To Edinburgh on Weekdays
This page HAS been updated for the changes to the X24 timetable starting Monday 26th June 2023.
For full details see: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/serviceupdatesarticle?SituationId=ID-19/06/2023-10:48:27:866
These pages are written to help you make quick changes that might just enable you to get to your destination sooner.
If you are happier to have more time allowed for changing buses then you may prefer to use the Stagecoach Journey Planner.
The times quoted for buses leaving Crail are based on the times at Pinkerton Road - if you are leaving from the centre of Crail you should be able to catch these buses slightly later in the journey by walking to the stop in St Andrews Road or the stop outside Penman's Butchers depending on the direction of the bus.
Some journeys of the 95 into St Andrews now go via the Community Hospital and while that change delays the arrival at the Bus Station it can provide an opportunity to change to an X58 to Edinburgh...
There used to be an 05:25 X60 from Anstruther Harbour that was the earliest local bus to Edinburgh - but as of 7th November 2022 that service ceased and the earliest way by bus to Edinburgh from anywhere local involves getting to St Andrews for the 05:35 X24 which gets to Glenrothes at 06:19 where you change to an 06:25 X54 which gets to Edinburgh Bus Station at 07:55. (Earlier travel is available if you can get to Glenrothes or Leven for around 05:00.)
The 7th November timetable changes also generally make it faster to travel via St Andrews if you are going from Crail to Edinburgh - but if you just miss the bus to St Andrews then it's usually quicker to catch the next bus via Anstruther and Leven rather than wait an hour for the next bus to St Andrews...
The 06:35 95 from Crail High Street gets to Leven at 07:35 where the 07:55 X58 doesn't get to Edinburgh until 09:43 - so it's faster to wait for the next bus via St Andrews:
The 06:46 95 from Pinkerton Road gets to St Andrews Bus Station for 07:17 where you should be able to catch the 07:20 X59 getting to Edinburgh Bus Station at 09:23.
The 07:45 ELM1 from St Andrews Road only runs on Elmwood College days but has the advantage of going direct to Cupar where it arrives around 08:26 - giving you plenty of time to walk to the stop outside Cupar Railway Station for the X59 described below - which probably makes it a more reliable connection in case the 95 is running late...
The 07:46 95 from Pinkerton Road gets to St Andrews at 08:17 - on schooldays it doesn't go into the Bus Station but continues on round to the New Madras College - on such days especially if the 95 is running late you may prefer to stay on the bus for a couple of extra stops after the one outside the bus station (as the express buses don't stop at that first one) where you can get off and wait for the 08:20 X59 which gets to Edinburgh at 10:23.
The 08:13 95 from Pinkerton Road gets to Toll Road Cellardyke at 08:26 - cross the road for the X60 at 08:44 which gets to Edinburgh at 11:13. You can change to the X60 anywhere that the 95 and X60 routes overlap - but if the 95 is running late you have most time for the change at Toll Road. Changing in Elie is what the Stagecoach Travel Planner often recommends - as you just wait at the same stop. Changing at Leven Bus Station gives you the least time - but gives you more choice if the X60 has problems...
The 08:49 95 from Pinkerton Road travels via St Andrews Community Hospital and is scheduled to reach St Andrews Bus Station after the X59 has departed - so, if you get off the 95 at the stop in Largo Road outside Aldi at 09:16 then the next bus at the same stop should be an X58 at 09:17 which gets to Edinburgh at 11:43. But if you miss this X58 the 64 no longer passes at a suitable time to help - so you need to check your smart phone and if there is no chance of catching the X58 stay on to the Bus Station for an X24 at 09:40 which gets you to Halbeath Park & Ride at 10:53 - change to an X54 departing at 11:08 which gets to Edinburgh Bus Station at 11:53.
The 09:05 95 from Pinkerton Road gets to Leven at 10:15 - an X60 at 10:30 gets you to Edinburgh Bus Station at 12:13. (The advantage of catching this bus is that it departs after 09:00 so you can use a Stagecoach Group Dayrider to save money if up to 5 of you are travelling together.)
The 09:49 95 has the same choices as the 08:49 (but an hour later) some days have this bus timetabled to be 1 minute earlier, so the changes in St Andrews may be slightly easier. This gets you to Edinburgh at 12:43 or 12:53.
The 09:55 95 gets to Leven at 11:05 - the X60 at 11:30 gets you to Edinburgh at 13:13. You see how it is definitely quicker to catch the bus via St Andrews - but if that bus is missing for any reason then going via Leven will get you to Edinburgh sooner than waiting an extra hour for the next bus via St Andrews. If this 95 is early and you can get on a 44 due to depart Leven at 11:05 then this gets to Glenrothes at 11:30 where you can catch the X54 at 11:39 getting to Edinburgh or 12:53 - or if the X58 though Leven is late then go for that instead as it's timetabled to get to Edinburgh at 12:43 (those of you watching your live bus maps may spot the late X58 earlier in its journey and decide to switch to it at Upper Largo if the 95 gets there first).
Buses at 10:49, 10:55, 11:49, 11:55, 12:49 and 12:55 repeat the pattern described for the two buses above.
On Friday schooldays there is a 13:41 95 from Pinkerton Road which should get you to St Andrews Bus Station for 14:12 where you should catch a 14:20 X59 arriving in Edinburgh at 16:23.
The 13:49 95 repeats the pattern of the 08:49. (16:43 or 16:53 in Edinburgh.)
The "13:55" doesn't visit Pinkerton Road on schooldays - but if you live in the middle of Crail and catch it on Crail High Street at 13:54 then its schoolday route misses out quite a few stops and it gets to Leven at 14:47 in time for the 14:55 X58 that was a risky connection in St Andrews for the 13:49 departure - getting you to Edinburgh at 16:43.
On school holidays the 13:55 follows the normal route and doesn't get to Leven until 15:05 - connecting with the 15:30 X60 and arrival in Edinburgh at 17:13.
The 14:49 95 follows the usual pattern as above (17:43 or 17:53 in Edinburgh).
The 14:55 95 doesn't visit Pinkerton Road on Monday to Thursday schooldays and its journey is broken at Waid Academy so you are advised to change to an X60 by crossing the road in Anstruther - getting to Edinburgh at 18:13. On Fridays and school holidays the bus does visit Pinkerton Road and does go through to Leven for the same X60.
The 15:49 95 only runs on Fridays and school holidays - when it follows the pattern above. (18:43 or 18:53 in Edinburgh.)
The 15:55 95 follows the pattern via Leven but the X60 departs Leven at 17:35 and gets to Edinburgh at 19:18.
A 16:01 95 runs on Monday to Thursday schooldays and gets to St Andrews Bus Station at 16:33 for an X24 at 16:40 getting to Halbeath at 17:53 for the X54 departing at 18:08 getting to Edinburgh at 18:53.
The 16:49 95 gets to St Andrews Bus Station at 17:21 where an X59 at 17:25 should get you to Edinburgh for 19:23.
The 17:05 95 gets to Leven at 18:15 for an 18:30 X60 getting to Edinburgh at 20:13.
The 17:49 95 gets to St Andrews Bus Station at 18:21 where an X59A at 18:25 should get you to Edinburgh for 20:28.
The 18:05 95 gets to Leven at 19:15 where an X58 at 19:20 should get you to Edinburgh for 21:08.
The 18:49 95 gets to St Andrews at 19:21 - an X59A at 19:25 should get you to Edinburgh at 21:28.
The 19:15 from Crail High Street gets to Leven at 20:15 where you should be able to catch an X58A at 20:20 getting to Edinburgh at 22:08.
The 19:19 from Crail High Street gets to St Andrews at 19:45 where you should be able to catch an X59A at 20:25 which gets to Edinburgh at 22:28.
The 20:15 from Crail High Street gets to Leven at 21:15 where an X58A at 21:20 should get you to Edinburgh at 23:08 (if you miss the X58A you should be able to catch a 44A at 21:37 which should get you to Glenrothes in time to catch the X59A described next).
The 20:19 from Crail High Street gets to St Andrews at 20:45 where a 59 departs at 21:10 this changes to an X59A at Glenrothes which reaches Edinburgh at 23:28.
To get to Edinburgh later you need to go via Dundee!
Megabus, Ember and Flixbus timetables change quite frequently, often without much notice. So, it's probably best to use the Traveline Scotland Journey Planner if you want to travel late at night via Dundee.