UHI Perth has written an open letter to Stagecoach requesting an urgent meeting and for planned bus service cuts to be postponed, amid concerns that students will have to quit their courses if the changes are implemented.
The university said it has been “inundated” with messages from students and parents worried that students will be unable to attend campus classes under the proposed changes.
Stagecoach confirms receipt but stands by decision
Stagecoach confirmed it has received the letter and will respond, but has no plans to reverse its decision.
On July 15, Stagecoach announced “bus service improvements from August”, involving changes to services in Blairgowrie and Perth, and the withdrawal of its X56 service between Perth and Edinburgh from Monday, August 24.
Perth depute president of the Highlands and Islands Students’ Association, Corben Bruce, and cross-campus officers sent an open letter to Stagecoach’s chief executive Claire Miles on July 28, expressing “deep concern” and requesting an urgent meeting and postponement of the cuts.
Students and parents voice anxiety
They said: “Since the announcement, we have been inundated with messages from UHI Perth students and their parents.”
“Their message to us had been clear and concise – your proposed service cuts will adversely affect the ability of UHI Perth students to attend their classes on campus.”
“Both current and prospective UHI students have expressed to us how deeply anxious they are about how they will be able to access their education and maintain their current part-time jobs.”
“Similarly, the parents of UHI students have reached out with serious concerns about the impact the proposed service cuts would have on their child’s ability to continue to study at UHI Perth.”
X56 withdrawal a 'rural life-line' loss
The letter described the X56 withdrawal as “the loss of a rural life-line service” for UHI Perth students, connecting communities like Glenfarg, Milnathort, Kinross and Kelty to Perth and Edinburgh.
“Its withdrawal will disproportionately affect UHI Perth students in communities that already face barriers to accessing further and higher education,” they added.
“Many of these communities already have limited alternative transport options, and the removal of this service risks further isolating those who are solely reliant on public transport from essential educational and employment opportunities.”
They urged Stagecoach to pause and postpone the X56 withdrawal, noting that neither the current 56 nor 55 services provide a suitable alternative.
Changes to services 15 and 15A
The letter also highlighted proposed changes to services 15 and 15A, requiring passengers travelling between Perth and Stirling to change buses at Crieff, with a reduction in services between Crieff and Perth as the 15A will no longer operate past Crieff.
“This can lead to an increase in journey times. Students have expressed that whilst balancing study, work, and caring responsibilities, the addition of longer and more complex journeys are simply not feasible,” they wrote.
“Given the scale of concern and the potential impact on student access to education, we urge Stagecoach to pause or postpone the withdrawal of the implementation of changes to services 15/15A.”
Stagecoach cites financial losses
A Stagecoach spokesperson said the company understood the concerns but had “no plans to reverse the decision”, adding that “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,” the spokesperson said.
They added: “We recognise that there are a small number of customers, particularly travelling between Kinross and Halbeath, for whom there is no realistic alternative bus service.”
“If the relevant local authorities consider maintaining a connection in this area to be socially necessary, the appropriate and viable option would be for a replacement service to be provided through a local authority-funded tender.”
Council and politicians weigh in
Perth and Kinross Council reiterated it is “progressing work to explore the available options” and “fully recognises the importance” of the X56 and 15/15A services for commuters, residents and students.
Perthshire South and Kinross-shire SNP MSP Jim Fairlie and Perth and Kinross-shire MP Pete Wishart have added their voices to the concerns.
Mr Fairlie said: “Stagecoach’s decision directly impacts whether young people in Kinross-shire and across Perthshire can actually get to their classes. HISA have set out clearly how students and their parents have been in touch, worried and anxious about how they’ll continue their studies.”
“I fully support the case UHI and HISA have made. It reinforces what Pete Wishart and I have already told Stagecoach directly: postpone the withdrawal of the X56 and pause the 15/15A changes until there has been genuine consultation with the people affected.”
Mr Wishart added: “Stagecoach’s approach to these cuts has been to press ahead without any consideration of the consequences for education access in Perth and Kinross. UHI Perth students have made clear that these changes threaten their ability to attend classes and hold down part-time work.”
“That’s not a minor inconvenience; for some it could mean the difference between staying in education or dropping out.”
“Rural connectivity isn’t a luxury it’s the backbone of opportunity for communities like Kinross, Milnathort and Glenfarg, and it’s incumbent on Stagecoach to start treating it that way.”
