Stagecoach has defended plans to axe bus services in Tayside and Fife amid widespread public outrage.
The bus operator plans to introduce a major overhaul of its timetables at the end of October.
A spokesperson for Stagecoach East Scotland says keeping buses running where passenger numbers are very low is “sometimes just not possible”.
Which services are being cut?
The widespread cuts are set to impact many communities. Notable changes include:
- No more 77 daily service linking Dundee, Newport-on-Tay, Wormit and Gauldry
- No more 36 service on Sundays between Glenrothes, Newburgh and Perth
- No more 14 between Kirkcaldy town centre and Dunnikier estate
- Reduced 23/27 service between Perth, Aberfeldy and Pitlochry.
We're proposing some changes to our services in Fife and Perth from the 31st of October. Please send any feedback before Monday 12th September. Find out more here >https://t.co/DPu0w2KzQE
— Stagecoach East Scotland (@StagecoachEScot) August 30, 2022
Passengers about to lose their bus services have inundated Stagecoach with comments on social media.
Stagecoach has responded by reminding the public of the current consultation on timetables. People can submit comments until September 12.
Stagecoach says funding and travel habits behind cuts
The Stagecoach spokesperson says the end of Scottish Government Covid recovery funding on October 9 will have an impact on all operators.
However, Stagecoach would appear to be performing well financially.
It recently recorded an operating profit of £72.7 million.
On top of that, the Scottish Government awarded the firm more than £24m to roll out electric buses in Perth and Inverness.
But the Stagecoach spokeswoman added: “Travel habits have changed since the pandemic. Fewer people are now using some bus services, while the cost of operating is rising sharply.
“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 added that the new timetables would “provide a sustainable bus network now, so that we can grow services over the long term”.
Brexit to blame says Scottish Government
The Scottish Government has allocated £93.5m towards keeping buses running in 2022.
It announced a further £25.7m in June towards post-Covid recovery.
“Up to the end of March 2022, £210m has been provided to bus operators to help maintain services throughout the pandemic,” says a Scottish Government spokesperson.
“The bus sector continues to face the challenges presented by Brexit in terms of staffing shortages, delays to the processing of licenses by the DVLA and in relation to fuel costs.
“Many of these matters are reserved to the UK Government.
“But the Scottish Government will continue to engage with bus operators and local government to find mitigations where we are able to, monitor patronage and keep support under review.”
Th DVLA contacted us to clarify its position on the processing of licenses.
A spokesperson said there were currently no ongoing delays to vocational licencing and normal processing times had been back to normal for the past six months.
Meanwhile, transport minister Jenny Gilruth has been meeting bus operators. There are plans to set up a bus taskforce to help the sector recover.
Conversation