Students in Forfar are being left “abandoned” due to a cut in bus services, it has been claimed.
A pair of buses would regularly take students from Forfar to Dundee and Angus College’s Arbroath campus but there is now a “one in six” chance of that being the case, according to student Scott Peter Lawson.
Stagecoach has blamed a cut in subsidies paid to them. Prior to the merging of Dundee and Angus colleges, which happened in 2013, Angus College would subsidise the bus operator to put on the service.
Until last year there were regularly two services — one direct to the Arbroath campus, and another from Kirriemuir, through Forfar, Letham, Friokheim and then to Arbroath.
On days when only one arrives there are “about 100 people crammed” into it, according to Scott.
He said: “Passengers have been refused on as the bus has hit the maximum limit.
“Not only students, but those working who need the bus and even the elderly cannot get on because there just isn’t enough room.
“I’ve organised a meeting with Stagecoach because students are getting left behind. We have a lot of pressure to keep attendance at a certain level and this means we will miss classes and be late.
“They should have that second bus on so students don’t miss out. Me and three others have now resorted to car sharing as it’s miles cheaper, reliable and warmer.”
He has organised a meeting with Stagecoach commercial manager Scott Hall and a representative from Angus MP Kirstene Hair’s office on October 29.
Scott added: “I am still fighting this for the other students and for the other people abandoned by Stagecoach’s unreliable services.”
A Dundee and Angus College spokeswoman said: “Angus College used to pay subsidies for one service in the morning and one in the evening, but that was before the merger.
“Now we offer students travel passes for during term time. This is because not all classes are at the same time, so this offers them more flexibility.
“But we are aware that it is a busy line and we are working closely with Transport Scotland, Xplore and Stagecoach.
“There will be a conductor on the bus to monitor the situation.”
Scott Hall, Stagecoach East commercial manager, said: “We are aware of this customer’s concerns on the journey availability this year to college compared to previous services offered.
“In the past, Dundee and Angus College have subsidised two journeys between Forfar and Arbroath, however one of these trips was withdrawn last year.
“Although our commercial services from Forfar to Arbroath offer an alternative, these journeys have been busy at the start of the term and we have duplicated the journey where possible to cater for demand.”
A Stagecoach spokeswoman confirmed that they “would often use a conductor or an inspector to try to monitor such situations”.
