Stagecoach to axe bus services across Dumfries and Galloway

New contracts for services across the region will come into force in August

Stagecoach has announced it will end almost all of its bus services in Dumfries and Galloway because they are "no longer commercially viable".

The bus firm said that during the tender process to run new services from August it had found a liability clause that was "far in excess of the value of the contracts".

It has told Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) that it would drop all but two of its services in the region.

The council has not confirmed if another operator will take over the routes. It said negotiations over the tender process were "ongoing and confidential".

Stagecoach said current contracts with the council and transport partnership SWestrans would expire on 6 August.

"We're unfortunately unable to agree to a contract on these disproportionate terms," it said.

"We've been working with the council and SWestrans to find a solution to the procurement ask, but unfortunately the liability levels required by the council have made this impossible.

"As a result, our tender submissions have been disqualified as non-compliant."

Stagecoach is set to deregister all its services apart from two routes

Stagecoach said it had given 70-day notice in May to deregister its services apart from the X74 Dumfries to Glasgow route.

It also said its 79 service from Dumfries to Carlisle would continue to operate.

The firm said it was committed to ensuring communities in the region could "remain connected" and it was working closely with affected staff at its Dumfries and Stranraer depots.

'Protect public interest'

DGC said SWestrans was responsible for delivery of the local bus network, while the home-to-school transport network was the council's responsibility.

It said it took its statutory duties "very seriously" and was prioritising school transport routes.

A spokesperson added: "As part of the tender process, the council and SWestrans need to ensure that we have bus operators that meet minimum requirements on a range of industry-standard terms and conditions.

"This is in order to protect the public interest.

"DGC and SWestrans continue to work through a tender process that has supporting and connecting the communities of Dumfries and Galloway firmly at its heart."

Unite union 'deeply concerned'

Siobhan McCready, Unite industrial officer, said it was "deeply concerned" about the situation.

"We are not clear on the implications for over 100 workers and communities who rely on local bus services," she said.

"As a matter of urgency Unite will be demanding meetings with Stagecoach and DGC to establish whether our members will be transferred to any new bus provider or if our members are facing a redundancy situation."