Anger in Moray village that has buses ... but no bus service
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STAGECOACH has been accused of adding "insult to injury" by training its drivers in two villages where it has axed the bus service.
The company ceased to operate its 34 service to Garmouth and Kingston in April 2016.
However, for training purposes only, the company continues to run 44-seater coaches through the narrow streets of both villages.
Resident Alan Clarke said: "Garmouth and Kingston's streets were built to accommodate the horse and cart.
"We can do without any unnecessary traffic in the form of Stagecoach driver-training buses.
"Stagecoach are treating the local community with contempt.
"They should go and train their drivers on their current routes, not on one they have brutally axed."
Moray Council began running its own bus service between the villages and Elgin just days after Stagecoach pulled out.
Running five rather than six days a week – and now re-named the 334 service – this succeeded in making a reported £20,000 profit during its first year of operation.
Stagecoach's operation manager for Moray replied to a letter from another Garmouth resident who has also expressed unhappiness about the current situation.
In his reply Jamie Reid promised to review the matter, with the intention of reducing the amount of training which goes on in the villages.
Mr Reid wrote: "In honesty we use this location as it replicates quite a lot of the smaller villages though Northern Scotland, but for convenience it is located close to our training location in Elgin.
"I do take your points. Although I do not feel we can remove from the location altogether, we will speak to the instructors to minimise this going forward."
