Jamie Ross
A controversial fleet of multi-million pound buses will not be replaced despite pressure from commuters.
Stagecoach rolled out its Buchan Xpress coaches last year, hailing the £5.5million fleet as a new glitzy means of travel between Buchan towns and Aberdeen.
But within weeks of leaving stations, Peterhead councillor Jim Ingram had received complaints from disabled constituents who were finding it difficult to climb aboard the leather-clad buses.
He later made a formal complaint to Stagecoach in a bid to have the 17 vehicles made more user friendly.
Around 300 people also attended a public meeting in Mintlaw earlier this year to protest against the buses.
And last night, Mr Ingram said he had been “inundated” with complaints from constituents who still have difficulty boarding the new coaches.
But Stagecoach has now replied to his complaint, and said there are currently no plans to scrap the Xpress line.
“We are continuing to investigate potential modifications with the manufacturer of the coaches in relation to installing additional grab rails and stopping bells,” a spokesman said.
Mr Ingram, in the meantime, is waiting to hear from the traffic commissioner with a ruling on the vehicles.
“I consider these buses as unsuitable because they don’t match up with the requirements of transport regulations. They’re supposed to have a minimum of four seats readily available for the disabled at a readily accessible point and they’ve only got two,” Mr Ingram said.
“Really, these buses have been designed for touring – they have not been designed for a timetabled service.
“They don’t meet the requirements of a service vehicle, and there’s a huge bulk of the public who are finding it difficult to use them. I’m even hearing now that people are actively avoiding them and trying to find alternative means of travel.
“I have every confidence, though, that traffic commissioners will find accordingly.”
Stagecoach has denied its Xpress fleet is in breach of disability legislation.
