It’s busmageddon as routes are axed Stagecoach defends action
The area’s main bus operator is slashing its routes – blaming everything but itself.
Stagecoach is scything services to Cumnock, Mauchline, Monkton and from Troon to Irvine.
It is also pulling out of Culzean completely, meaning there is no public transport to the castle and estate.
The bus- mageddon is planned to come into force on August 13.
The cull looks to be one of the biggest to hit South and East Ayrshire.
Tom Bridge, managing director, Stagecoach West Scotland said: “We have seen some big changes in our customers’ travel patterns in the last two years because of things like internet shopping, working from home and traffic congestion in our towns and cities.
“We have to adapt to these changes and that is why we are consulting on these proposals. We want our customers and other local stakeholders to help us shape a network of services in South and East Ayrshire that best serves the current and future needs of local workers, students, job seekers, retired people and visitors.”
Nationally, Stagecoach operates 13,000 buses, coaches, trains and trams. It has around 40,000 employees, and uses 425 million litres of fuel annually.
But last year it reported profits of just £ 104 million – down 37 per cent.
Four public meetings were arranged, with the first at the Dumfries Arms Hotel, Cumnock on Tuesday.
The others are: Ayr Town Hall, Friday June 9, 1pm – 6pm.
Henrietta Street Hall, Girvan, Tuesday June 13, 11am – 1pm.
The Carrick Centre, Maybole, June 13, 2.30pm – 6.30pm
The company is asking for the public’s reaction to their proposals.
In details they are: junction with Mainholm Road.
Dalmilling would be served by the service 3 every 12 minutes and it is proposed that, rather than travelling via Whitletts Road, it will travel via Westwood Avenue and Mainholm Road. This will provide the residents of Dalmilling with a new direct link to Tesco and the town centre without having to travel via Hayhill and Craigie.
These are the routes where we have seen the greatest level of decline in the last 2- 3 years.
It is proposed that the 30 minute frequency between Drongan and Ayr will remain however only one bus an hour will continue beyond Drongan to Ochiltree and Cumnock. The route from Cumnock to Muirkirk will remain on an hourly frequency.
It is proposed that the 30 minute frequency between Tarbolton and Ayr will remain however only one bus an hour will continue beyond Tarbolton to Mauchline, Catrine and Cumnock. The route from Cumnock to New Cumnock will remain on an hourly frequency.
The 43A runs every half an hour and carries very few passengers not served by the 43 service. Therefore, our proposal is to reduce the bus service from Annbank to hourly.