New bus service to replace much of former 23 route

First Group has announced it will be running a new bus service for people in Kinross-shire and beyond next month to replace one scrapped by Stagecoach during the lockdown.

Bosses say the new X53 service from Stirling to Kinross will call at the “majority”of stops formerly visited by the number 23 bus Stagecoach used to run between Stirling and St Andrews.

The new service, which will have an end to end journey time of around an hour, is due to start on Monday, September 14, subject to final approval from the Traffic Commissioner’s Office.

The announcement was welcomed by Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell who had feared Stagecoach’s decision to axe the 23 bus would leave some people without any means to get to work or attend medical appointments.

First Group commercial director Graeme Macfarlan told the PA: “We are delighted to be introducing the brand new X53 service to maintain links for passengers on the Hillfoots corridor between Stirling and Kinross.

“We look forward to serving customers along this route and with some great value fares on offer we hope that more people with consider using the bus more often as their transport mode of choice.

“We are especially keen to ask more car users to reconsider bus as an alternative option for travel in the region as we look to do our part in a green recovery from the global pandemic that has affected us all.”

Mr Ruskell said of the new service: “I’m delighted that an enhanced service from Stirling to Kinross has been found.

“I hope that First will develop a genuine partnership with communities to promote this service and make it a success.

“Every year communities face crisis cuts and changes to bus services with little warning from companies. Until services are properly regulated and run solely in the public interest by municipally owned operators we will see cherry picking of profitable routes while others get dropped.”

A Stagecoach spokesperson remarked:“Following a full review of our routes, we are withdrawing service 23 as it continues to operate at a significant loss, resulting in us no longer being able to commercially run this service.

“The service runs through four different local authorities, with a choice of different services to replace the 23.

“This means customers can use alternative services and operators for the same journey, some of which are of a much higher frequency, allowing them the flexibility to travel more often.

“There is one part of this route which will no longer be served and discussions are on-going with the local authority regarding this.”