Bus route cuts are ‘appalling’

DUNDEE councillors have slammed Stagecoach’s proposed changes to bus services across Perthshire saying the “appalling” cuts will also affect Dundee’s West End.

It comes after the bus company revealed a major shake-up of its services across Perth and Kinross, with the company looking to reduce or withdraw multiple routes.

However, Dundee’s Liberal Democrat councillors now have written to the managing director of Stagecoach East Scotland urging them to rethink the proposals.

They say these services are vital for bus connectivity in Dundee’s West End Ward.

West End councillor Michael Crichton said: “These bus proposals by Stagecoach have already rightly produced an outcry from our neighbours across the boundary with Perth and Kinross along the Carse of Gowrie for the devastating impact the cuts will have there.

“However, there are also serious implications in our West End area of Dundee including the loss of the only bus links left in the very far west end of the Perth Road.

“Residents there would be left with no bus service at all if these cuts go ahead, a situation that is totally unacceptable.”

Here is a list of some of the changes Stagecoach is proposing:

Service 16 – Withdrawal of daytime journeys between Monday and Saturday.

Service X7 – Withdrawn between Perth and Dundee due to low demand. Alternative services between Perth and Dundee via the A90 are provided by Scottish Citylink and Flixbus.

Service 39 – Increase of frequency between Arbroath and

Dundee to up to every 30 minutes to partly replace service X7 between Arbroath and Ninewells. Withdrawal of services between Ninewells and Kingoodie. The service would no longer serve Dundee bus station on journeys towards Ninewells (stopping on Seagate instead).

Councillors also raised concerns over the reduced hospital connectivity that would come as a result of the axing of the X7 service.

Mr Critchton said: “Furthermore, the loss of the X7 west of the Seagate Bus Station would remove the link between Royal Victoria Hospital, Ninewells Hospital and Perth Royal Infirmary.”

However, Stagecoach has said that the reduced number of passengers has resulted in the proposed timetable changes.

Stagecoach on their website said: “In recent years we have been impacted by significantly reduced passenger numbers postpandemic, with several passenger groups not returning to previous travel habits.

“Bus use remains 21% below prepandemic levels in this area and with increased operating costs and our continued investment in new, greener vehicles, changes to our services are required to ensure we remain sustainable and continue to provide a reliable service.

“While we’ve concentrated on serving the busiest routes and journeys, we know these proposals may cause disappointment within some communities.”