I have expressed disappointment that Stagecoach is to withdraw its relatively new Service 26 - City Centre to Camperdown Park via Lochee – from the end of May.
The City Council has advised councillors that :
“Please note that the Council has been advised by Stagecoach Strathtay that they plan to withdraw Service 26 (City Centre to Camperdown Park via Lochee) in its entirety after 29 May 2016.
This was a short-lived bus service, that only started operating in November 2015. Service 26 was operated on a 20 minute frequency with distinctive yellow buses and was marketed as a bus that could take passengers to Camperdown Zoo. I have been in e-mail correspondence with Stagecoach management who have explained their decision to withdraw was because patronage levels were below that which was necessary to sustain the service in the longer term.
Because the route operated in direct competition with a number of commercial services operated by Xplore Dundee - notably Service 28/29, it is not possible for the Council to support a replacement service.”
The 26 service has proved very useful for constituents in streets like Lochee Road, City Road, Pentland Avenue, Balgay Road, Blackness Road and Hawkhill and I’m disappointed that Stagecoach is intending to take it off after such a short period.
I felt it really needed greater publicity and with this it could have, over time, become a commercial success.
I have made these points to the Managing Director of Stagecoach East Scotland, in the hope that some reconsideration of the decision can be considered.