A BUS route launched to link Haddington with Wallyford Railway Station has been axed after just six months.

The X1 service, run by Prentice Coaches, was designed to link up with three trains at Wallyford at peak times in both the mornings and evenings.

However, that will come to an end on August 13.

Ross Prentice, one of the founders of the Haddington-based company, described the announcement as “disappointing”.

He said: “It got off to a slow start and looked like it was improving for a small while but it never showed enough signs of improvement to end up being viable.

“We ended up winning the tender for the 110 service (which links New Winton and Prestonpans) and there is a limit to how much we can cope with.

“You can only put so much effort into something before you admit it is not going to work.” Mr Prentice felt that the route could work in the long term but that Prentice simply did not have the resources to stick with the route, which was launched on February 10.

Buses on the X1 service link up with the 7.40am, 8.19am and 9.04am trains heading into Edinburgh.

Then, later on, they meet the trains leaving Edinburgh at 4.41pm, 5.14pm and 6.14pm.

Mr Prentice said there was “fantastic feedback” when the service was launched but there were simply not enough people using the route.

The idea was the brainchild of the Haddington Community Development Trust.

Initially, the plan was for buses to link up with trains at Longniddry.

However, investigations showed Wallyford was a better option due to access and train timings.

Mr Prentice gave a presentation to Haddington’s community council earlier this year, outlining the plans for the service.

Members of the public filled out a survey carried out by Haddington Community Development Trust, with a large number supporting what was then a proposed scheme.

At the time, Mr Prentice had said: “As long as people start to use it, then it will take off.

“We are only meeting three trains in the morning and at night but once we get the numbers [of people using the service] we would like to expand it for peak times and then a full-day service and into weekends.” However, those numbers never materialised and Mr Prentice has now decided to pull the plug on the route.

HCDT treasurer Chris Clark was similarly frustrated to see the route come to an end.

Mr Clark said: “It’s disappointing.

“Ross has given it a really good try and we have done what we can to support him but it just seems it could not quite get the numbers that it needed.”