Bus operators hope to expand in 2026

BUS operators hope to increase bus routes and services in the region in 2026.

However, they are still adapting to the “growing pains” connected with the controversial reconfiguration of the area's bus network just five months ago, according to transport bosses.

The introduction of new bus timetables, with some routes cancelled and services reduced, caused chaos in August last year, writes Marc McLean.

Following an outcry from members of the public, bus operators scrambled around to meet demand and the council invested nearly £2.66m of emergency cash on a fleet of 12 buses to help plug gaps in public and school transport services.

At the recent South West of Scotland Transport Partnership (SWestrans) committee meeting, Lochar Councillor Ivor Hyslop said that he was continuing to get complaints from residents about no bus services from the hospital to Locharbriggs after 8 pm.

The Conservatives councillor asked if there were plans to expand bus services.

Simon Bradbury, the council’s strategic transport and safety lead officer, said: “We’re continuing to work with the operators in terms of building their capacity.

“To some extent that will be a gradual process on account of the extent to which each and every operator has had to expand over the course of the summer as a result of the procurement process they’ve had to take on more staff, more vehicles – and in a short space of time.

“So I think moving forward from here we need to allow them some time to recover from that, and to allow those growing pains if you like to bed in a little bit.”