Fifers who travel across the bridge

[Kmm86]

Hello everyone. My husband and I are currently living abroad and due to return back to Scotland in July. My husband has a job in Edinburgh and my children will be attending ESMS school. My husbands job is around the same area as the school. We are exhausting all locations but I’m originally from Dunfermline and would love to end up back there however I’m concerned about the commute. My husband will be leaving early enough for work to avoid bridge traffic but what is my commute time to get into the ESMS area of Edinburgh for school starting at 8:30?
Would love to hear from people who do the commute regularly please!!’
We’d love south queensferry but almost no houses are coming on the market and no new builds will be ready until January of next year!
Thanks in advance everyone

I’m assuming driving?

You’ve got to get along some of the busiest streets as well as the bridge.

Bridge traffic isn’t bad at the moment but when/if things go back to normal to beat the bridge traffic you need to be on it by 06.30. 10 minutes at that time can make all the difference between a clear run and being stuck.

You’ll hit traffic at Barnton, all the way past Davidson’s Mains to Blackhall and into school.

My husband does the Gyle every day. He’s loving how much quieter things are at the moment. It’s taking 30-40 minutes. I’d say you’d need to leave Dunfermline about 7 or 7.15 to get to school for 8.30 as a trial run and see how the traffic is. It’s a bit difficult due to work from home rules at the moment to be any more precise I think.

Can you see if there is a school bus from Fife to school?

I don't live that side of the bridge but my DDs go to a school near to esms and they have friends who live in Dunfermline. In non-covid times they leave around 7.30am for an 8.40 start. If they head home straight after school the traffic is ok but if they do any clubs until 5pm it can then take over an hour to get home.

The commute has obviously been a bit quicker recently as so many people are working from home.

Our school runs a minibus from Haymarket so older kids can take the train but I don't think esms does this. There are school buses though.

Just be aware though that you will also be coming over every Saturday for hockey, rugby etc and most of their social life, parties etc will be in or around Edinburgh.

Hopefully someone who does the commute will be along shortly.

Might be worth keeping in mind from January kids get free transport in Scotland. If they are of an age they can go in their own, that would save you taking them.

OP, the school runs a bus from Dunfermline and Dalgety Bay, Kirkliston, Cramond and South Queensferry. It’s on their website.

My kids are at ESMS. They do run a minibus to Haymarket but I'm not sure how frequently. Also there is a bus to school from Dunfermline . The best thing yo do is contact the school bus coordinator and she will be able yo send uou the bus timetables.

i live round the corner from ESMS. I'm telling you, traffic is horrific.

If you want them at that school either move this side of the bridge or accept that sometimes you'll have a long commute. You'll get stuck onto the bridge, at Cramond junction, Barnton, If you nip up past Blackhall Primary you'll get stuck with everyone else who thinks it's a short cut.

I don't do it, I just have to cut across it. Looks fucking miserable.

Hi everyone thanks so much for the replies!!!
Really not sure what we are going to do but you’ve given us a lot to think about!

If there are new builds coming on the market in Jan 23 that you like the look of, is it worth renting till then?

@WhatWouldTheDoctorDo

If there are new builds coming on the market in Jan 23 that you like the look of, is it worth renting till then?

Yeah that’s definitely crossed my mind as an idea too! Think we just need to not rush in somewhere and regret it so I think renting may be the best option.

If you're going to live a distance from the school OP I would really consider using the school bus (if they're old enough).

When mine were younger (they self travel now) I used to meet a mum at the school gate who ran hers in/out from a village near Peebles every day, so a similar travel time as you would have from Dunfermline.
She spent 5 hours driving every day (2.5 hours round trip each way!)

Her girls are also sporty so she has to do the run again on Saturdays so spends all Saturday morning in Edinburgh.

Your kids' friends will be spread over a large area so you will be doing a lot of fetching and carrying for their social activities so I would honestly try and make the commute to school as easy as possible.

Apologies if they have a commute at current school so you know all this already!

I used to commute the opposite way and the traffic coming from Fife to Edinburgh was always solid no matter how early I left. By 4pm Queensferry Road coming out of Edinburgh is bumper to bumper so I reckon a good hour, maybe more if you want to be sure of being at school on time.