Stagecoach West Scotland have now confirmed they're pulling out of Dumfries and Galloway entirely in August. Only the X74 from Glasgow to Dumfries will remain. The 79 from Dumfries to Carlisle operated by Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire will also remain. I hope Stagecoach West Scotland staff will be able to employed at other operators or elsewhere.
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Stagecoach West Scotland
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AndrewTaylor95
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X74 likely to be Cumbernauld operated with the last journey finishing in Glasgow no doubt. Wonder what will happen with the 358/360 wether Ayr will operate that fully
The X74 will likely be operated from Cumbernauld with journeys starting and finishing in Glasgow. I think the 358/360 will be operated by Ayr. In the latest round of SPT tenders (link below), it states Stagecoach West Scotland won the 358/360 for another 3 years so I think it will be operated out of Ayr. I don't know if the 246 is commercial or tendered, but if its commercial, I think it could've been possibly saved with journeys starting and ending in Cumnock and the service using Ayr or Kilmarnock vehicles based at the outstation at Cronberry.
overthewater
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I think its more likely the X74 will have outpost in Dumfries and will be operated by Carlisle depot.
In BETTER NEWS the strike is over:
Following further discussions, our drivers will return to work tomorrow, Wednesday 18 June and will ballot on a pay deal on Friday 20 June.
In BETTER NEWS the strike is over:
Service update - Wednesday 18 June 202517 Jun 2025
Following further discussions, our drivers will return to work tomorrow, Wednesday 18 June and will ballot on a pay deal on Friday 20 June.
- Full service will resume in Ardrossan, Arran, and Kilmarnock.
- In Ayr, all routes will operate, but with a reduced frequency – times to be confirmed, please check here in the morning for the latest updates.
- Cumbernauld and Dumfries & Galloway will continue with no changes.
I have to say, the timing of the announcement of the strike ending could have been better coming hard on the heels of the confirmation of the withdrawal from Dumfries & Galloway. As it is, I smell a rat.
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Blindtraveler
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Said rat is particularly pungent as I smell it from Kent as well. Interesting and perhaps somewhat unsettling times ahead for Dumfries and Galloway residents while they work out. What's happening going forward. If I were any of the small local independent operators who are already doing great things in that area, I'd be shopping around for some half decent second-hand buses to buy or lease pretty quickly
chiltern trev
Member
I wonder what this liability clause is (in the SWestrans negotiations)?
scottishtrains
Member
Just heard that McGills might be taking over the 585 would that be true?
AndrewTaylor95
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Wouldn't surprise me, they've been spotted doing route training in Irvine
Scotrail88
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Was rumoured during the strike but doubt now as they’ve just submitted a timetable change for the full route in July.
Any announcement of the July changes?
overthewater
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The registrations have all gone in. https://bustimes.org/licences/PM0000008 I dare say because of the strike there not told anyone what is going on.
Looks like 585 is staying with Stagecoach.
Looks like 585 is staying with Stagecoach.
This was the original thread
Stagecoach West Scotland
If anyone has been keeping an eye on what's been happening, you'll know they have been a bit short of buses of late. Extra buses were drafted in from Glasgow and Newcastle to help out. BUT this popped up today: https://www.twitter.com/StagecoachWScot/status/871988770391941120 #AYR Due to...
www.railforums.co.uk
scottishtrains
Member
Quite disappointed considering the buses are always cramped and dirty
Stan Drews
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They certainly aren’t cramped between Largs and Ardrossan, but perhaps busier further south?
scottishtrains
Member
They are sometimes, when ive taken it through the three towns it can be bad too, but I dont know whether it was just because it was a sunny day and everyone wanted to go to Largs or not lol
318266
Member
Whenever I've done it (usually Largs to/fro Irvine, around mid-afternoon) it tends to be such that those from the 3 towns mainly travel to/fro Irvine/Prestwick/Ayr, and that Largs pax tend to only really be going to Ardrossan.
(It helps that the ClydeFlyer tends to mop up any wanna-be Glasgow travellers)
overthewater
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Years ago AKA over 15 years ago before the 2009 market trouble, the 585 used to operate every 20mins during the summer IE June to end of August. I'm was surprised it never come back.
318266
Member
A couple reasons, I could imagine:
- rising costs of operating any given bus relative to average payment per passenger
- the 50% rise in package holidays/similar since 2009
- being cut from Greenock meant obviously no demand for Wemyss Bay - Rothesay traffic, which does get busy in the summer months
- the recent unreliability of Caledonian MacBrayne reducing demand for island tourism (the 585 as was effectively linked Bute, Cumbrae and Arran (and if we go back even further, Ireland!)
45 new bus contracts (some of which were previously operated by Stagecoach West Scotland) have been awarded in Dumfries and Galloway to Brownrigg's, Houston's, McCall's, McCulloch's and Telford's and services without compliant bids will be operated by the council. These contracts will last up to 7 years and specific details will become available in early July. Timetables will be produced by mid July with the new contracts starting in early August.
In addition, other commercial operators are considering taking on current commercial Stagecoach West Scotland services 1,2,3,4,10,10B,12,74,81,236,246 and 501 in Dumfries and Galloway.
https://www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov...d-safeguard-services-across-dumfries-galloway
In addition, other commercial operators are considering taking on current commercial Stagecoach West Scotland services 1,2,3,4,10,10B,12,74,81,236,246 and 501 in Dumfries and Galloway.
https://www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov...d-safeguard-services-across-dumfries-galloway
scottishtrains
Member
Sorry, the 585 went to Ireland?!
318266
Member
as was, Troon for Larne - not sure if you had to change at Irvine then but you must now
Stan Drews
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cessnabroon
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Question is, where will the fleet at Dumfries and Stranraer end up - there's a good few Scanias there that I'm sure would find use up in Ayrshire, and the E200s won't go amiss in other divisions; but I'm not convinced the future is quite as secure for the B9R coaches. I do hope they stay local but who knows.
Scotrail88
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Any further update on the remaking Ayrshire service changes in few weeks time?
Still not appeared on website yet
Still not appeared on website yet
Blindtraveler
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I'm sure they'll be areas where they need seat belted vehicles for schools and that could well be where the b9 vehicles disperse to. As you also point out, a lot of the single decks would be welcomed by other areas, especially the Scania
318266
Member
Would've reached for the 80's Citylink 585 timetable had I not been on Avanti at the time hahaTroon to Larne was direct, no need to change at Irvine!
scottishtrains
Member
I never knew Citylink operated the 585 at a point! When did it change over to Stagecoach?
overthewater
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Oddly there is a thread about this just last month!!! Citylink used to have alot more routes before it become a flyer network, I think 585 was lost before Stagecoach brought Western Scottish. https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/when-did-scottish-citylink-loss-its-routes.286327/
Man of Kent
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585 was registered by Western and Clydeside at deregulation, each supplying 1 bus on a 2 hourly headway. It was altered significantly after the takeover of AA.
overthewater
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It was branded as a citylink service. There is a timetable on Ebay for it from 1984.