is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and historically in Roxburghshire.-Location:Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot, it is only ten miles from the border with England and is dominated by the substantial ruins of Jedburgh Abbey...
. They operate a number of local routes both in the Scottish Borders and in Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
.
History
The company was founded in the mid 1960s by Jimmy Munro, who expanded his hire-car business to include coach operations. The company then began to operate Works and Schools Contracts in RoxburghshireRoxburghshire
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Dumfries to the west, Selkirk to the north-west, and Berwick to the north. To the south-east it borders Cumbria and Northumberland in England.It was named after the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
.
In 1992 the company began its first local route, the contracted the Border Courier service, as a joint operation with Austin's of Earlston. Munro's also launched a service linking the Borders General Hospital
Borders General Hospital
The Borders General Hospital is a hospital, operated since 1988 by NHS Scotland, situated on the outskirts of the town of Melrose, Scotland. The hospital created over 1000 jobs in the Borders and has a bed capacity of 328. It offers a wide range of treatments, the BGH has an Accident and Emergency...
with Lilliesleaf
Lilliesleaf
Lilliesleaf is a small village and civil parish south east of Selkirk in the Roxburghshire area of Scottish Borders of Scotland. To the north of Lilliesleaf is the Ale Water which runs east to west...
and Hawick
Hawick
Hawick is a town in the Scottish Borders of south east Scotland. It is south-west of Jedburgh and south-southeast of Selkirk. It is one of the farthest towns from the sea in Scotland, in the heart of Teviotdale, and the biggest town in the former county of Roxburghshire. Hawick's architecture is...
, which ran three days a week. Munro retired in 1998 and, as the family did not want to continue in the business, the company was put up for sale. It was bought by Ewan Farish and Donald Cameron.
The new owners were keen to expand the business and quickly won additional contracts with both schools and local rugby teams. In July 2000 the company took over routes 29/30 (now 51/52) and 65-68 from First Edinburgh
First Edinburgh
First Edinburgh is a bus operator which operates in the south east and central Scotland, and was created by the merger of three companies: Lowland Scottish, Eastern Scottish and Midland Scottish to form a single company for the area and is part of First Group plc...
. Three more contracts were won over the next two years. Further expansion occurred in August 2002 when First closed its depots in Hawick
Hawick
Hawick is a town in the Scottish Borders of south east Scotland. It is south-west of Jedburgh and south-southeast of Selkirk. It is one of the farthest towns from the sea in Scotland, in the heart of Teviotdale, and the biggest town in the former county of Roxburghshire. Hawick's architecture is...
and Kelso, with Munro's providing new town services.
In 2006 the Scottish Borders Council and the Rural Bus Development Grant subsidised a number of service improvements, including more frequent services from Jedburgh and Kelso to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
(routes 51/52) and a new service from Galashiels
Galashiels
Galashiels is a burgh in the Scottish Borders, on the Gala Water river. The name is often shortened to "Gala" .Galashiels is a major commercial centre for the Scottish Borders...
to Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
(route 67). Munro's won the contracts to operate both services, although the 67 was later lost to Perryman's.
Another contract win in 2006 saw the company launch a network of routes around Dalkeith
Dalkeith
Dalkeith is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the River North Esk. It was granted a burgh of barony in 1401 and a burgh of regality in 1540...
and Musselburgh
Musselburgh
Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:...
. These used two Plaxton Primo
Plaxton Primo
The Plaxton Primo is a type of small low-floor bus based on the Enterprise Bus Plasma. It was launched by Plaxton in 2005.It is the result of close co-operation between Enterprise Bus Ltd and Plaxton. The fully welded stainless steel integral chassis final assembly is supplied in right hand drive...
single-deckers, the only vehicles of their type in Scotland. In June 2009 operation of contracted route 20, linking Kelso to Hawick
Hawick
Hawick is a town in the Scottish Borders of south east Scotland. It is south-west of Jedburgh and south-southeast of Selkirk. It is one of the farthest towns from the sea in Scotland, in the heart of Teviotdale, and the biggest town in the former county of Roxburghshire. Hawick's architecture is...
, was lost to McEwans after five years. A number of journeys on routes 51 and 52 were controversially axed in November 2009.
In October 2010 Munro's was fined £3000 and had the number of vehicles allowed on its operating license cut by the Scottish Traffic Commissioner. The company's routes in Musselburgh and Dalkeith were withdrawn in April 2011, and later replaced by a new route operated by First.
Services
Munro's currently operate the following local routes:- 37/38/39/43: HawickHawickHawick is a town in the Scottish Borders of south east Scotland. It is south-west of Jedburgh and south-southeast of Selkirk. It is one of the farthest towns from the sea in Scotland, in the heart of Teviotdale, and the biggest town in the former county of Roxburghshire. Hawick's architecture is...
town services - 51: EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
- Jedburgh - 52: Edinburgh - Kelso
- 54: GalashielsGalashielsGalashiels is a burgh in the Scottish Borders, on the Gala Water river. The name is often shortened to "Gala" .Galashiels is a major commercial centre for the Scottish Borders...
Town Service - 61: Galashiels - LauderLauderThe Royal Burgh of Lauder is a town in the Scottish Borders 27 miles south east of Edinburgh. It is also a royal burgh in the county of Berwickshire. It lies on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills, on the Southern Upland Way.-Medieval history:...
- 64: Kelso - GattonsideGattonsideGattonside is a small village in the Scottish Borders. It is located north of Melrose, on the north side of the River Tweed. In 1143, the lands of Gattonside were granted to the monks of Melrose Abbey by King David I...
- 68: Galashiels - Jedburgh
- 80/81: Kelso town services
- 131: Jedburgh - NewcastleNewcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
A number of school pupil transport services are also operated during term time.