Assurance over bus concerns
The operators behind Stirling’s beleaguered bus network have promised to make improvements in a crunch meeting with an MSP.
Mid Scotland and Fife Green MSP Mark Ruskell has been critical of the service provided by Mcgill’s since taking over the running of the local bus network from First Scotland East.
Following criticism of issues including short-notice cancellations on services including the 51/52 and UL routes, Mr Ruskell held an online summit on the state of buses in the Stirling area in November.
During the meeting, Mr Ruskell claims Mcgill’s chief executive officer Ralph Roberts said “serious improvements to vehicle standards, service reliability and customer engagement” were on the horizon.
The Green MSP said: “It’s taken a long time to get round the table with Mcgill’s, but I’m cautiously optimistic about promised improvements for bus services in Stirling and Clackmannanshire.
“For many of my constituents who have been plagued with repeated service cancellations and antiquated buses, these changes cannot come too soon.
“We’re now expecting new, high quality vehicles to be coming to the region at the end of this week.
“The arterial X10/X10A route will be serviced solely by these newer buses – something which I know will be welcomed by passengers along this bus route, who have suffered with deteriorating vehicles for too long.
“But let me be clear – passengers across Stirling will be the best judge of whether Mcgill’s promised improvements materialise into reality. I encourage all bus users in the area to get in touch with me to share their experiences – good or bad – of bus services where they live.
In comments earlier this year, a Mcgill’s Scotland East spokesperson said that the company was planning to introduce “approximately 60 additional vehicles” to the route by Spring 2023.
The company blamed some of the issues on buses inherited from First and said reserve vehicles pulled from elsewhere were not sufficient to plug the gaps in the fleet.