Anger as Stagecoach service cuts hurt Fife and Tayside key workers

Bus passengers in Fife and Tayside have reacted with dismay to proposed Stagecoach service cuts.

Some say the proposed timetable will force them into using or buying a car just to be able to travel to work.

Transport remains the leading cause of emissions as Scotland battles the climate emergency.

Stagecoach – which made an operating profit of around £72m last year – is proposing scores of timetable changes in the Fife and Perth area.

The company has been regularly cancelling services due to a shortage of drivers.

That proposed changes include a wide range of cuts and altered services.

Bus services across Fife and Tayside affected

The company is cancelling its 77 daily service linking Dundee, Newport-on-Tay, Wormit and Gauldry.

That comes despite nearly 300 new houses in Wormit, and 30 in Gauldry, approaching completion.

While there will be no bus to either Dundee or Perth from Errol and St Madoes in the Carse of Gowrie until after 7am.

The changes are slated to come into affect on Monday, October 31.

Stagecoach cuts show ‘complete lack of appreciation’

Invergowrie Labour councillor Alasdair Bailey called for a rethink over the proposed timetable.

He said: “To leave Errol and St Madoes without a bus to either Dundee or Perth until after 7am shows a complete lack of appreciation for the workers who keep our world ticking over.

“I’ve heard from so many people, from nurses at Ninewells to lollipop men in Perth who will be completely stuck if this change goes ahead.”

He continued: “The reality is that, unless Stagecoach relent, this will lead to many more people being forced to either quit their jobs or buy a car.

“Neither outcome is good for our economy or our planet and I hope that Stagecoach sees sense and puts the early buses back.”

Stagecoach is updating its proposed service 57/57A timetable after the initial version led some passengers to believe it meant the end to a direct Perth service.

A spokesperson said: “A new version of the proposed timetable which more clearly shows the connecting journeys for onward travel to Perth and Dundee on service 57/57A will be live on our website as soon as possible.”

The company spokesperson also responded in more detail to the full list of proposed cuts.

“We will always try to keep routes operational where we can, however where there are very low passenger numbers it is sometimes just not possible to do so,” she said.

Has your bus been affected by these changes?

Let us know by emailing: transportandenvironment@thecourier.co.uk