Lothian Bus bosses rule out replacing Neil Renilson

BUS bosses in the Capital will not appoint a replacement for their outgoing chief executive as they seek to cut costs amidst falling passenger numbers.

Neil Renilson yesterday announced his decision to retire from his position as chief executive of Transport Edinburgh Limited and Lothian Buses at the end of the year.

But Lothian Buses said today it had no plans to appoint a successor, with the "day-to-day running" of the company passing to the firm's current managing director, Ian Craig.

The retirement of Mr Renilson, who earns £250,000 a year, was confirmed at a special Lothian Buses board meeting yesterday afternoon.

The council-owned bus firm has seen passenger numbers fall as a result of delays on the city's roads caused by the tram works.

Iain Coupar, marketing director for Lothian Buses, said the decision not to appoint a new chief executive was part of measures to tackle falling revenues.

He said: "We are in a situation at the moment where our passenger numbers are down five or six per cent, and there's a loss of revenue that goes with it. We've obviously got to arrest that.

"We've already indicated a raft of changes we are bringing in to make savings. There's a whole range of things happening so that we can get the company back on track."

Council sources told the Evening News that the departure of 52-year-old Mr Renilson was a result of his growing frustration at the city council's ruling Lib Dem/SNP administration and its dealings with the bus company over the past year.

Earlier this month there was anger from commuters after botched traffic management arrangements for tram works at The Mound led to city centre gridlock.

The city council said discussions were ongoing as to who would replace Mr Renilson. Transport Edinburgh Limited will eventually run both buses and trams in the city.

But the council's chief executive, Tom Aitchison, paid tribute to the work carried out by Mr Renilson in his decade at the helm of Lothian Buses.

Mr Aitchison said: "I was involved in the appointment of Neil ten years ago and knew then that we had appointed someone very special. Neil has driven the company forward and under his leadership it has achieved impressive results."

City council leader Jenny Dawe said: "Neil has been instrumental in making the Capital's bus service the best in the UK, which has been acknowledged in countless awards."