New bus timetable provides 'best possible service'

The council has been working to sort bus service contracts in Dumfries and Galloway

The leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council has said new bus timetables for the region will deliver the "best possible service" for residents.

It comes after Stagecoach announced it was shutting its depots in Dumfries and Stranraer after a prolonged battle over new contracts.

The local authority said new agreements had now been put in place on the vast majority of routes, starting from 7 August.

Council leader Stephen Thompson said a "great deal of work" had gone into ensuring "value for money and sustainability in the local networks".

The council and its transport partner body SWestrans said they hoped the new timetables would help people "confidently plan their journeys".

However, they urged travellers to check their local timetable online before travelling.

The aim is to bring to an end uncertainty following a contract battle with Stagecoach which culminated in the company deciding to shut its depots in the region.

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

It said that meant they were "no longer commercially viable".

The council said its contracts had to ensure operators met minimum requirements on "industry-standard terms and conditions".

It stressed it had a duty to protect the public interest in any deals it agreed.

It has now published new bus timetables which it hopes will help address the "great deal of uncertainty" around provision in the region.

"We remain fully committed to ensuring a smooth and successful transition, and we look forward to working alongside the operators that will serve our communities over the coming years," said John Campbell, who chairs SWestrans.

"With 1,000 bus stops in the region, new printed timetables may not reach all bus stops in time for the start date, but we'll make sure they're in place as soon as possible afterwards."

The council confirmed all home-to-school transport bus services would operate from the start of the new school term in August.

It added that arrangements were in place for operators for most of the region's commercially-run routes.

"An operator has not yet been confirmed for the 501 Dumfries to Kirkcudbright and Castle Douglas services," it said.

"Discussions are ongoing to confirm an operator for this route."

It added that, due to low passenger volumes, the 512 Castle Douglas town and the 410/411/412 Stranraer to Glenluce, Knock and Ervie service would be withdrawn from 7 August.