Bus firm Stagecoach Highland urged to communicate better with its passengers over Inverness network service
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CITY bus services have been slammed by users as increasingly unreliable.
Passengers say Stagecoach Highland services are plagued with cancellations and delays.
James Fraser (61) said: “It’s an absolute disgrace, honestly and truthfully.”
Mr Fraser, who lives in South Kessock, is partially sighted and a regular bus user.
“My partner is in hospital at the moment and I have to rely on a bus to visit them,” he said.
“You have to book a time for visiting the wards but last week Stagecoach missed out on two buses last Thursday, two on Friday, two on the Saturday and again on the Monday.
“When you complain or ask for any explanation all you get back from Stagecoach is ‘shortage of drivers’ or ‘Covid’.
“Before, it was often to see one bus cancelled, but now it’s often two buses which are not working, so you are waiting at the bus stop well over half-an-hour.”
He added: “I don’t think that Stagecoach are fit for purpose.”
Moira Phaup, who lives in Kinmylies and works at Raigmore Hospital, said: “I have trouble getting to work on time and then when I’m finished I can’t get home. It's very stressful.
“It’s all day every day that the service is affected.
“It's an unexistent service and fares are also going up. While waiting for buses I have met other people in the same situation and we have emailed and phoned Stagecoach and councillors multiple times, but we are getting nowhere.
"I am just getting fed up.”
Earlier this year, the bus company announced an increase in fares across the Highlands and Moray.
Regional Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said she was receiving growing feedback on the subject.
“It appears that buses are being cancelled with little to no communication to commuters, which is unacceptable, especially as Stagecoach provide a statutory service, and I have written to them about this,” she said.
“In addition, Highland Council, who hold a contract with Stagecoach, could explore the option of creating their own bus service – like Lothian Buses – and I have asked if this will be explored.
“I appreciate that there is a drive by Stagecoach to recruit more bus drivers and this is welcome, however communication with commuters can be improved now and I urge them to do so.”
Greens list MSP Ariane Burgess said: “In order to reduce our carbon emissions, we need to ensure that public transport works for most people, to encourage less car ownership.
“I have written to Stagecoach to ask that they listen to the challenges faced by customers and work with them to improve the bus network.”
A Stagecoach Highlands spokesman said bus networks nationally are facing challenges due to Covid, changes in the labour market and the impact of rising inflation.
“We remain absolutely committed to working with our local authority partners, as well as other stakeholders, to deliver the best networks we can for local communities, taking account of the current difficult environment and the changes we have seen in when and how people travel,” they said.
“We are also working around the clock to recruit new drivers to address the shortages affecting the wider transport and logistics sector.
“It can take an average of 12 weeks for a professional bus driver to be fully trained and out on the road, and our training school is progressing this as speedily as possible.”
