Inverness bus services are set for a huge shake-up from the New Year with Stagecoach taking over dozens of routes.
Family-owned D&E Coaches will hand over all but one – Ullapool – of their public contracts and almost half their school transport contracts to the transport giant.
Stagecoach North Scotland says the move will enable them to offer a new and extended bus network in Inverness and surrounding areas.
D&E Coaches is a multi-million pound business with more than 50 coaches and an 80-strong workforce.
Donald Matheson, founder and managing director of D & E said: “Following a detailed review, we have agreed that it is in the best interests of all parties that this section of our business should be transferred to Stagecoach.
“We will be working closely with Stagecoach to ensure there will be no disruption when the contracts are transferred.
“We will still be operating 40 school contracts for Highland Council, with whom we have had a long and valued relationship.
“This arrangement leaves us space to cater for private and contract hire work, which at present we’ve been turning away.
“Our research shows there is considerable opportunity there and we’ll now have the capacity to meet it which means we’ll create new jobs further down the line.”
Stagecoach says the new and extended bus network is expected to begin on January 7, 2019.
The company employs around 850 staff and operates around 350 vehicles in the north of Scotland.
A Stagecoach spokeswoman said: “The transfer of these routes to Stagecoach will bring new benefits for customers including the introduction of contactless payments on board every bus as well as live bus tracking via the Stagecoach app.
“The proposed changes are designed to reflect customer demand and will ensure a sustainable bus network is in place across Inverness and the Highlands.”
A public consultation will be open from Monday November 5 until Friday November 16 2018, with full details available at stagecoachbus.com. Information will also be available at Inverness bus station from the same date.
Culbokie residents currently have a challenging commute, which includes having to walk along the A9, with no pavement, to catch a connecting bus.
Local community councillor Bruce Morrison said the village would be delighted by the news.
He said: “We’ve lobbied hard with Culbokie Action Group for this, thinking we were getting nowhere. A commuter service will be very welcome, the caveat being at this stage that we’ve yet to see the detail.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “Stagecoach has given assurances about service quality and the council will be confirming details of services with Stagecoach before they are registered with the Traffic Commissioner. In some cases there are slight alterations to services but generally they will continue with no change.”
Service cuts
Last year operator Stagecoach lost out on a range of major contracts, including school runs and some linking routes.
Although other operators moved in, commercial realities meant that many services were severely reduced, with significant economic consequences.
In September, the P&J reported on a stark picture of reduced job opportunities, isolation and social exclusion emerging across the Highlands as a direct consequence of cuts in bus services.
Cases of people losing their jobs or having to give up work, some finding it impossible to attend medical or dental appointments, students unable to attend college or the secondary school of their choice, shops and restaurants having to close early to allow staff to get buses home.
Being near Inverness proved no advantage, with Black Isle and Moray Firth villages stuck for commuter links.
