Fife Council should bring more bus services back under local control following the scrapping of the X56 route, according to Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell.
The Mid Scotland and Fife regional MSP said Stagecoach’s decision to withdraw the Perth-to-Edinburgh service showed why communities should have more say over the routes, fares and services they rely on.
Stagecoach announced in July that the X56, which runs through Kinross, Kelty and Halbeath Park & Ride, will be withdrawn on Monday, August 24.
The operator said the service was no longer commercially viable and has since said it has no plans to reverse its decision.
The withdrawal has prompted weeks of opposition from passengers and politicians, with concerns raised over the impact on people travelling to work, college, medical appointments and social activities.
Mr Ruskell said: “For too long, people across Fife have been forced to put up with cancelled routes, unreliable services and fare increases.
“Stagecoach’s recent proposals to slash services is yet another example of how the system is not fit for purpose.
“The Thatcherite experiment of privatising bus services has failed – and it’s time for Fife Council to bring our buses back under local control.
“I want to see communities connected by a reliable, affordable and accessible bus service – designed with and for the people of Fife, not private profit.
“Communities across Fife deserve better buses. And I’ll be doing all I can this Parliamentary session to make this a reality.”
The X56 campaign has included a public meeting in Kelty attended by more than 150 residents and politicians, as well as a petition and a cross-party appeal for Stagecoach to delay the withdrawal.
The council has formally objected to the route being scrapped and is tendering for a supported replacement connection between Kelty and Halbeath Park & Ride.
However, campaigners have said that a local replacement would not provide a like-for-like substitute for the direct Perth-to-Edinburgh link currently offered by the X56.
Mr Ruskell said the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 gives local authorities powers to take greater control of bus provision, including through franchising and local authority-run services.
Under a franchising model, a local authority could specify routes, fares and service standards before contracting operators to run the buses.
The council said it had reviewed the options available under the legislation, but warned that either franchising or directly operated services would present major financial, legal and operational challenges.
Andrew MacLeod, the council’s service manager for passenger transport, said: “We recognise the importance of reliable, affordable and accessible bus services to communities across Fife and share concerns about the impact of service reductions and fare increases on passengers.
“We recently reviewed the options available under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, including bus franchising and local authority-run services.
"While these powers are available, introducing either model would involve significant financial, legal and operational challenges.
“We’re exploring the development of a business case for consideration before any future decisions are made.”
Mr MacLeod said the council was meanwhile focusing on practical measures to improve links across Fife, including expanding demand-responsive transport such as Go Flexi.
He added that the authority was also exploring a small-scale, not-for-profit bus operation to help address gaps in the network, and would continue working with operators, regional transport partners and the Scottish Government.
A Stagecoach spokesperson previously said most people using the X56 had alternatives, particularly on the Halbeath-to-Edinburgh section of the route.
However, the company acknowledged that a small number of passengers travelling between Kinross and Halbeath had “no realistic alternative bus service”, and said a replacement connection would need to be funded through a local-authority tender.
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