West Fife bus services face major cuts
Gary Fitzpatrick • Published 25 Feb 2010 06:58
12 Comments
BUS services in West Fife face major cuts after a significant reduction in public subsidy to Stagecoach from the Scottish Government.
The 76 Dunfermline-Crombie route, which currently runs every 60 minutes Monday to Saturday, could be axed altogether.
The 80 service from Dunfermline to Dalgety Bay via Duloch Park could be reduced from four buses an hour to three.
The same reduction is being considered on the 74/75 services linking Dunfermline with Oakley and Blairhall.
There could also be cuts to the services from Dunfermline to Glasgow.
The threat to the services was outlined in a meeting between Dunfermline West MSP Jim Tolson and Stagecoach East of Scotland manager Steve Walker.
There are fears that any curtailing of public transport will seriously affect the daily lives of residents in outlying communities trying to get to work, to the shops or to health appointments.
"I'm very concerned about these cuts to services adversely affecting my constituents," said Mr Tolson.
"I am writing to transport minister Stewart Stevenson and also John Swinney to ask them to look again at this cut in subsidy."
There was an angry reaction from West Fife villages councillor Gerry McMullan who said, "The bus services from Crombie have already been cut back.
"That means that Crombie is cut off from Limekilns where the nearest doctors' surgery is and elderly people can face a round-trip of two-and-a-half hours via Dunfermline.
"To hear now that Stagecoach want to cut the Dunfermline-Crombie service altogether is appalling.
"Stagecoach seem happy enough to take public money but the public have to dance to their tune.
"There should be a minimum level of service required as part of the subsidy arrangements.
"These decisions cannot all be about business when there's public money involved and the needy people in our outlying communities need to be protected.
"It's not just Crombie. People living in Saline, Steelend and Culross face similar difficulties.
"The buses are not running when they need them. Some people in Saline are having to walk into Oakley to catch a bus to get to their work.
"That kind of thing happened 100 years ago but it's not acceptable in this day and age.
"The West Fife villages are already missing out on the direct response transport scheme that runs in Rosyth and Dunfermline.
"We don't have that and now we're having bus services cut."
Fife transport chair Councillor Tony Martin said, "This is the biggest crisis facing public finances in my lifetime and we hear politicians in London telling us that every day.
"In these circumstances this is another uncomfortable situation we have to deal with and one of many, including significant reductions in employment.
"We do subsidise routes to make sure communities are not cut off but as a council we also face the same spending pressures."
A spokesperson for Stagecoach East Scotland said, "We are aware that the budget allocation for the Scottish National Concessionary Fare Scheme has been reduced by approximately nine per cent.
"This will obviously have a significant financial implication on our business and as such we are currently revising the impact of this change on our business operations."
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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davey boy
Unregistered User
Feb 25, 08:12
Report commentand so stagecoach shoukld cut some runs as ive witnessed many of these buses are running empty.
the crombie bus via ferry toll is always empty .
on the other hand stagecoaches advert for greener buses well look at all these ****py double deckers smoke bilging out and decor appalling and windows all scratched.
stagecoach should introduce the system in edinburgh i.e. lothians buses they use either ticket with correct moneys and also swipe card.travel card and makes the journey smoother.
but the main problem with stagecoach is they need to sit down not just with the council but with the people who are going to be using their buses.
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Hazelkaye
Unregistered User
Feb 25, 11:33
Report commentThree buses an hour off-peak X24/X26/X27 (St Andrews/Kirkcaldy) Dunfermline to/from Glasgow are NOT required - many running with only penny-numbers (and on 'penny-tickets' with concessionary cards) on board!
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Patrick Ward
Unregistered User
Feb 25, 18:09
Report commentStagecoach is not known for consulting, and Fife CC isn't much better. I agree that both the Council and Stagecoach should consult meaningfully over any proposals, but doubt if it will happen. The Crombie bus (davey boy) is not always empty but frequency and size of vehicle should be considered rather than leaving people with either no service or a very convoluted journey. When I have travelled to Glasgow on the X26/X27 it is always quite busy, except, perhaps, the last bus at night, however, since the X24 doesn't come through Dunfermline, I don't know about that service, which means (Hazelkaye) there are only two buses an hour from Dunfermline to Glasgow!
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mike
Unregistered User
Feb 25, 20:45
Report commentFirstly, Service X24 Does go thought Dunferemline. Glasgow coaches are busy, but sometime during the weekday there not that busy.
To the Remarks of the Stupid clr Gerry McMullan: There is a bus every hour between Crombie - Limekilns No71 it paid for by Fife council.
service 80 already operates three times an hour so how can there cut it to just three? IT does not help that "Scottish National Concessionary Fare Scheme" will now only give bus companies 68% of the Fare instead of 73? not very fair!
Mr Tolson, FAT Load of good he will do, His Lid dem and SNP fellow councillor have voted to SCARPED Collection and Shopping service for ALL oaps in FIFE. With all jobs going and many oap with no other service WHAT SO EVER. Do you think SNP john swiny will care about our bus service if he happily Do that to OAP and Disabled people of FIFE! I think the Dunfermline press is being lead up the Garden path.
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davey boy
Unregistered User
Feb 26, 07:55
Report commentre - mike ,,,,, you must agree voting for snp in fact voting for an independant scotland-would mean more resources for local councils and not to be dictated by from westminster
If stage coach were your business would you continue to fund routes that are non profitable ( I think you wouldnt be in business for long)
better buses i.e. size and comfort also ticketing like lothian buses use would not only trip quicker but more ost efficient.
Maybe the council or stagecoach should publish a quarterly information flyer on their websites regarding how much the council has had to fund inefficient routes ,
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mike
Unregistered User
Feb 26, 12:33
Report commentI NEVER VOTE SNP! I have seen nothing good from them since there taken over fife council.
Lets face facts here about these cuts, were taking about 2 -3 buses here, ( 2-3 coaches on the glasgow run) Fife council spents about £12million on transport in fife, includes schools, inefficinet routes, it also states that 95% of all bus routes in fife are commercail.
Did you know you can travel around the Whole of dunfermline for £9.50 on the bus? Edinburgh megarider ( Available for travel on any direct bus between Fife & Edinburgh, including Ferrytoll park and Ride. Also valid on feeder services into Ferrytoll (eg D7 and 71).) £22
There plenty of good tickets if you actully look.
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johnw
Unregistered User
Feb 26, 17:36
Report commentOne problem in these proposals the X27 Glasgow /Kirkcaldy gives the fast link from Dunfermline bus station to Victoria hospital in Kirkcaldy which was fought for over a long period to allow patients/visitorsfrom the West to get to the hospital without making it a full day outing or as someone said "a 3 day camel trek to the Victoria". Remember most inpatient services move to the Vic in 2 years
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chic
Unregistered User
Feb 28, 13:01
Report commentthe massive subsidy given to stagecoach should bern cut altogether they are paid over a quarter of a b billion pounds per year for running out of date t trains and buses some of which look downright dangerous some of the buses that are used for the schools are over 25 years old with black smoke filling our lungs from them ,before they were privitised the buses had to be replaced every few years now stagecoach just do as they please.
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mike
Unregistered User
Feb 28, 17:18
Report commentIT very clear Chic you speaking rubbish. FIFE council has imposed a 15 year limiter on all school buses in fife. Can you guess? yes there all M reg or never until the end of this year,
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norman
Unregistered User
Mar 6, 19:12
Report commentThe 76 bus route should not be cut as a lot of people rely on it to get back and forth to work. We have had this service for more that 20 years but about 2 years ago they brought in the 71 bus route which is an utter waste of money. because of this 71 route they changed the 76 bus and people had to stop using it. It was fine the way it was, they should of never have changed it. They need to get rid of the 71 route and put the 76 route back to the way it was and everyone would be happy cause even the bus drivers hate the 71 route.
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Mike
Unregistered User
Mar 7, 21:05
Report commentThis is how Fife council wastes money on bad bus routes which undermines Commercial bus routes. Fife council are to blame for this.
In bedford, There council got lots of monies to improve bus services, what did there do? paid for tone of new routes which undermind the commercial routes. by the time the money run out Commercial routes had to get scaled back, and the council route were all taken away. Council blame the bus company, but most people know better.
Anyway Monday 26th April is when the service changes will take place!!!!!! that is FACT!
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mike
Unregistered User
Mar 9, 20:54
Report commentIt seems the changes for the 26th April have been pulled!
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