Unreliable buses disrupting studies

An Arbroath student fears disruption to Stagecoach bus services could scupper her chances of finding a job.

Kaelyn Robertson, 17, has welcomed the introduction of free bus travel for under-22s.

But she is not confident her Young Scot card will be any use if her bus doesn’t turn up.

“It’s great that we’ve got these new bus passes, but what’s the point if we can’t get a bus?”

Kaelyn added: “How am I supposed to apply for jobs in Dundee? How am I supposed to know if I’m going to be there on time every day?”

A spokesperson for Stagecoach East Scotland said there was an industrywide shortage of bus drivers.

But she said new Stagecoach drivers were “heading out on the roads each week as they complete their training”.

In the meantime, Kaelyn says she cannot rely on Stagecoach buses to get her from Arbroath to Dundee, where she is studying photography.

This week, she took the decision to stay with her grandparents in Dundee rather than risk being late for classes, or unable to get home.

Cancellations have left her stranded at the bus stop.

And when we caught up with Kaelyn at the stop near Dundee and Angus College’s Gardyne Campus, the next Stagecoach 73C bus had been cancelled.

She recently had to wait an hour and a half for a bus back to Arbroath.

She says unreliable bus services do not just impact her ability to attend college.

The Dundee Stars fan uses public transport to travel to ice hockey matches in the town.

Kaelyn sometimes uses the X7 service, which has been the subject of numerous complaints from bus passengers.

Connecting Dundee and Aberdeen, and stopping at towns including Arbroath and Montrose, the X7 is a vital service for many along the route.

There have been reports of people on minimum wage having to shell out for taxis and others missing work and college.

Adding to Kaelyn’s distress is the fact her Young Scot Card has on occasion not worked.

She had an unpleasant experience earlier this year when a driver told her to leave the bus, telling her the card was “invalid”.

Kaelyn has Asperger’s and sometimes struggles with her mental health.

She told Stagecoach in an email that the incident had an impact on her welfare to the extent “I do not want to use your services for the near future”.

She adds that unreliable bus services also affect her welfare.

“It really affects me because I like to be scheduled,” she added.

The Stagecoach spokesperson said the company’s customer services team had “reached out directly” to Kaelyn.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused to passengers who are experiencing travel difficulties.”

She said there were “skills shortages” – a lack of bus drivers – across the industry.

“We are operating every X7 journey possible with the resources that are currently available to us.

“And are doing everything we can to minimise disruption for customers.

“Recruitment is progressing well. New drivers are heading out on the roads each week as they complete their training.”

UNRELIABLE: Kaelyn Robertson, 17, at the city bus stop where she was left stranded. Picture by Gareth Jennings.