MSP calls for bus action over ‘shoddy service’
Rural passengers being left stranded
An MSP this week called for urgent measures to tackle rural Stirling area’s “bus debacle”.
Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Mark Ruskell said Balfron residents faced an unreliable bus service which used coaches that were inaccessible to some elderly and disabled residents.
And one user said the village’s service was “in crisis” and subject to numerous complaints since timetable changes in October.
Mr Ruskell said the vital First Scotland East X10 service was currently being served by coaches rather than buses.
The X10 service operates between Glasgow and Stirling, via Strathblane, Killearn, Balfron, Buchlyvie, Kippen and Gargunnock. Some of the services run from Balfron to Glasgow while others require connections at Balfron, and some run from Balfron to Stirling only.
While the vehicles were compliant in terms of the Disability Discrimination Act, they were unusable for passengers with mobility issues or people with prams due to narrow corridors and high steps, added Mr Ruskell.
Villagers had told him services were frequently cancelled and there had been two occasions this week when services failed to turn up, leaving passengers waiting at bus stops for buses which did not arrive.
Mr Ruskell said residents were angry that the announcement of the cancellations was only announced on Twitter, leaving many older passengers without mobile internet access in the dark about the change.
In August, residents aired their concerns over proposed bus service changes at a packed McLintock Hall in Balfron. Commuters claimed a proposed new timetable would leave them unable to make train connections.
Mr Ruskell said: “Leaving rural passengers stranded at bus stops in the depths of winter is clearly unacceptable.
“Passengers on this route are becoming sadly used to a shoddy service, with large inaccessible coaches having replaced regular buses.”
Kippen resident Valerie Brand regularly comments on the inadequacies of the rural Stirling area bus service on behalf of a group of passengers and has voiced their concerns at a number of meetings. She said the X10 service was “at crisis point”.
She added: “Passengers, particularly using the X10 Balfron-Stirling route are the worst affected including Strathblane and Killearn residents trying to access Stirling who were stranded yet again on Monday when the 9.30am bus did not turn up. Breakdowns are frequent on the Balfron to Glasgow side too.
“There is an added issue with the use of adapted school coaches on two X10 Balfron East morning services which as Mark states are DDA compliant under current UK legislation.
“This means they only have to be able to take a wheelchair. We have many elderly and disabled passengers who struggle to climb the steep stairs to get on and off these vehicles.
“Residents with mobility scooters and walkers are unable to board at all. It has no luggage space and is difficult to navigate with shopping trolleys.”
Ms Brand described the buses as “frequently late and dirty with many have no heating and water coming in floors and windows, sometimes even the roof.”
“We have been reporting these issues to First, Stirling Council, politicians, etc for over three years with promises of refurbished buses never materialising,” added Ms Brand. “Despite claims of more services, the recent changes in practical terms have resulted in a reduced Balfron East service. Therefore to have vehicles our residents are unable to board is unacceptable.”
A First Midland spokesperson said: “We can confirm that when our original plans for service X10 were put out to initial consultation, the timetable utilised the entire Balfron based bus fleet. However, after receiving requests for an additional trip in the morning peak, we identified that a coach from our school fleet, in between school trip commitments, could be utilised to allow for the extra journey opportunity. Given that the entire bus fleet is already in use, it’s not possible to operate these journeys at the present time with any other vehicle type.”
“We are in the process of sourcing a replacement vehicle that will offer the same access and comfort as the rest of our bus fleet, while at the same time will also be able to fulfil its duties on schools work. While we can’t offer any definitive timescale on the conclusion of this process, I hope at the very least that this information assures customers that we are actively seeking to address their concerns.”
Leaving rural passengers stranded is clearly unacceptable Mark Ruskell