Passengers face disruption following demise of local bus firm

Jul 6 2012 by Johnathon Menzies, Stirling Observer Friday

LONG-STANDING transport firm Aberfoyle Coaches Ltd has been liquidated.

A spokesperson for Stirling Council confirmed the news as negotiations continue in an effort to deal with the fall-out from the 80-year-old business’s closure.

Prior to liquidation coming into force on Saturday, June 30, Aberfoyle Coaches Ltd operated numerous local bus services, held school-run contracts with the local authority and carried-out an on-demand bus service – as well as offering other commercial services.

The council representative explained several services were taken up by First Scotland East Ltd from Monday, July 2.

She said: “The C11 local service, from Gartmore and Aberfoyle to Stirling; the C13, Balfron to Balloch; and the C16 – one morning return journey between Stirling and Cambusbarron – will be operated by First. These contracts have no Sunday timetable.”

In addition, a total of five services known as Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) – designed to bridge the gap between larger buses and a taxi, but available at the price of the former – have been temporarily suspended until alternative arrangements are implemented.

The affected services are: Balquhidder area (Mondays to Sundays); Fintry area (Mondays to Saturdays), Killin and Strathfillan areas (Mondays to Saturdays); Strathard area (Mondays to Saturdays) and Trossachs area (Mondays to Sundays).

School contracts, according to the Stirling Council spokesperson, will be re-awarded to other operators “in ample time for the schools returning in August”.

Aberfoyle Coaches Ltd also operated the AC01 bus service between Aberfoyle and Glasgow, which received no financial support from the council and ceased on June 30.

Journeys between Balfron and Glasgow can still be made on the 10 and C10 services operated by First Scotland East.

The local authority spokesperson said: “A meeting between Stirling Council officers and the taxi operators who have been delivering the DRT services [was] arranged for Tuesday, July 3, to establish whether or not they were willing to continue to provide the council with DRT services.

“The precise details of any new arrangements will be subject to negotiation or tendering and, as such, will be confidential.”

Those behind the community-owned Aberfoyle filling station Trossachs Area Services said this week that they would continue to trade as normal through its shop and forecourt fuel supplies, despite the demise of tenants Aberfoyle Coaches Ltd.

The recent liquidation is confirmed on both the stricken firm’s website and a Facebook page attributed to the company.

Further public transport information is available from Traveline on 08712 00 22 33 or www.travelinescotland.com.