A public meeting will take place in Kinross on Monday evening to discuss Stagecoach's proposed withdrawal of the X56 bus service. The meeting, hosted by Pete Wishart MP and Jim Fairlie MSP, will be held from 6pm to 7.30pm at Loch Leven Community Campus.
Stakeholders to attend
Representatives from Perth and Kinross Council, Ember, and Glenfarg Community Transport will be in attendance. The meeting is open to anyone affected by the proposed withdrawal.
Stagecoach announced on July 15 that it would withdraw the X56 Perth to Edinburgh service from Monday, August 24, as part of what it described as a raft of "bus service improvements."
Concerns and campaign
The announcement sparked significant concern, particularly in communities in Kinross-shire and West Fife that rely on the bus service. A "Save the X56 Bus Service" campaign was launched, complete with a Facebook page, and politicians across the political divide signed a joint letter urging Stagecoach to postpone the withdrawal of what they called the "vital" service.
Despite the concerns, Stagecoach said it had no plans to reverse its decision. In a statement, a Stagecoach spokesperson said: "We recognise that the proposed withdrawal of service X56 has generated strong local feeling, and we understand the concerns raised by customers and communities who currently rely on the route.
"However, the service has been significantly loss-making for an extended period, with substantial annual losses. The decision to withdraw the service was therefore based on detailed customer data and financial evidence, and there is no commercially viable solution that would allow Stagecoach to continue operating the route."
Alternative options and next steps
The spokesperson added that the evidence shows most current customers have access to alternative services, noting that the busiest section of the route between Halbeath and Edinburgh is served by multiple other express services. They acknowledged that a small number of customers, particularly those travelling between Kinross and Halbeath, have no realistic alternative, and suggested that if local authorities consider the connection socially necessary, a replacement service could be provided through a local authority-funded tender.
Pete Wishart MP said: "The withdrawal of the X56 Stagecoach service is a huge blow for Kinross-shire, and I know how many people rely on it for work, college, healthcare appointments, and staying connected." He said the public meeting aims to discuss the situation and work towards a solution, adding: "We want to hear directly from residents about how this is affecting them, and give everyone the chance to put questions to those involved. All welcome."
