Bus operator Stagecoach has been criticised for pulling 39 bus services connected to Perth at short notice on just one day this week.
On Tuesday, September 20, Perth routes to residential areas of Letham, Tulloch and North Muirton were particularly hit. Some outlying areas like Scone, Pitcairngreen and Comrie had bus services cancelled.
It comes after a previous spate of mass cancellations by Stagecoach East Scotland on September 2.
On both days many scheduled services had to be dropped and the transport company blamed this on driver shortages.
Responding to outrage from local politicians who said Perth customers were getting a raw deal, a spokesperson for Stagecoach East Scotland said: “We are sorry for the impact that journey cancellations are having on some of our customers in Perthshire.
“Where services are impacted, we will let people know through our website and Twitter (@StagecoachEScot) with as much notice as possible.
“We are actively hiring for trainee and qualified bus drivers, and currently have 25 new drivers at varying stages of the training process.
“It’s vital to take the time to ensure all new drivers reach the high level of professional standards we expect, so it may be a few weeks before these drivers are out on the road.”
On Tuesday the number 1 bus from Perth to Letham at 5.20am, 5.55am, 6.30am, 11.20am, 12.05pm, 12.50pm, 4.35pm, 5.20pm, 6.05pm, 7.05pm, 7.35pm, 8.35pm and 9.05pm had to remain at base due to there being no driver.
The number 2 Perth-Tulloch at 7.05am, 7.52am, 8.42am, 4.20pm, 6.20pm, 6.50pm, 7.50pm, 8.20pm, 9.20pm, 10pm, 10.35pm and 11.10pm was cancelled.
Bailie Chris Ahern, councillor for Perth centre labelled Stagecoach’s actions “unacceptable” and the company “uncaring.”
He said: “The behaviour of Stagecoach is unacceptable.
“I contacted Stagecoach management on August 17, regarding the cancellation of services without notice, I also went through senior management at PKC who were in contact with Stagecoach management, a week later.
“Both times I forwarded a survey, along with specific questions, that had been created from passengers who use the number 9 service from North Muirton.
“I have not received any correspondence back from anyone at Stagecoach regarding my, and passenger, concerns.”
Cllr Ahern was concerned that a new Stagecoach timetable that comes in to force in October, designed to alleviate the driver shortage problem, is a step backwards.
The new timetable has planned the cancellation of a number of buses throughout the day on a large number of routes.
“I have no confidence that it will make any difference, except in a negative way, to those that use and rely on the bus service, in the way that Stagecoach behave to the public,” he added.
“We are being told to stop using our cars to help with climate change, and to use public transport. I wonder if Stagecoach are aware of this, or even care about people moving away from their cars, as it appears that they really don’t care.
“I would like answers to my questions so that I can get back to the people that have raised concerns with me and other elected members.
“People’s lives, daily routines are being messed about daily and they need to step up and sort themselves out.
“Any other firm that treated their customers like this would very quickly go out of business.”
Councillor for North Perth with Scottish Labour, Brian Leishman commented: "The cancellation of Stagecoach services all over Perth and Kinross is an all too common an occurrence.
"I hear the frustrations from residents in Perth City North when cancellations are at short notice and this negatively impacts working people, families and people that are trying to be environmentally conscious.
"There needs to be more responsibility shown by private companies, more accountability to their customers and it is fair to say that people in Perth and Kinross are being short changed and are not receiving the service from Stagecoach that they should be."
Perth City South Lib Dem Councillor Liz Barrett said: “ People can’t get to work on time, seriously affecting those desperately in need of all they can earn right now.
"Elderly residents are missing medical appointments, causing distress and worry. I raised this weeks ago after a deluge of complaints and we were advised that the situation would improve after the school holidays, but it isn’t happening.
"I’ve heard of passengers waiting up to two hours for a bus that doesn’t come. This is just not good enough."
SNP councillor for Perth City Centre Andrew Parrott said: “I am greatly frustrated by the continuing disruption caused to bus travellers lives by the cancellation of services sometimes at very short notice.
“My understanding is that these cancellations are very largely due to a shortage of bus drivers.
“I also understand that Stagecoach is doing as much as it can to train replacement drivers but the notice that a bus driver has to give on leaving is very short compared with the length of time it takes to train a replacement.
“Most of the cancellations are taking place on commercially operated services. Where a council subsidised service is cancelled the council are seeking to recover the value of the subsidy provided for operating that service.
“I fear there is little that can be done in the short term other than asking bus operators to give as much notice as possible of bus cancellations but in the medium and longer terms I hope we can work with operators to improve the bus services that are provided in Perth and Kinross.”
Fellow ward councillor John Rebbeck commented: “I am very well aware of the cancellation of many services to and from Tulloch and Letham, and across the communities of north Perth.
“These cancellations are particularly frustrating, as they are often at very short notice and at peak times when people are trying to get to and from their work.
“Whilst understanding that are is a shortage of drivers of all types across the UK, particularly post Brexit, this is of little consolation to my constituents.”
